Liverpool is a free-thinking, passionate and creative city that is keen on art. For example, it hosted Eurovision 2023 and is also known for supporting innovative artists. In addition, there are educational institutions where you can understand the basics and depths of theatrical art and join the acting community. What are they exactly? Learn more at liverpool1.one.
Liverpool Hope University
This institution bears a rather unusual and at least creative name, which hints at its specialisation. Here, you can explore theatre and performance right in the heart of Liverpool. The university teaches about the origins of modern acting techniques as well as how to develop your practical skills.
Liverpool Hope’s creative community is internationally recognised and a world leader in drama research and practice. Its students can acquire acting and directing skills and develop imagination as well as critical abilities. The school makes extensive use of Liverpool’s numerous theatre venues, including the classic Everyman/Playhouse Theatre, the extravagant Tate Liverpool as well as its own Capstone Theatre. Students also use well-equipped theatre studios.
Liverpool Hope University helps to explore performance in its historical context as well as its role in modern society. The institution’s approach is teaching in a circle, that is, interactively developing aesthetic and social skills, which later allow its graduates to become potential leaders in the field of dramatic art and change the world for the better.
The structure of the course consists of lectures, where students study in small groups of 15-20 like-minded people. There are also practical classes attended by up to 10 students. In the first year, there are usually 12 study hours per week and in the second and third years, their number is reduced to about 10. Teachers give tasks for independent study every week and also organise performance rehearsals.
All stages of study at the university are assessed. Thus, you should write a course paper, essays, reviews and self-reflection tasks. Practical work consists of live performances and presentations of one’s work. In the last year, you need to defend a thesis. All of this will be evaluated by professors.
Edge Hill University
The Faculty of Performing Arts at Edge Hill University is another opportunity to find reliable guides on your theatre path. To act, to create and to produce are the three set tasks of the university. Thus, its students can become part of the creative community and later masters in the chosen field of this art form.
Here, you can study dance, drama and musical theatre. It means a wealth of opportunities in at least three creative industries. For example, if we talk about drama, why do we need it? What are the features of its modern variety? Is there a point in today’s popular entertainment? All this is discussed in a fascinating artistic debate.
Many subjects here are focused on live performance. Students are encouraged to develop their artistic skills and vision. Master classes with professional directors and theatre companies also take place at the university. The experienced experts help to learn new techniques of acting and performance, peculiarities of improvisation and explain how to behave properly in rehearsals in the studio and on stage.
To understand the value and essence of drama, students examine plays through the lens of time and culture, seeking answers to the following questions:
- How did this form of art develop?
- How did ethnic groups affect it?
- How have theatre groups worked in the past and how do they work now?
Dance, drama and musical theatre are studied at the Faculty of Performing Arts. Accordingly, students benefit from all the teaching and learning facilities available here, worth around £7 million. Among other things are
- rehearsal halls
- dance studios
- digital sound and design studios
- stage dock
- concert hall
- open amphitheatre
- and a costume-making workshop.
So, the university provides a lot of interesting opportunities. There are literally all the conditions to become a master in some branch of theatrical art!
The City of Liverpool College
The City of Liverpool College allows you to learn various aspects of the theatre arts within Bethany College. Professors promise that students will begin their studies with excitement.
Bethany College’s theatre programme is preparing students for a career within the performing arts and beyond. The management of the institution promises an individual approach and many opportunities to perform, that is, to practise. The programme teaches the ability to think critically, the desire to seek the truth in art and, thus, to achieve perfection in acting.
This college allows students to understand different work methods and develop skills that will help them grow throughout life. In the classroom, students learn about the connection between theatre and physical, literary, visual and vocal methods of expression. In the performance season, it stages not only classic plays but also less-known but, at the same time, important ones. Some performances are created by students themselves, but they can, if they wish, ask for teachers’ assistance.
These are just a few examples, but they are enough to understand that getting a theatre education in Liverpool is not that difficult.