Acting for Stage and Screen BA (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
Two students acting on stage sat on the floor with a concrete wall behind and stage lighting

Acting for Stage and Screen BA (Hons) is aimed at students looking to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in acting on stage, screen and in immersive and digital spaces.

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

Course code

W411

Start date

September 2023

How to apply
Book an Open Day
Download a prospectus
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Course overview

This is a practical and creative course in which you will have the opportunity to develop skills which are essential for a range of careers in the creative industries and beyond.

  • Taught primarily through practical workshops in professionally equipped studio spaces, students will benefit from dedicated technical support for theatre, film and wardrobe needs as well as a range of equipment available on loan for video, recording, sound and lighting (subject to availability).
  • The course is predominantly practice-based with workshops and classes exploring a wide range of different styles and forms from character building methodologies, to devising performances for theatrical, digital and experimental spaces. The purpose of this course is for you to have a contextual underpinning to the work you do, with the aim of becoming a critical and reflective practitioner with an industry focus.
  • This degree combines devising, scripted and experimental work with opportunities for live and mediated performances emphasising the development of acting as an art form. Teaching and learning methods selected for this course are designed to facilitate your ability to develop and reflect on your own skills and understanding, and to foster links between this, the practice of others, and theoretical knowledge and concepts.
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Global Ready

An international outlook, with global opportunities
human silhouette teaching in front of a blackdoard

Teaching excellence

Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
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Employability

Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeed

Why you should study this course

  • You will be taught by our team of experienced creative practitioners, and you may have the opportunity to be taught by industry professionals, collaborative companies and recent alumni (subject to availability). 
  • You will have access to excellent facilities, including a theatre with lighting/sound control rooms and comprehensive and up-to-date technical equipment, large film, immersive and green screen digital studios, rehearsal spaces an extensive costume stores and dressing rooms and box office facilities.
  • You may have the opportunity to participate in the multi-international award winning Telepresence in Theatre initiative which is an ongoing project between Coventry and the actor training degree at the Tampere University, Finland. Using repurposed technologies such as videoconferencing, rear projection, directional sound an immersive rehearsal space is created in both locations giving students the unique opportunity to rehearse and explore performances simultaneously while thousands of miles apart2.
  • We have excellent links with industry locally, nationally, and internationally providing opportunities to act in a wide range of contexts and projects. The course is taught by experienced creative practitioners who have worked as directors, actors, and designers for a wide range of companies (staff may be subject to change).
  • Our graduates have gone on to further training, both in UK and abroad and have worked in a variety of roles in the theatre and film industry from acting for Amazon Prime, BBC, and Netflix, touring with both large- and small-scale independent theatre companies, and gone to work in the education sector for (inter)national production companies.

What you'll study

In year one you will begin to develop skills in voice, movement and characterisation coupled with an exploration of contemporary acting styles and practices underpinned with knowledge and theory to help develop your practice. Key practitioners and styles of acting are explored as well as the fundamentals of acting in live, digitised and mediatised settings.

Modules

  • The module aims to introduce you to a range of acting skills needed to work across a range of live and digitised media. You will have the chance to develop creative and playful approaches to working with text, gain an understanding of research and rehearsal processes and develop skills in voice, movement and character development.

    Compulsory

  • Through practical exercises and classes, you will examine the processes and techniques used by performers in the telling of stories in a variety of settings. With the basic resources of an empty space (physical or digital), your own bodies and voices, you will explore the acting process and the mixture of roles needed to create an effective performance.

    Compulsory

  • What is the place of the actor within the creative industries? In this module you will consider arguments for the “value” of the arts and how the evolution of the creative sector in recent decades is linked to wider social, economic and political contexts globally. Through visits to performances and by performers you will explore how this work can reflect and refract notions of community in the UK and compare these to wider international contexts. 

    Compulsory

  • You will further develop a range of acting skills needed to work across a range of live and digitised media. Skills sessions will be linked to a series of workshops that explore developing character with naturalistic and non-naturalistic texts. You will also be introduced to basic camera skills in order to record short pieces for camera.

