ppa - performance preparation academy

Two Year Musical Theatre Preparation Course

COURSE OVERVIEW

This course is designed for students between 16-20 who are looking for the correct amount of academic qualifications to continue their training into Higher Education or that need more than the typical one year foundation course before they continue their training, whilst gaining daily high quality vocational training from professional tutors, in order to increase their chances of gaining places at leading CDS Drama Schools.

YEAR ONE – TECHNIQUE AND TRAINING

Year one is focused on general training in all areas of performance. Students break down each skill to develop a better understanding of their capabilities, and to re-enforce confidence within their talents. During this year students that are under the age of 18 and still require qualifications sit various Grade 8 exams in Drama, Musical Theatre and Shakespeare with Trinity Guildhall, London College of Music and LAMDA to gain the necessary qualifications for entry later into higher education, especially when applying via UCAS which is required for some colleges. (Please note students over 18 will not take these exams and will focus on technique, classes for exams will be added onto the timetable for those that need them).

Grade 8 exams include:

  • Individual Acting — Trinity Guildhall
  • Speech & Drama — Trinity Guildhall
  • Musical Theatre — London College of Music
  • Shakespeare — Trinity Guildhall

At the end of each term students will take part in a workshop style show performed within college hours using techniques and styles learnt during the term. These will be for assessments only in the first two terms and then open to parents in the third term. Each term parents will also receive assessment marks and reports of progress. By the end of this year students that require exams will have sat at least two of the four necessary.

YEAR TWO — AUDITIONS & OUTREACH

Year two, students are prepared for entry into higher education colleges. Through workshops, talks and mock auditions they work together with these colleges, before eventually taking part in their future college auditions starting around February.

Students that require qualifications will sit the remainder of their exams within the first and second term of this year. The colleges we hold links with are:

London Studio Centre, Arts Educational, GSA, Mountview, Middlesex University, Urdang, Birds, Laines, Royal Scottish, Royal Welsh, our own PPA 3 Year Diploma and ALRA.

We help students in filling out their application forms for colleges however it is the student’s responsibility to send these off to colleges themselves and request auditions from February onwards. We cannot guarantee that the students will be successful if they arrange earlier auditions than February.

SHOWCASE

At the end of the third term, PPA presents a showcase of the graduating students for family, colleges and potential agents. This is held in a professional theatre within the college area. All 2nd year and One Year Intensive in Musical Theatre students will be involved in this Showcase.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

All students on this course will also be welcome to join in extra dance classes (extra payment required), audition for PPA Singers which is our college choir and the Trinity Guildhall Level 4 Diploma in Teaching Theatre Arts which runs in the evening and alongside the course for 36 weeks. Students must be 18 to take part in this extra course and will be qualified to teach Musical Theatre by the end of the year (extra payment required).