MA/MFA Actor Training and Coaching

ABOUT MA ACTOR TRAINING AND COACHING

The MA/MFA Actor Training and Coaching course offers specialists of appropriate disciplines – actors or other performers, movement or voice teachers, directors or emerging directors in film, theatre and television – the opportunity to diversify by following a specialised study in the education and support of professional actors.

The course joins Central’s MA Voice Studies and MA Movement Studies to create a cluster of postgraduate degrees aimed at high-level training practices for theatre and performance. Please note the course does not offer training to become an actor, but enables students to work effectively as an educator, coach or director of actors.

Students are introduced to the principles and practices behind the training, education and support of actors. The course addresses various practice and theory interfaces of contemporary acting and brings a variety of methods into creative fusion.

Students may expect to encounter work associated with, for example, Chekhov, Lecoq, Grotowski, Meisner, Stanislavski, Meyerhold, Suzuki, Viewpoints and some methodologies appropriate for acting for screen. Students will also explore ways of developing aptitude in the fundamentals of performance and relate these to a range of production contexts.

Teaching methods include tutorials, group seminars and workshops. Practical sessions are designed to enhance understanding of acting processes and skills in pedagogy, together with associated study of acting techniques and issues of performance including theatre, film and television.

Students will develop advanced interpersonal, facilitation, coaching and pedagogy skills. These include: how to research, plan and deliver courses; knowledge of a wide-range of acting methodologies and practices, as well as some movement and voice; education and support of actors; research skills – both as an individual and through group research; presentation skills; and an ability to plan, conduct and critically reflect on their own practice as an actor trainer.

Students undertake a teaching/coaching placement whilst on the course, as well as placements to engage with different acting and production contexts, with duration ranging from eight hours to three months. Placements are a vital part of the course and enable students to develop pedagogic experience and hone their skills as an educator.

ASSESSMENT

This includes practical assignments, essay, and presentation and submission of a Practitioner Portfolio addressing specialist development and understanding, or a dissertation.

You will normally have a degree or an equivalent qualification in a subject that includes an element of theatre or performance practice; or have a degree and can provide evidence of previous training and experience with performance disciplines; or have a strong acting or actor training background and at least two years’ professional experience in the acting industry. An offer will normally only be made after audition and interview.