Inchicore College of Further Education
 

Course:
Theatre Studies: Performance / Advanced Performance

Level 5/6 NQAI
Qualifications Framework
FETAC Code: EPATP

The two year full-time course is designed to provide prospective students, interested in a career in the Performing Arts, with a professional training in a variety of performance skills. Students who have reached the required standard on the two year course may apply for the one year Advanced Performance Course, where the will work towards the Trinity Guildhall (ATCL) Diplomas and selected FETAC Level 6 modules.

Description

The Theatre Performance Course at Inchicore is the longest established course of its kind in the VEC. The course has grown and developed to meet the changing demands of Theatre, Media and Further Education.  Over the past two years it has secured the accreditation to Level Six with the awarding of the Trinity (London) Diploma in Performance and the Diploma in Musical Theatre. 

The course offers a practical grounding in the skills needed for performance, both physical and vocal and is highly regarded within the Professional Theatre.

We aim to develop the interpretive and imaginative skills to enable the actor to understand and communicate a playwright’s intentions. We aim to further the student’s education in its broadest sense through his or her interest in drama.

The experienced staff are all trained practitioners and theatre professionals whose number is augmented by guest specialists and directors. We expect and demand a high level of commitment from the student.

We welcome applications from mature students, many of whom have progressed from the course in previous years to Higher Education, eg. MA in Drama Therapy (Maynooth), MA in Theatre Studies (UCD), MA in Script Devising (Central School of Drama, London)

The course syllabus covers:

  • Classical and Contemporary Theatre

  • 20th Century British Theatre

  • The Theatre of Europe - Ibsen, Strindberg, Chekov, Lorca, Pirandello.

  • American Drama - O’Neill, Williams, Miller and Shepard

  • Shakespeare

  • Commedia Dell’ Arte

  • Realism

  • Stanislavski

  • Expressionism

  • Brecht

  • Musical Theatre

All students participate in a number of studio and main house productions.

First Year students work with a guest director on a devised show which includes music and movement. Second Year students perform a full length Shakespeare play.

In Third Year a production is staged in a city centre venue. A show case is presented in a city venue by the Third Year Students to which agents and casting directors are invited.

Since 1999 a number of second and third year students have travelled to Padua, Italy, to study the music, mask, and movement of Commedia Dell’ Arte. The project is funded by the Leonardo Da Vinci programme.

Course Content

  • Acting & Acting for Camera

  • Movement

  • Voice, Phonetics and Dialect coaching

  • Mime

  • Improvisation

  • Dance

  • Text Analysis

  • Mask

  • Musical Theatre

  • Theatre History

  • Television /Video Performance Skills

  • Stage Management

  • Costume

  • Directing

  • Singing

  • Music

Certification

A programme of continuous assessment and examination (performance and written) is followed during the course.

Second Year certification:

  • CDVEC Certificate

  • FETAC Level 5

  • Trinity Grade 8

Third Year Certification:

  • Trinity Diplomas - ATCL

  • Selected Level 6 FETAC Modules

Entry Requirements

Applicants must be 17 years of age and be of Leaving Certificate or Leaving Certificate Applied standard. While previous performance experience is not essential, a proven interest in Theatre would be an advantage.

Admittance to the course is by means of interview and audition. Details will be sent to applicants with notice of their audition times.