Diploma in Acting and Theatre

Overview

What is the Foundation Diploma in Acting and Theatre?

The foundation course is aimed primarily at school leavers interested in preparing themselves for three-year actor training at conservatoire level, either at The Lir Academy or other drama schools. With an additional focus on broadening students’ reading and understanding of plays and theatre history, it also prepares students for broader drama degrees and related areas of study and work. The course is taught by a committed team of teachers, including many of The Lir Academy’s core acting tutors and teachers from our Master of Fine Art programmes. The personal development of students is enhanced by regular individual tutorials with the course director, a dedicated member of staff who supervises all aspects of the programme.

The course also encourages students to develop their own individual creativity with a focus on collaboration, improvisation and lateral thinking.

Do you enjoy…

• Devising theatre and film scripts in a creative collaborative environment?
• Performing and studying Shakespearean and contemporary plays?
• Developing your acting, vocal and movement technique for performance?

Foundation Diploma in Acting and Theatre: The course for you?

This course runs for 24 weeks and culminates in an intensive week of rehearsal and project based work. Classes will take place from Monday to Friday, for six hours per day, and will cover the core subjects of acting, voice and movement as well as physical theatre, dance, text analysis, choral singing, acting for screen, theatre history, audition technique classes and professional development with a focus on career progression. Assessment is based on a series of practical class presentations in all modules.

The course is specifically designed to prepare students for drama/acting degrees and related areas of study and work within the theatre, TV and film industries. All the training is provided by dedicated theatre professionals with strong industry links.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

The Foundation Diploma provides the students with a basis in the fundamentals of Acting, Voice and Movement technique. Students study the main genres of dramatic writing as well as performing these works and developing their own. This training provides the foundation for their future study as actors at drama conservatoires as well as for studying academically at B.A. level.

Your course and what you’ll study

This course runs for 24 weeks and culminates in an intensive week of rehearsal and project based work. Classes run Monday to Friday, with six hours contact time per day. Classes are led by The Lir Academy’s regular teaching staff and incorporate subjects such as:

• Core techniques of movement, voice and acting.
• Individual tutorials with dedicated foundation course coordinator.
• Project based work, focusing on classical and contemporary theatre, culminating in week-long intensive rehearsal periods
• Improvisation and physical theatre.
• Text analysis and sight reading.
• Choral singing.
• Acting for screen.
• Solo Shakespeare and Shakespearean scenes.
• Theatre history.
• Audition technique.
• Professional development and career progression classes, with a focus on professional acting and non-acting based theatre, TV and film careers.

Click here for further information on modules/subjects.

How to Apply

This is a restricted entry course. Applications must be submitted by the beginning of February 2025. This course is taught by The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art at Trinity. It is not part of the CAO application system. Application forms can be completed online on The Lir Academy website at: www.thelir.ie. Only one application is needed for the Bachelor in Acting degree and the Foundation Diploma in Acting and Theatre if students are applying for both courses.