Drama: Advanced Acting

Course details

The Advanced Acting course is designed for students who already have some core performance skills. It offers students the opportunity to consolidate and build on existing skills, as well as developing new ones, towards a career in the professional Theatre or a related industry.

Core to the teaching practise in Kinsale is belief in an ensemble approach to theatre. Students are considered to be part of a Company, where each actor has a vital contribution to make to the group. During the course, emphasis is placed on devising original work through improvisation, as well as the study and performance of existing play texts. Students are given the tools to either devise their own work or to audition for existing companies and theatres.

Entry requirements:

Leaving Cert or equivalent. The course is open to selected students who have completed the Theatre Performance Course (Level 5) in Kinsale College and to outside students with relevant previous experience. Mature students welcome.

Modules info & codes:

• Engaging with Drama
• Creating Drama
• Improvisation
• Characterisation
• Theatre Studies
• Communications
• Work Experience
• Acting Skills & Techniques
• Theatre Performance

How to apply/Application deadline:

Applications for all our courses will be available on the website and in the college from 1st week in January 2015 for all courses commencing in September 2015. Interviews will be held for all courses later in the year generally in May/June. To apply, simply download an application form and forward to the College.

Career Opportunities:

Graduates may pursue careers in: Acting, Theatre Production, Arts Administration, Community Arts, Workshop Facilitation, Teaching, Theatre Writing,

Past students have pursued all of the above as well as forming their own Theatre Companies.

Further Study Opportunities:

Successful Level 6 Graduates may progress onto 3rd Level Degrees in Ireland and UK, for example: Bachelor in Acting, The Lir Academy (Trinity College, Dublin) Drama & Theatre Studies, University College Cork, Theatre & Drama Studies, CIT and Gaiety School of Acting, Dublin.

Student Experiences:

“Since graduating from the Kinsale Drama course in 2009 I’ve been living in Dublin working as a professional actor. Productions I’ve worked on include ‘TIC’ by Elizabeth Moynihan at the Focus theatre. ‘18-35’ with Conflicted theatre at the 2012 Cork Mid-summer festival and most recently ‘Foreign Bodies’ at the Project Arts Centre summer 2013. I am currently attending the Acting for Film programme at the Factory. I’ve appeared in a number of short films and have just recently finished filming ‘Jack Taylor’ produced by TV3 and directed by Stuart Orme. The training I received from Belinda in Kinsale FEC was a unique and invaluable experience. She created an environment that nurtured me and allowed me the space I needed to develop and grow as a performer. She instilled in us all her passion for the craft of acting and a deep rooted sense of ensemble that gave me the confidence, skills and experience to move forward in my career.” Sonya O’Donoghue

Other Info:

Kinsale College has a unique, specially designed and purpose built amphitheatre providing drama students with a perfect rehearsal and public performance space. Students also perform, on occasion, in Cork at venues such as the Half Moon Theatre and the Cork Arts Theatre. In addition there are often opportunities to take productions on tour.

Links are maintained with the professional theatre, both through the permanent staff and by master classes, offered by visiting theatre professionals and course alumni in their areas of expertise. Seminars are given on the Theatre industry, employment opportunities and preparation for interview and audition.