Our goal is to liberate you as a performer, to teach you the skills and techniques you will need in this industry as it moves towards a more digital age. With growing bases for TV and Film in the North of England we will ensure you are equipped to act for stage and screen.
New for 2020-21 is our Acting for Digital Performance Course which is delivered in our new DigiHub facilities close to the centre of Halifax, West Yorkshire. An exciting opportunity to continue to develop your acting skills within a digital medium, supported by our highly skilled team who will create industry relevant projects and opportunities readying you for success in the acting industry and access to University or Drama school training.
What you will study
Example projects include:
The Casting Couch
The YouTube series
Digital Performance in Live Theatre
Alongside digitally focused projects you will have classes which develop core acting skills including Voice and the Actor (voice over work, acting in live performance); Auditions for Actors (developing audition skills for screen and Drama school entry); Movement in Performance (exploring how our bodies affect our stage presence) and Arts Business with a focus on preparing application materials (show reel, head shot, acting CV) for employment readiness.
Our department offers
Career Opportunities
We are extremely proud of our students past and present; the majority of whom continue their actor training at Universities and Drama Schools across the UK. Our students have attended LAMDA, UCLAN, Central School of Speech and Drama, Mountview, ALRA, UK wide Universities including progression into our own University Centre based on campus. Career opportunities are broad and include performing, teaching, freelance artists, technical professions and care specialists including Drama Therapy.
‘So many people I know at drama school chose the BTEC path because we are actors and we learn by being creative! You get to learn so many aspects of theatre on this BTEC course in a practical way, which means you are constantly developing your skills & working on your craft. When it comes to audition season, you’re confident performing in front of people because this is something you do daily & you become confident in your skills as you are so often getting feedback on it from tutors. Calderdale prepared me for my audition with the National Youth Theatre & going to auditions with the confidence to just be spontaneous and playful have been so valuable to my training and to my career.’ Annalise Bradshaw, BTEC Extended Diploma Performing Arts Alumni.
Calderdale College Performing Arts gave me the right tools I needed to become a teacher, a childhood dream that became a reality. I made friends, gained confidence and started believing in myself’ Carla Whitaker HND Performing Arts Alumni
‘The second largest Creative Industries sub-sector in terms of employment is the ‘Music, performing and visual arts’ sub-sector, which contributed 14.1% of total Creative Industries employment in 2017.’ (Assets.publishing.service.gov.uk, 2019)
Start Date
September 2025
Entry Requirements & Interview Process
A course suitable for those with at least 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C or grade 4 and above to include Math and English or a relevant level 2 qualification such as BTEC First Diploma, GNVQ Intermediate, NVQ Level 2 or equivalent/relevant work experience.
Applicants without formal qualifications will be considered subject to interview and audition.
Progression
Progress internally onto the Top Up Extended Diploma (One Year) – this will take two years in total.
We have a high rate of learners who then progress onto Higher Education courses at Universities around the country and overseas and Drama Schools and Dance Conservatoires which are highly regarded in the industry.
Further study includes Drama Therapy, Acting, TV and Film Acting, Contemporary Dance, Theatre Studies, and Drama.
We have had learners go on to study much wider related subjects such as Set Design, TV Production, Criminology and Psychology using their learnt skills effectively.
Visit out Empty Space Theatre page for more info on past productions and students who are successfully working in the industry.
Assessment Methods
You will be assessed through workshops and performance work, research projects, the actor’s journal and evaluative documents.
Course Fees
This course is free for students age 16 – 18. For students 19+ please contact our Student Services Team on 01422 399367 for more information.
Calderdale College has a set of standard entry requirements. Apply for the course you want to study and we will help you get there.
There are a lot of courses available – work focused, practical and academic so it is important to think about the future and whether you want to proceed to university, move onto another course or get a job. We offer BTECs, Apprenticeships, T Levels, NVQs, VRQs, Degree Level Courses and more.
If you’re still not sure, don’t worry, just speak to a member of our advice and guidance team who will advise you.
Term Dates
Autumn Term
2nd Sept 2024 – 25th Oct 2024
4th Nov 2024 – 20th Dec 2024
Spring Term
6th Jan 2025 – 14th Feb 2025
24th Feb 2025 – 4th Apr 2025
Calderdale College
Francis Street
Halifax
West Yorkshire
HX1 3UZ
United Kingdom