    Compulsory

  • In this module you’ll have the opportunity to engage in the processes inherent in the generation, construction and execution of devised performance.  You will form a performance company that replicates professional practice and contributes to the process of devising a text for performance. You will also be introduced to production practices: for example, lighting, sound, video projection costume and design and use theoretical structures to interrogate the work.

    Compulsory


  • This is a very hands-on module which enables you to gain a wide variety of skills including lighting a stage set, digital projection and stage management for live performances, basic video filming and post production, sound scaping and use of a mixing desk and operating safely on set. It encourages you to evaluate and develop your areas of interest and expertise for later in the course.

    Compulsory

Year two takes skills developed in year one and applies them to a series of contexts from the digital to the live. From classical to experimental performance styles, you will undertake a series of activities that will continue to develop and hone your acting skills through a series of stage and screen opportunities. There may be opportunities to learn with students from across the School and to engage in externally facing / industry projects2.

 

Modules

  • This module takes a fresh approach to acting in Shakespeare’s plays by exploring his work in a global/cultural context, examining issues of cross-cultural appropriation, gender, 'authority', 'authenticity' and how the works are disseminated across cultures. You will uncover the vocal, physical and emotional demands placed on the performer when working with these plays and explore the demands of performing renaissance texts in contemporary contexts.

    Compulsory

  • Here you will explore the relationship between genres, styles and theories of performance within a global framework. You will be introduced to written texts from key moments in performance history and examine the social, political and theatrical contexts in which these plays were created.  You will develop the skills to experiment practically with a specific text to explore a range of interpretative choices and critically reflect on your work and the work of others.

    Compulsory

  • In this module you will perform in a chosen play (or plays) for a public audience / screening and your performance will be informed by practical work and relevant research. You will work as a company that replicates professional practice and be challenged to explore and resolve the organisational and interpersonal challenges encountered. You will take on a variety of roles and tasks and experience how actors and directors interact during a production process.

    Compulsory

  • You will work with a director in this module to understand the actor’s role within storytelling in narrative film. And you will develop an understanding of the more technical aspects of setting up and shooting a narrative scene through skills sessions including casting, table reads, intimacy and consent, and blocking, choreography and camera set-ups. Peer observation and critical reflection are key to the process.

    Compulsory

  • In this module, you will work with students from courses across the School of Media and Performing Arts and/or industry collaborators, external groups or organisations to respond to an issue in the local, national or global community. You will work collaboratively with fellow students in defined roles that reflect industry practice in your area of study but will also develop skills in the management and organisation roles by taking an active role in the project from beginning to end.

    Compulsory

  • In this module you will undertake practical study of relevant techniques for devising and realising acting in unconventional spaces. You will explore the nature of site-specific and site-responsive performance, the opportunities of immersive performance and work that utilises various technologies available in the digital age. The immersive studio spaces and projects offered by the School will actively support these exciting opportunities for exploration and innovation.

    Compulsory

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee3 of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Modules

  • This module2 provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

    Optional

  • This module2 provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

    Optional

In the final year you will work on shaping your career path with the help of industry professionals. You will continue to have opportunities to develop your acting skills through a series of workshops and projects that prepare you for entry into the creative industries, examining how you apply skills in voice, body and character creation to a series of performance opportunities, leading to a final industry showcase event.

Modules

  • In this module you will continue to develop a range of professional skills essential to work across a range of live and digitised media.  Skills workshops will develop vocal dexterity and the application of vocal technique in performance enabling you to focus on the development of voice and character. You will be able to apply this knowledge to develop a range of microphone-based skills applicable to voice-over, ADR, radio drama, audio books and podcasting. 

    Compulsory

  • This module will examine the aesthetics of acting for the screen drawing on examples of screen acting from early cinema to contemporary film making. You will critically examine genre, style, tone drawing on a range of cultural, social and screen theories. You will examine screen acting in a global context and, through close analysis of screenplays, explore how style can be linked to genre and how genre can be linked to geography and socio-political circumstances.

