Performance Program: Acting & Devising

The Performance program in the Department of Theatre & Performance is designed to provide foundational performance skills and methods of both interpreting roles within diverse works and creating original work, all within a framework of fully embodied performance for stage and screen. Students study Voice, Movement, Acting and Devising over the three years of training, acquiring knowledge and a range of high-level skills that are then applied in performance projects. Performance students will be given the opportunity to participate in various York projects outside of their regular Performance program classes, and in full productions or in the Devised Theatre Festival as part of the Theatre @ York season in fourth year.

Performance opportunities both within and outside of course work will be offered throughout the program and may demand committed hours outside of scheduled class time at certain points in the year. Because of the demanding workload, it is highly recommended that students complete all courses they are taking outside the Department of Theatre & Performance before entering fourth year. All students are encouraged to schedule their non-Performance classes on Monday during the day. It is not uncommon for Performance students to take longer than the traditional four years to complete their requirements.

Students in the Performance program are either part of the “focused” BFA Hons Acting & Performance degree cohort, or in the “flexible” BA or BFA Hons Performance Creation degree cohort. They are advised not to pursue a double major or major/minor. Many students find the program challenging in terms of time management, stamina and maintaining academic standards. Not maintaining a satisfactory cumulative overall grade average can jeopardize your standing in the program so it is imperative you do well in all your courses.

Students choosing to accept an offer of a place in the BFA Hons Acting & Performance “Focused” program must complete a Program Change form by June 30 to switch from Specialized Honours BA to Specialized Honours BFA Acting & Performance. All three general education requirements must be completed within your first 90 credits, and it is strongly recommended that you complete them within your first 60 credits.

Criteria for Entry

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Theatre students are expected to have an academic average acceptable to continue within the Department and be prepared for two auditions, for Acting and Devised Theatre. Please see the Next Steps page for further information.

In order to audition for second-year Performance, students must successfully complete THEA 1010 3.0 Introduction to Acting I, THEA 1100 3.0 Introduction to Stagecraft I and THEA 1200 6.0 Introduction to Theatre and Performance.  Students who successfully audition but do not successfully complete THEA 1200 6.0 will not be accepted into the Performance area.

Please note:  Acceptance into second-year Performance does not automatically guarantee entrance into third- or fourth-year Performance. Students are reassessed at the end of each term. Assessment is based on academic evaluation and progress in class work.

Students in the Performance Program must maintain a grade of B or higher in each course of Voice, Movement, Acting and/or Devising in each term in order to be allowed to advance to the next term.

Anyone leaving the Performance Area for a period of one year or more, for whatever reason, even if in good academic standing, will be expected to re-audition to re-enter the Program unless a statement to the contrary has been received in writing from the Program at the time of withdrawal.

Second Year

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An introductory approach to the principles of acting & devising, stressing spontaneity, concentration, relaxation and personal expression through personalization and ensemble work. There is a strong emphasis on acquiring individual technical skills in voice and movement. Work will also be developed through scene study exercises in Scene Study, or through devising exercises in Devised Theatre. Students in the Performance program must maintain a grade of B or higher in each course of Voice, Movement and Acting and/or Devising in each term in order to be allowed to advance to the next term.

Required courses BFA Hons Acting & Performance:

  • THEA 2010 3.0 Voice: Breath, Sound, Text
  • THEA 2020 3.0 Acting & Devising
  • THEA 2021 3.0 Acting: Scene Study OR THEA 2051 3.0 Devised Theatre
  • THEA 2030 3.0 Movement: Breath, Strength, Ease
  • THEA 2200 6.0 History of Theatre and Performance
  • THEA 2210 3.0 Theatre and Social Justice

Required courses BA or BFA Hons Performance Creation

  • THEA 2110 6.0 2nd Year Stagecraft
  • THEA 2200 6.0 History of Theatre and Performance
  • THEA 2210 3.0 Theatre and Social Justice

Performance Program classes that serve as prerequisites to upper-year Performance

  • THEA 2010 3.0 Voice: Breath, Sound, Text
  • THEA 2020 3.0 Acting & Devising
  • THEA 2021 3.0 Acting II OR THEA 2051 3.0 Devised Theatre
  • THEA 2030 3.0 Movement: Breath, Strength, Ease

Third Year

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Continued exploration of the principles of acting and/or devising, movement and vocal techniques, and other related skills (specific classes TBA).  Understanding and interpreting scripts through performance, exploring creation and devising philosophies and strategies, together with skills and techniques in building a character allow students to explore a variety of styles and actively expand the range of their work. Students are provided several more opportunities to perform in other Performance projects throughout the year.

Students in the BFA Hons Acting & Performance “focused” program take 2 performance skill courses per semester, while those in the BA/BFA Performance Creation “flexible” program take 1.

