Content The course is undertaken in studio/performance practice and in lectures, seminars and assignments, in a sequence of distinct Units.

The programme of study enables you to identify with a broad pathway focussed on performance design, or performance practice, as described below, presenting your work accordingly. You are not required to opt for a pathway at entry: the options are presented within the Units of Stages 1 and 2 of the course, enabling you to develop your direction by the outset of Stage 3.

Both pathways are interlinked and involve collaborative and individual practical work, critical and theoretical studies, and personal and professional development. Skills developed include creative, critical and reflective processes, research and analysis, budgeting and marketing.

Performance Design

This pathway focuses on activities associated with the production and realisation of the visual components of a performance - forms include theatre, live art, video, community events etc. This pathway develops skills in design including drawing, drafting, scale model making and presentation.

This pathway focuses on a number of overlapping activities that support development towards roles such as director, performer, devisor, choreographer, writer, dramaturge. Skills developed include writing for performance, movement, performance modes, as well as skills such as pitching ideas and recording work.

The course runs for 90 weeks full time over three years, and is divided into three Levels, (or Stages) each lasting 30 weeks.

Stage 1

The emphasis in this Stage is on introducing perspectives on the creation of performance, investigating the breadth of inter-related concerns involved through explorations of source material, space, time, and the audience/ performer relationship. You are introduced to practical and collaborative skills in order to begin to develop an informed personal approach to creating performance.

Stage 2

This is a year of transition: your progression towards developing an individual creative identity and methodology, and to identifying areas of specific interest which will inform your choices in Stage Three. The practical and personal skills required to communicate your ideas effectively (introduced in Stage 1) are refined, particularly regarding the adoption of a 'role' within a collaboration. It also gives you opportunity to gain practical experience of creating performance within a collaboration, either involving external practitioners or taking the form of a peer group collaboration within a real or replicated professional working context.

Stage 3

This is the most integrated of all three Stages, reflecting as far as possible challenges you are likely to encounter in professional practice outside college or in further study at Masters level. Units in Stage Three are designed to help you apply, expand and deepen the skills and understanding developed over the previous two Stages. Project work focuses on your development through a creative perspective, such as design or directing, performing etc, and enables you to move between activities and contexts, or to pursue a specialist research or practical direction. All Units offer flexibility, both to facilitate your personal perspective and enable you to select the best way of demonstrating your abilities.

The Research Project (dissertation) undertaken in Stage 3, focuses on an individually chosen topic within a field of research that relates to your practice and locates it within a theoretical framework: it involves the development of a piece of research work that is documented.

A Diploma in Professional Studies (subject to validation) is offered between Stage 2 and 3 of the BA Programme. This separate qualification (120 credits) involves researching, undertaking and reflecting on a 20 week placement related to your professional interests and aspirations, eg.in gallery or educational contexts or working as an artist's assistant. The Diploma provides a valuable opportunity to make professional contacts and develop your personal employability skills.

Students leave with a broad and valuable understanding of performance practice in its many forms. The skills acquired enable graduates to become versatile practitioners in many exciting and diverse contexts.

These include the traditional theatre as well as film and television, both as production designers and increasingly in related roles such as directors, producers, and 'hybrid' roles such as designer/directors, performer/designers.

Graduates also apply their knowledge in fields outside the traditional theatre/film contexts, working within the Fine Art industry as Performance/Live Artists or within the Fashion industry as creative managers, video directors, fashion show designers. Recently graduates have begun to create their own independent collaborative companies, creating performance within their own agendas.

Industry Links

Active collaborations maintain a dialogue with key cultural institutions, venues and commercial enterprises to introduce you to London's networks of creative practice: collaborations include working with London dance schools such as London Studio Centre and the Rambert School. Projects set within the course specifically target major and specialist galleries and museums as research bases. Opportunities within the course encourage you to self-direct your learning, utilising the diverse field of performance practice operating in London, via placement projects and external collaborations. In the final year of study, the curriculum is entirely shaped by you, looking forward to your future within a diverse and ever-expanding industry.

Minimum entry requirements

• Passes in 2 GCE A Levels (80 UCAS tariff points normally including one single award)
• Passes at GCSE level in 3 other subjects (grade C or above)

or

• A Foundation Course in Art and Design
• Passes at GCSE level or equivalent in 5 subjects (grade C or above)

or

• A Foundation Course in Art and Design
• A pass in 1 GCE A level
• Passes at GCSE level or equivalent in 4 subjects (grade C or above)

This educational level may be demonstrated by:

a) possession of the qualifications named above;

b) possession of equivalent qualifications;

c) prior experiential learning, the outcome of which can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required, or;

d) a combination of formal qualifications and experiential learning which taken together can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required.

English language requirements

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language you will be asked to provide evidence of your English language ability at enrolment. The standard English Language requirement for entry is IELTS 6.0. For further information visit: www.arts.ac.uk/languagecentre

Suitable candidates

We are not only looking for a passion for performance, but also for people open to new ideas, willing to involve themselves in the various different disciplines and practices of working in the professional area of performance.

Selection criteria

Applicants are selected according to their demonstration of potential and current ability to:

• work imaginatively and creatively in performance and visual media
  • engage with experimentation and invention
  • show imagination and ambition in proposals for their work
• demonstrate a range of skills and technical abilities
  • demonstrate spatial awareness
  • show an understanding of narrative and time based events
  • use verbal and/or visual and/or physical media appropriately and effectively
• provide evidence of intellectual enquiry within their work
  • demonstrate relevant research reflect critically on their learning
• demonstrate cultural awareness and/or contextual framework of their work
  • identify historical and contemporary performance practices
  • identify social and/or cultural influences on their work
• articulate and communicate intentions clearly
  • discuss their work in group situations
  • present their work appropriately and effectively
• demonstrate commitment and motivation in relation to the subject and the course
  • develop their own ideas and address project briefs
  • show willingness to collaborate
  • reflect their knowledge of this course

Portfolio and interview advice

Your work should demonstrate creative development, whether for a college project or in your personal work. By creative development, we mean ideas that have originated through your own experience and research and progressed towards potential visual proposals. Ideas, visual research and experimentation are more important than finished design solutions and can be shown in two-dimensional work, made objects or through recorded moving image and live events. It is important that the creative work you include reflects and demonstrates your thinking, initiative and personal commitment to a particular project, theme or idea.

Both through your work and talking to you at the interview we are interested in you as an individual, your personal interests, your creativity and initiative in finding out about your proposed area of study. We would also like to know about your favourite performers, directors, designers and artists, where you have seen their work at first hand and how you have acquired more information about the work that interests you.

Before your interview, it would be an advantage to have read some play scripts and books about theatre, for example 'The Empty Space' by Peter Brook. You should also have tried to see a diverse cross-section of live performances, for example West End productions, repertory, experimental or pub theatre, live art, community theatre or street performances.

As part of the application process you will be asked to submit an 'Interview Project' designed to demonstrate your initial approach to design for performance. The brief for this project will be sent to you when you are invited to an interview.

How to apply

Application should be made through the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) online at www.ucas.com. Go to 'Apply' from UCAS home page, where you will be able to register and create a password to provide you with unique access as you complete your application form online.

UCAS makes an administration charge of £19 for all applicants (the charge is £9 if you only apply for one course at one institution). UCAS also provides advice and information through electronic media on all aspects of access to Higher Education in the UK. More information can be found on the UCAS website.

When to apply

For entry in October, you must apply by 24th March. If you apply later than 24th March you will be treated as a late applicant and priority will be given to those who applied before the deadline.