Schools Queen Margaret
College - Department of Drama
Location
Located on an attractive campus about four miles from Edinburgh city
centre, the Drama Department works in its specialist accommodation alongside
12 other departments in this busy, friendly College. Drama students
have access to the many amenities within the college community including
a students' union, halls of residence, sports facilities, library and
an information technology centre.
Courses offered
The following are full-time degree courses with an Honours fourth year
currently being developed.
BA/BA (Hons) Acting This is a highly vocational
and practical degree course whose aim is to prepare students for a career
as actors/performers in the theatre and entertainment industry. The
Acting course offers an integrated approach to teaching and learning
which takes as its cornerstone the student him/herself.
Year I offers a wide spectrum of classes in the basics: voice and speech,
phonetics, singing; body awareness and expressive
movement; stage combat; dance (jazz, ballroom, historical); textual
analysis and acting (including improvisation). The year ends with a
Community/Theatre for Young People tour.
In Year 2 students have classes in acting, dance, movement, voice, singing,
stage combat and textual studies and perform regularly in public productions
and a range of integrated workshops directed/taught by working professional
directors and staff. A variety of styles and directing approaches is
chosen to meet the training needs of each individual actor and the particular
year group. Radio work begins in Year 2 and culminates with a workshop
at the BBC in Year 3. In the third year production work intensifies
and productions regularly travel to theatres around Scotland (The Byre
Theatre, St Andrews; The Traverse, Edinburgh etc.). Acting on camera,
specialist stage combat classes, singing and presentation tutorials
continue.
Students have the additional opportunity to perform in the Edinburgh
Festival and they may choose to write, direct and/or perform lunchtime
theatre pieces throughout the course. Acting in new work (including
specially commissioned plays) is a feature of the course.
BA/BA (Hons) Stage Management and Theatre Production
In association with The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company, Edinburgh
The aim of the course is to prepare students for a managerial, design
or technical career in the theatre and entertainment industries.
Students work closely with BA Acting students in an intensive drama-school
education which demands the development of professional standards of
theatre delivery. Students enter the course with a clear vocational
aim of work in the theatre industry.
In Years I and 2, students join each of six production departments for
a term. A varied pattern of practical and theoretical theatre work,
within the framework of a busy production schedule, builds knowledge
and confidence in the basics of theatre process. Production departments
include: Stage Management, Workshop Practices, Lighting &: Sound,
Wardrobe Practices and Audience Services.
In Year 3 students work on a series of productions as Managers, Designers
or Senior Technicians. Opportunities exist to experience a number of
different roles or to specialise within the Drama Departments Theatre
Programme. During this year students also go on placement and work individually
on a special study.
BA/BA (Hons) Drama Studies
This course is designed to develop understanding and practical
experience in the broad canvas that is drama, with a particular emphasis
on theatre. Specialisms within the course could lead to careers in directing,
play writing, arts administration, theatre criticism, community theatre
and literary management.
BA/BA (Hons) Theatre Studies (within the Combined Studies
programme)
Research
The Department has an active doctoral research programme, with particular
strengths in issues of contemporary cultural analysis and original creative
research.
Short courses
Short courses are available throughout the academic year and during
the summer when the Drama Department is an active participant in the
Edinburgh Festival.
Accommodation
The Department has two theatres and a number of studio/rehearsal spaces.
Backstage facilities include technical and design offices, dressing
rooms, props stores, sound workshop, lighting stores, wardrobe and workshops.
In addition, the College has recently acquired the Gateway Studios in
the centre of Edinburgh which is the new base for the planned expansion
of the Drama Department.
Entry requirements
Candidates must be 18 years of age at the date of entry. Preference
will normally be given to those who are above the minimum entry age
and have previous drama experience. The College welcomes applications
from suitably qualified international students from all countries. Fluent
English is required from overseas students. Auditions/interviews for
the Acting course take place from January onwards for admission in September.
Candidates may be asked to return for a recall. Candidates for the Stage
Management and Theatre Production course will be invited for interviews,
normally starting in January of each year. Applications should be made
through UCAS. For further details of entry requirements, see the College
prospectus. Acting Programme NCDT accredited.
Policy
The aim of the Department is to train highly skilled and versatile
professionals.
Queen Margaret College Department of Drama
Clerwood Terrace
Edinburgh EHI2 8TS
Tel: 0131 317 3542
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