Required courses BFA Hons Acting & Performance:

  • THEA 3020 3.0 Acting: Shakespeare and Contemporary Scene Study, or
    THEA 3050 Devised Theatre III
  • THEA 3021 3.0 Acting: The Play or THEA 3051 Devised Theatre IV

2 from:

  • THEA 3010 3.0 Voice: Classical Text & Intelligibility
  • THEA 3030 3.0 Movement: Physical Range, Character Body, & Transformation
  • (THEA 3040 3.0 TBA)

2 from:

  • THEA 3011 3.0 Voice: Speech & Dialect
  • THEA 3031 3.0 Movement: Emotional Authenticity—Connecting Body, Voice & Acting
  • (THEA 3041 3.0 TBA)

BA or BFA Hons Performance Creation:

Performance Program classes that serve as prerequisites to fourth-year Performance

  • THEA 3010 3.0 Voice: Classical Text & Intelligibility or THEA 3030 3.0 Movement: Physical Range, Character Body & Transformation or THEA 3040 3.0 TBA
  • THEA 3011 3.0 Voice: Speech & Dialect or THEA 3031 3.0 Movement: Emotional Authenticity—Connecting Body, Voice & Acting, or THEA 3041 3.0 TBA
  • THEA 3020 3.0 Acting: Shakespeare and Contemporary Scene Study or THEA 3050 Devised Theatre III
  • THEA 3021 3.0 Acting: The Play or THEA 3051 Devised Theatre IV

All Theatre majors must complete either THEA 3150 3.0 Theatre Management or THEA 4150 3.0 Theatre Career Management and three additional credits at the 3000 or 4000 level from the following list in order to graduate:

THEA 3135 3.0
THEA 3211 3.0
THEA 3235 3.0
THEA 3240 3.0
THEA 3260E 3.0
THEA 3260H 3.0
THEA 3290 6.0
THEA 3300 3.0
THEA 3331 3.0
THEA 3450 3.0
THEA 3450 6.0
THEA 4111 3.0
THEA 4200 3.0
THEA 4225 3.0
THEA 4270B 3.0
THEA 4270L 3.0
THEA 4290 6.0
THEA 4330 3.0
THEA 4331 3.0
THEA 4333 3.0
THEA 4334 3.0
THEA 4334 6.0
THEA 4335 3.0
THEA 4360 3.0
THEA 4440 3.0
THEA 4440 6.0

Fourth Year

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Advanced work in performance skills and acting and/or devising will be developed in class work and in Theatre @ York productions or for the Devised Theatre Festival. Particular emphasis is given to career-oriented skills, such as audition techniques for both stage and screen, self-promotion and self-care fundamentals. Students taking THEA 4020 participate in the Next Generation Showcase to audition for agents, casting directors and artistic directors.

Required courses BFA Hons Acting & Performance:

  • THEA 4020 3.0 Acting: Audition & Showcase Preparation or THEA 4050 3.0 Devised Theatre V
  • THEA 4021 3.0 Acting for Camera
  • THEA 4071 3.0 Performance Practicum IV orTHEA 4051 Devised Theatre VI

2 from:

  • THEA 4010 3.0 Voice: Accent & Voice-Over
  • THEA 4030 3.0 Movement: Physical Performance Skills
  • (THEA 4040 3.0 TBA)

Performance students may also take FILM 4180 3.0 Acting and Directing II – Directing Actors for the Screen as one of their AMPD electives.

Students enrolled in the Specialized Honours BFA Acting & Performance will be required to complete at least 78 credits in Theatre.

All Theatre majors must complete either THEA 3150 3.0 Theatre Management or THEA 4150 3.0 Theatre Career Management and three additional credits at the 3000 or 4000 level from the following list in order to graduate:

THEA 3135 3.0
THEA 3211 3.0
THEA 3235 3.0
THEA 3240 3.0
THEA 3260E 3.0
THEA 3260H 3.0
THEA 3290 6.0
THEA 3300 3.0
THEA 3331 3.0
THEA 3450 3.0
THEA 3450 6.0
THEA 4111 3.0
THEA 4200 3.0
THEA 4225 3.0
THEA 4270B 3.0
THEA 4270L 3.0
THEA 4290 6.0
THEA 4330 3.0
THEA 4331 3.0
THEA 4333 3.0
THEA 4334 3.0
THEA 4334 6.0
THEA 4335 3.0
THEA 4360 3.0
THEA 4440 3.0
THEA 4440 6.0

Students must also complete:

  • 12 elective credits chosen from the other departments in AMPD
  • 6 credits from the FA/1900 3.00 series of courses, outside the Theatre major
  • 18 credits of General Education courses: 6 credits from each of Humanities, Social Science and Natural Science (or approved substitutes)
  • 6 credits non-AMPD electives
  • 6 free elective credits

The Performance Program is restricted to students in the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design.