Acting

Acting is one of the performing arts disciplines with the longest and most rigorous educational tradition, encompassing the study of voice, movement, character, text interpretation and the imaginative and emotional work that brings characters convincingly to life on stage, screen or in other performance contexts. An acting degree develops your practical skills as a performer while also giving you a grounded understanding of the techniques and history of acting, the professional contexts in which acting happens and your own identity as a performer. It is an education that demands both technical discipline and creative courage.

At York St John University, this part-time programme develops the full range of acting skills through a performance-focused curriculum. You will explore the use of voice and movement alongside acting technique, building your ability to inhabit characters and bring them to life in a range of performance contexts. The programme uses performance to understand the world we live in, connecting artistic practice to the broader social and cultural dimensions of theatre and performance.

A sandwich placement year, a year abroad and work placement opportunities give you the chance to develop your professional experience and international perspective alongside your performance training, connecting your studies to the professional world before you graduate.

Graduates from acting programmes pursue careers as actors in theatre, film, television and other performance contexts, working across a range of genres and scales from fringe theatre to major productions. Many combine performance work with other employment in arts education, community theatre, drama facilitation and related roles. The skills developed through acting training, including vocal presence, physical awareness, emotional intelligence and the ability to work collaboratively under pressure, are also valued in a surprising range of professions including leadership development, therapeutic practice and teaching.

Postgraduate study in acting, directing or applied theatre is available for those who want to develop their practice further.