PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMME

Introduction

Our vision is to provide a learning experience that is immersive, practical and creative, producing theatre artists who are self-directed and responsible, who can express themselves through their craft and who value collaboration.

In acting, students are introduced to range of acting techniques, developing alongside their vocal capabilities and physical range. Learners move from ensemble work to solo acting ensuring they are industry-ready when they leave.

In theatre design, students develop skills in designing for performance (screen, stage, TV), visual research, costume design, lighting design, model-making and building imaginative worlds and stories.

Both acting and design students have opportunities to collaborate with each other particularly in the directing for performance modules. They also get opportunities to meet professional practitioners, including directors, writers, scenic artists, filmmakers, lighting and sound designers.

Our programme has a unique relationship in Ireland with the Abbey, through the Yeats Bursary Award, leading to workshops, consultations, placements, and working with Abbey directors. It also benefits from theatre venues including

Blue Raincoat Theatre Company and the Hawkswell in Sligo, the Dock in Carrick on Shannon and the Glens in Manorhamilton which further enriches students’ learning experience. Our programme has added ballast from working with local artists, practitioners and community groups, basing us solidly in the region.

Sligo is central to our vision for this course. Seamus Heaney spoke about the significance of place in the imaginative experience, “that nourishment that comes from belonging to or knowing a place.” The landscape and stories connected to Sligo have shaped the spatial and poetic exploration of place encouraged in this programme. Landscapes, ruins, dolmens, passage tombs, and sites connected to Irish mythology and folklore have been used for performance, design, filmmaking and storytelling.

We read, imagine, design, make, reimagine, adapt, perform, and create stories in every module. Be it voice, body, movement, performance, space, words - we are making narratives.