    Compulsory

  • Here you will have the opportunity to work with a film/television director to create professional-level film work reflecting the directorial vision. This experience will develop your own sense of professionalism as an actor and your understanding of the work ethos on set as part of a film/tv crew. There will be opportunities to explore the actor’s role in the immersive studio spaces and projects the School offers. You will be asked to reflect critically on your experience to the project.

    Compulsory

  • In this module you will develop an understanding of key issues within a professional context for your chosen area of practice. You will be given the opportunity to reflect on your own skillset, potential pathways and career structures relevant for your field. Guest speakers from industry bodies such as ACE and Equity as well as actors’ agents and producers may help guide your work as you take steps towards your career beyond graduation (subject to availability).

    Compulsory

  • This module will provide you with the opportunity to create and publicly present a substantial piece of creative work in collaboration with other students from the School of Media and Performing Arts. You will create and manage a complex, multi-dimensional acting project for stage or screen enabling you to integrate the skills and knowledge you have gained throughout the course, whilst expanding your own discipline expertise.

    Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

The course normally lasts three years. Students successfully completing the first two years of the course can apply to take a Professional Placement2 or Study Abroad module2, spending a year out between the second and third years on placement or study abroad. Past students have spent a year studying at Valencia in Spain, Berlin, Nicosia in Cyprus, and Long Beach, California. Your personal tutor will review and discuss your progress with you and will be available for advice.

Teaching methods include: practical classes and workshops with associated lectures and seminars.

Teaching contact hours

We understand that everyone learns differently, so each of our courses will consist of structured teaching sessions, which can include:

  • On campus lectures, seminars and workshops
  • Group work
  • Self-directed learning
  • Work placement opportunities2.

The number of full-time contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 12 contact hours per week in the first and second year dropping to around 10-12 contact hours per week in the third and final year as you become a more independent learner.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 15 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.

Part of university life is undertaking self-directed learning. During a typical week you will have time that allows you to work independently to apply the skills and knowledge you have learnt in taught or facilitated sessions to your projects or assignment briefs. This self-directed learning allows you to use your research skills, consolidate your knowledge or undertake collaborative group work.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include practical or project work, coursework and essays.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include exams, individual assignments or group work elements.

International experience opportunities

The current teaching team has a vast array of international research expertise which in the past have included exciting collaborations such as a site-specific project on the use of Pico pocket projectors during field trips with Das Institut für Alles Mögliche, Berlin, as well as long-form improvisation research with alumni of Chicago’s Second City and teachers from The Hothouse Los Angeles (staff may be subject to change).

You may also have the opportunity to participate in the Telepresence in Theatre initiative which is an ongoing project between Coventry and the actor training degree at the University of Tampere, Finland. Using repurposed technologies such as videoconferencing, rear projection, directional sound, Adobe Connect and Facebook an immersive rehearsal space is created in both locations to enable students to rehearse and explore a variety of classic plays. The project, which has now received multiple international awards (Gold in Arts and Humanities Reimagine education 2016, Gold in Arts and Humanities and Hybrid Learning Reimagine Education 2018 and Highly Commended at the Times Higher Education Awards 2018) is continuing to develop new ways of teaching and learning at a distance. The project has conducted performances in Hong Kong, Finland and Miami and in 2019 collaborated with Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan and Purdue University in the US.

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.

Requirement What we're looking for
A level BCC
GCSE 5 GCSEs at grade 4 / C or above to include English
BTEC DMM
IB Diploma 27 points
Access to HE The Access to HE Diploma. Plus GCSE English at grade 4 / C or above.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Portfolio

You may be required to attend a portfolio showcase, activity session or audition or submit a portfolio via email (as is appropriate to your course), either virtually or face to face, as is practical to arrange. Invites for these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

Are you eligible for the Fair Access Scheme?

We believe every student should have the opportunity to dream big, reach their potential and succeed, regardless of their background. Find out more about our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Europe

Americas

Middle East

South Asia

South East Asia

East Asia

Africa

Russia and Central Asia


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with an international foundation year. Upon successful completion our International Foundation Year - Art, Design and Media will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this undergraduate degree.

