Acting - Contemporary
| Award | Attendance | Study | Duration | Start | Domestic fees | International fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA | On-Campus | Full-time | - 1 years | January | £22750 per year | £27500 per year |
Current fees for The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama can be found here: https://www.cssd.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees-and-additional-costs
About Acting - Contemporary, MA - at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
MA Acting Contemporary at Central is a creatively, physically and intellectually demanding, advanced-level conservatoire acting programme. It is designed primarily for students with previous training or performance experience who wish to focus on contemporary writing and the creation of new theatre.
- Perform in two professionally supported public productions and an industry showcase.
- Hone your individual technical craft, and release your collaborative and imaginative creativity within a diverse ensemble company (typically 14-16 students)
- Learn through practical group classes in acting, movement, voice and stage combat; seminars on identity, dramatic theory and research skills; and individual tutorials and feedback panels
This experiential and practical course will encourage your development as an embodied actor, able to work across a wide range of material from script-based rehearsals to personal writing and creation. It develops your collaborative skills by building a strong ensemble company and usually culminates in the development and production of a piece of new writing, specially commissioned for the course.
The Contemporary course has a thematic structure, working through the following areas of investigation:
> Storytelling, embodiment and the ensemble
> Textual analysis and the psychophysical process
> Transformation into character
> The playwright and the actor-creator
The training engages with methodologies drawn from a wide range of theatrical artists and thinkers. Our teachers are inspired by Stanislavsky and his inheritors; physical theatre, improvisation and mask practitioners such as Lecoq, Gaulier, Wright and Johnstone; voice and movement pioneers Berry, Linklater, Laban, Bartenieff, Feldenkrais, and Roth; and modern traditions such as Viewpoints and Suzuki. The approach and content are intended to be embodied, inter-disciplinary and culturally inclusive.
You will work with exceptional plays from Chekhov to Kane and tucker green, and with the most contemporary writing possible, your words and the words of an established playwright writing for the company. You will be equipped to interpret, invent and perform and to have a full political and creative engagement with your work.
Entry requirements
Contact Royal Central School of Speech and Drama to find course entry requirements.
Why study at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Specialist conservatoire training
The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (Central) is a member of the University of London and one of the UK’s leading drama schools. Based in Swiss Cottage, London, Central offers specialist conservatoire-style training across performance, practice and production, preparing students for careers in theatre, film, TV and live events.
A focused learning environment
Central is a small, specialist institution, which means students benefit from small class sizes, close contact with tutors, and intensive practical training. Teaching is led by experienced practitioners and academics, with learning shaped around professional practice and real-world creative processes.
Career-focused education
At Central, future careers are built into the curriculum. Students graduate as specialists in their chosen field, with strong professional insight, industry experience and a clear understanding of how the creative industries work. Central’s long history and strong industry links help students build connections and develop sustainable careers across the performing arts.
Professional facilities and London location
Students train in specialist studios, rehearsal spaces and production facilities, including performance venues and technical workshops. Central’s London location places students close to the heart of the UK’s creative industries, offering access to theatres, production companies and professional opportunities throughout their studies.