We invite applications from students aged 16+. Our course may also meet the needs of mature students up to 21 years.
Five GCSEs at C/4 or above including English Language and Maths, or UAL/BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Performing Arts at Merit Level. All candidates will be invited to an interview and workshop audition where they will be asked to present a monologue.
You need to apply via the Bath College website (follow the 'APPLY' tab at the top of this website).
Once you've applied, we will be in touch to invite you to meet us and ask that you prepare a short monologue to share with us on the day. We will also have an informal workshop session with all candidates to go through any questions you may have and to find out more about you.
Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing and Production Arts - the equivalent of three A Levels.
UAL (University of the Arts London).
We provide students with the best opportunities to succeed on their course by delivering a combination of classes, seminars, rehearsals, specific tutorial sessions and self-directed study.
Your learning is enhanced by working alongside professional technicians, directors, choreographers, musical directors and designers. You will develop work both independently and as a member of a team. As well as exploring existing theatrical pieces, you will be expected to take part in writing, producing and the performance of original work that engages and challenges both you as a performer and the audience.
There are no written exams at any point in the academic year. Assessments take place throughout the year, and all assessments have a practical element, accompanied by written coursework. Your Theory Tutor will support you in dedicated lessons to complete written journals, evaluations, essays and research that underpin your practical work in the rehearsal room.
The short answer is, all sorts. Our alumni have gone on to study at university; attend drama school; and enter the industry directly.
The qualification we offer is a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing & Production Arts. The diploma is worth the same amount of UCAS points as doing 3 A Levels. If you are interested in studying beyond College, this means that you will be able to apply through UCAS to study at university/drama school. Some very academic universities specifically request A Levels because their courses tend to be heavy on theory and written coursework. More practical courses accept the Extended Diploma. Our team are always available to talk through these options in more detail.
Our visiting practitioners will use time in sessions to explain their route into the industry. Students will learn how some of them went to drama school, others to university, whilst many began working in the industry straight after school or college, following training in youth theatre or industry placements.
We have a built-in unit of study called Progression where students explore their next steps beyond the course and complete a professional interview or audition with an expert panel.
This, along with four dedicated weeks of industry work experience throughout the two years, equips our students with the confidence to make informed decisions about their future.
If you are aged 16 – 19, the full-time course is free.
A studio fee of £75 will be requested from all students at the start of the academic year as a contribution towards the cost of course resources and trips.
In an average year our students watch 20 plays in Bath, Bristol and beyond. We subsidise the cost of the tickets, so the studio fee payment covers the total cost of trips for the year.*
Bursary support is available to help cover the studio fee.
In addition, students are required to provide practical clothing for classes. You’ll be expected to wear theatre blacks for all practical lessons.
Bursary support is also available to help cover associated course costs.
*Larger-scale trips may incur additional costs, but these trips are voluntary and bursaries are available.
If you are aged 19 or over you may be eligible to apply for a 19+ Advanced Learning Loan to cover your tuition fees.
If you require a bursary to support your academic experience (travel, materials) there are bursary schemes set up to assist you.
To do our Level 3 course, students are required to have five GCSEs at C/4 or above including English Language and Maths. There are sometimes exceptions to this rule, so always get in touch.
If students need to retake their English Language and/or Maths, we advise that they take our Level 2 Course, an exciting one-year Foundation, equipping students with the skills to flourish on our Level 3 Course once they have secured their English and Maths GCSEs.
In the second year, students have the option of following a specialised route to focus on: acting OR directing OR theatre tech (sound/lighting) OR design (costume/set) OR stage management.
This will be agreed with Tutors, and an individual learning plan will be made to suit each student.
Please note that we cannot currently offer specialisms in dance, although there are opportunities to develop these skills as part of the current curriculum.
Yes, we welcome applications from students who have been home-schooled.
Due to our funding model, all Level 3 students are expected to have, or be working towards, five GCSEs at C/4 including English Language and Maths.
Our one year Level 2 Course allows for students to take/retake English and/or Maths GCSE built into the timetable without missing any Performing Arts sessions.
Please get in touch by emailing info@bath.theatre.academy if you have any queries.
During the course, students can expect to create and perform a range of productions of varying scales, including new writing, classic texts, musical theatre and devised work.
We aim to match the production to the skills of our cohorts, and respond to their interests.
Check out our previous productions by clicking on the 'PRODUCTIONS' tab at the top of the page.
We also have an exciting yearly programme of other work that includes scratch evenings, cabarets and short films.
We aim to keep class sizes to around 20 students per class. We have two-form entry, meaning we have a total of approximately 40 students in each year. Student groups are mixed up termly to ensure that all students get to work with each other over the two-year course.
No, you do not! We have built Movement and Voice sessions into our timetable, but these largely focus on learning to move as an actor, rather than dancing, and vocal technique, rather than singing.
Whilst we do deliver ad-hoc sessions and masterclasses in dance and singing, for those who are passionate about developing these skills more extensively we recommend exploring these as extra-curricular techniques.
Our Tutors are able to advise on how/where best to continue these pursuits alongside the curriculum.