Portfolio

You will be required to submit a portfolio via email or alternatively attend a showcase activity session or audition (as is appropriate for your course) which can be virtual or face to face, as is practical to arrange. Invites to send in your portfolio or attend these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. 

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

2023/24 tuition fees.

Student Full-time Part-time
UK £9,250 per year Not available
International £19,850 per year Not available

If you choose to do a work placement2, you should consider travel and living costs to cover this. There is also a tuition fee3 of £1,250 that will cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad)

  • We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

    If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Access to facilities4, including: a dance performance space with lighting/sound control rooms and comprehensive and up-to-date technical equipment, two dance studios, theatre workshop space, wardrobe facilities and storage with around 3,500 costume items and 1,500 accessories, dedicated technical support for theatre and film and dressing rooms and box office facilities as well as a range of equipment available on loan, such as video, recording, sound and lighting. Booking may be required for some facilities.

Students acting out a classroom scene on stage

Performance spaces

Our Ellen Terry Building has a dance performance space, two dance studios and a theatre workshop. It also has dressing rooms and storage with around 3,500 costume items and 1,500 accessories.
 

Student playing trumpet on stage accompanied by a pianist.

Music seminar room

A great space for our budding musicians, our specialist music seminar room comes with a grand piano, PA, amps, drum kit and 5.1 surround sound, all directly linked to a control room for recording.
 

Student using computer equipment on a recording studio desk.

Television studios

On selected courses, you’ll have access to our on-site television studio The Tank, offering specialist equipment such as large cameras, mixing facilities and fibre-optic wiring throughout.

Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Understand diverse practices of acting within historical and contemporary global contexts
  • Evidence theoretical and contextual knowledge and understanding of acting and performance across a range of live and mediated platforms
  • Engage with the work of local, national and international communities of practice to evaluate, challenge and influence current and future industry trends
  • Demonstrate a diverse range of acting and performance skills in a variety of independent and collaborative contexts
  • Critically reflect on the development of skills in the production of a highly creative portfolio of work as an emerging independent and collaborative practitioner
  • Accurately deploy established techniques in acting across a range of live and mediated at various stages of performance and production.

There is a strong emphasis within the course on your future career path, aimed not only to help you to explore what your chosen career path might be, but also to help build a professional level of business skills and knowledge.

The ‘Actor’s Toolkit: Preparing for Industry’ module in particular is designed to encourage you to develop an appreciation of the nature of professionalism in the context of the performing arts industry and to recognise the relationship between professional arts practice, critical reflection and personal planning. You will have the opportunity to consider career structures relevant for your field, including companies, free-lance, small businesses and sole trader, and the commercial structures within which you may eventually work. We will also look at the possible market places for different skills and creations, which includes areas such as self-promotion, marketing and publicity.

The university's Talent Team is on hand to offer tailored career and enterprise advice to support if you wish to gain employment or take advantage of professional practice opportunities within course specific industries. Our dedicated Enterprise Officers also offer valuable assistance on how to begin as a freelancer/entrepreneur.

On successful graduation, there are many options you could possibly pursue including careers in teaching following further training, socially engaged and community arts organisations and theatre in education contexts.

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and aims to give you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university's Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.

Where our graduates work

Our graduates have gone on to further training, both in UK and abroad and have worked in a variety of roles in the theatre and film industry from acting for Amazon Prime, BBC and Netflix, touring with both large and small scale independent theatre companies and freelance performers.

Previous graduates have secured work in the education departments of theatres including The Belgrade Theatre, The Birmingham Rep, Old Vic Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent, The Roundhouse in London. Others have found roles with a range of organisations, such as supporting national community cohesion at The Challenge, managing TEFL (Teaching of English as a Foreign Language) programmes with Dramatic English in Hong Kong, working alongside schools at specialist SEN agencies or with Live and Local promoting arts in rural Warwickshire.

Further studies

You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

How to apply

  • Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University. 

    1Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

    2UK and international opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    3Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For Home Students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

    For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

    4Facilities

    Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. The 2023/24 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

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