As a performing arts student at Chesterfield College, you’ll be joining a vibrant team of talented professionals, learning a wide range of performance skills and a wider knowledge of production arts.
Our courses offer you the chance to gain insight from regular guest lectures, theatre trips, visits to shows and more, and access to our in-house studio theatre, dance and drama studios, props and costume departments.
You’ll have the opportunity to build a comprehensive portfolio of work, helping you to showcase yourself in the industry and stand out to agents and future employers, as well as developing knowledge of the technical aspects of production and performing arts.
Level 1 – Skills For Creative Industries
Your introduction to the world of creative industries starts here, offering you the opportunity to experience a range of practical creative activities and gain invaluable knowledge, including performance and audience research skills, acting, art & design, dance, stage production and sound.
Our Level 1 course is designed to give you the experience and skills to move forward into a more focused creative industries course.
Level 2 – Performing And Production Arts
Our Level 2 course is the equivalent of 4 GCSEs, delivering a mix of scripted, devised pieces, physical theatre, dance, makeup, professional development and theory. The course is 60% practical and 40% theoretical.
You’ll do 3 shows a term across the level 2 course. This will include scripted plays. Learning to perform naturalism and methods towards acting. Physical theatre and creating performances from scratch. You will also take part in a student-led performance project. These projects will help you develop your acting, singing and dance skills, and rehearsal processes and offer insight into the wider performance and production industry.
Harry Brogan…
“I did musical production at school and I played a few main roles in some of the productions. At Chesterfield they make you think about what goes on behind the scenes, such as the directing and other worlds within the arts as well as the performance side. As I am interested in both, I wanted the full experience of being on stage and behind the scenes.”
Level 3 – Performing And Production Arts (Diploma & Extended Diploma)
Our Level 3 course is equivalent to 3 A-Levels and offers a great progression route through to university, careers in the industry or onto our HNC/HND courses here at college.
This course offers an exciting range of practical work and is focussed on three main areas – acting, dancing and singing. You’ll have the opportunity to work in each of the areas but also focus on your own pathway and specialist skills within them, and our tutors will help tailor your experience to fit your own strengths and skill set.
Alongside these areas the course offers a range of practical knowledge and experience in industry roles, interview and audition techniques, choreography, dance styles, theory and musical theatre, helping you to build an excellent portfolio of work and ready yourself for the next step in your career.
You can either study for a 1-year diploma, or 2 year extended diploma allowing you to achieve up to 84 UCAS points for 1 year or 168 UCAS points for the full 2 years.
Beth Crew…
“I am enjoying how accepting people are on the performing arts course. You definitely have to throw yourself into the course to get the most out of it and not be embarrassed. I have grown in confidence this year. I enjoy moving and I love the creative side of it. I have been wanting to do media makeup since I was twelve. I became interested after a careers day at secondary school. I love that there’s no right or wrong, as long as you are creative and passionate you’ll succeed.”
Level 4 / Level 5
If you are dreaming of performing on TV/film or on tour, our HND in Performing Arts will equip you with the skills to become a freelance performer with a focus on Acting on Stage and Screen. Projects will include; camera work, screen tests, working with media students as film crew, voice-over, contemporary theatre and dance and performance creation. Develop your professional practice and improve your movement, acting and voice skills while learning about creative arts research, workshop leadership and how to create exciting immersive performances.