Do you aspire to run your own theatre company or have a great idea for a Performing Arts business or project?
Do you want to keep developing your vocational skill? Actor, singer, producer, director?
Do you want to work in the Performing Arts industry but don’t know where you fit in?
Our HND in Professional Performance Practice is designed with our industry partners to develop not just your craft at the next level, but also to give you the opportunities and experience of applying your skills in a professional environment, ultimately with a view to setting up your own enterprise.
There is a perception that sustainable employment in the Performing Arts sector is based solely on chance and happenstance – this is not necessarily the case! There are many small to medium sized enterprises thriving, not only in the region but nationally, due to vision, drive and expertise, such as film or theatre companies.
We have spent time consulting with our industry partners to develop a programme that allows you to build on the skills you have, provides an opportunity for you to gain experience applying them in the real world and gives you the understanding to develop and launch your own business.
COLAB – We are developing a collaborative approach across all creative disciplines at the college (Performing Arts, Dance, Music, Production Arts, Media, Art & Design, Games Design and Hair & Beauty) to make the best use of our industry spec resources so that you can work within integrated creative teams to fulfil your brief – this could include dancers, musicians, actors, composers/arrangers, production arts specialists, technical theatre practitioners, media technicians. Projects will operate to mirror the collaborations required in the ‘real world’ creative environment.
Progression – This programme has a dual progression opportunity – onto a level 6 programme with one of our partnered institutions or straight out into the industry.
You will complete an HNC in year 1 and top this up to a HND in the second year of study.
The qualification is structured under 3 broad areas for development:
PracticeDevelop your personal acting skills at the next level, through workshops, masterclasses, independent and group work.
PerformanceWhatever your specialist vocational area you will need to develop a CV through credible industry application of your skill. You will work on internal and external projects, producing work for potential employers from schools to the live commissions of industry partners.
ProfessionalWe will enhance your entrepreneurial spirit and channel it into developing your own business model. You will develop the know how to set up and sustain your own enterprise, from applying for funding to completing your tax return. Don’t consider your second year as your last year of education, think of it as your first year in the industry.
This is a vocational qualification so you will learn and be assessed by doing – experience is key!
Key activities to include:
Practice
Developing your vocational skills at level 4/5 through workshops, masterclasses and practical seminars.
Performance
You may be involved with performing, designing workshops, projects or fulfilling commissions – as many creatives will teach at some point in their career this will inevitably include some educational practice.
You will learn to develop and deliver sessions, workshops and work as a facilitator.
This is about how you use your vocational skills to successfully complete projects, live briefs or commissions.
You will produce a Major Project or your own design within your vocational field; this project may use some of the learners from lower levels to be your ‘staff’, talent or performers.
Professional
You will develop an understanding of managing finances including bidding for funding and managing budgets.
Creating a business plan is a necessary skill that you will develop in relation to projects and enterprise as well Health and Safety management.
You will learn how to deliver a successful pitch to your desired audience – your Major Project could depend on it!
The success of your business is dependent on your mastery of marketing including website creation and using social media to promote your business.
We have developed ‘CoLab’ to make the best use of our industry specification resources so that you can work within integrated creative teams to fulfil your brief – this could be dancers, musicians, actors, composers/arrangers, production arts specialists, technical theatre practitioners and media.
This programme has a dual progression opportunity – onto a level 6 programme with one of our partner institutions or straight out into the industry.
We will enhance your entrepreneurial spirit and channel it into developing your own business model. You will develop the know-how to set up and sustain your own enterprise, from applying for funding to completing your tax return. Don’t consider your second year as your last year of education, think of it as your first year in the industry.
Audition/Interview
Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
You will need some vocational ability in your chosen area.
UCAS Tariff – 96 pointsRelevant Level 3 qualification, plus GCSE Maths and English grade A*-C (9-4 in new grades).
Mature candidates with some relevant experience will be considered without the above formal qualifications.
We work extensively with partners such as Northern Stage and Live Theatre as well as Creative and Cultural Skills to ensure our qualifications are credible and current.
The fee shown is the fee you will pay per year of study. For example, if the course lasts for one year, this is the full fee you will pay.
If the course lasts for one or more years, this is the fee you’ll pay per year of study.
There may be additional costs for equipment, uniforms or study resources which we’ll let you know about at your course interview.
Many of our learners will apply for a Student Loan to help cover these fees.
Our friendly team can help you through this process and can be contacted via email at [email protected] or 0191 490 0300 or via Live Chat.
Please note: The fee shown may be subject to change when our fee policy is agreed in Spring 2025.
If this happens after you have applied, you will be contacted directly before the course is due to start.
All courses will run subject to sufficient student numbers.
Whatever support you need, we’re here for you and will make sure you get the most out of your time at college. We have expert teams in place to look after every single one of our students.
To contact our dedicated Learning Support team email [email protected] or head to Live Chat
View or download our course guide for 16-18 year olds.