International Drama Foundation

International Drama Foundaton is ideal for....

International students who would like to study acting further in the UK / USA, but whose English Language level is currently too low.

Students may also progress onto CSVPA’s Drama Foundation in association with RADA, subject to a successful audition.

Using the same vigourous techniques as our Drama Foundation course, you will be trained in the core disciplines of acting, dance and musical theatre.

Alongside these disciplines there will be a strong emphasis on English language training, with a particular focus on English in drama, taught by qualified English tutors with a drama background.

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The programme
View a sample timetable
Audition guidelines

About you...

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It starts in Cambridge

The three term International Drama Foundation programme combines Voice, Acting, Performance and Audition practice with English language tuition. 

You will develop your expertise in Drama through tuition by leading professionals, one-to-one masterclasses and group exercises. By the time you copmlete the course you will have the skills and confidence required to make a success of future study in drama.

The International Drama Foundation is intensive and physically demanding, involving:

• Physical Theatre
• Movement
• Voice
• Received Pronunciation (R.P.)
• Dance
• Singing
• Frequent theatre excursions throughout the year

Based on a 40 hour week, you will receive:

• 20 hours of English language
• 5 hours movement
• 2 hours dance
• 6 hours acting
• 5 hours voice
• 2 hours singing

Course modules

Acting

An introduction to the analysis of the acting craft (as defined by Stanislavski and other influential practitioners) and to the ways in which an actor can use his or her mind and body to tell stories through the exploration of poems, monologues and scenes.

Voice & Text

Voice classes will help you find good alignment, breath support, control and energized resonance, initially focusing on clarity of speech and diction, and gradually shifting to match good vocal technique with character work and text interpretation.

Theatre in Context

Studying the context of a play through seminars, lectures and workshops. The society, culture and events taking place when a play was written.

Movement

You will develop an awareness of your body so that it becomes an instrument for interaction, character development and good storytelling.

Dance

An introduction to the professional skills required in musical theatre, dance or acting, learning to control the body and develop coordination, musicality and fluidity.

Singing

Singing classes will include professional techniques such as breathing, warm-up exercises, ear training and vocal techniques.

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Learn from a team of experienced performance practitioners

"No tutor I've worked with since has matched the dedication and spirit of my tutors at CSVPA." - Michelle Ng, former student

All our lecturers are performance specialists who have ongoing professional experience within the theatre industry, both in the UK and internationally.

Jean Stewart
Head of Drama & Performing Arts

Jean teaches acting on the Drama Foundation bringing with her more than 20 years of professional experience.

Jean trained at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) and Glasgow University. She has worked in theatre in education both here and in Europe (Spain and Germany) for over twenty years. She has experience working in community theatre with adults and in developing new writing for young people through the National Theatre Connexions programme, working on plays such as Friendly Fire by Peter Gill. More recently Jean acted with Menagerie Theatre Company during their 2006 season of New Writing.

Jean has been director of the drama foundation for four years and teaches the acting element of the course. She has directed a diverse number of plays throughout her career most recently The Merry Wives of Windsor, Gogol's The Government Inspector and The Threepenny Opera.

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Sample timetable

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
08:45-09:00	Tutorial	Tutorial	Tutorial	Tutorial	Tutorial
Period 1 09:00-10:00	Dance	Voice	Movement	Voice	Movement
Period 2 10:00-11:00	Dance	Voice	Movement	Voice	Movement
Period 3 11.15-12:15	Acting	Singing	Voice	Acting	Acting
Period 4 12:15-13:15	Acting	Singing	Voice	Acting	Acting
Period 5  13:15-14:15	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
Afternoon 14:15-18:30	English language	English language	English language	English language	English language

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Audition guidelines

You must present two modern pieces recited from memory.

You should select two contrasting monologues for audition:

• one modern (1850-1950)
• one contemporary (1950-current)
• no more than 2 minutes in length.

These monologues should be committed to memory ready for performance and should not be read.

You may be asked to read an unprepared speech and / or improvise a scene chosen by the Head of Drama at audition.

You should bring with you a copy of your chosen pieces.

If you are unable to make an audition in person in the UK a recording (dvd / film) will be accepted.

Auditions should be in English and copies of the chosen pieces should be sent with the recording.

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