Associate Degree of Dramatic Art

The Associate Degree of Dramatic Art is a program that nurtures the next generation of actors, directors, scriptwriters, producers and theatre makers for the international stage and screen. Students exiting the Bachelor of Dramatic Art after successfully completing the first two years will be awarded the Associate Degree of Dramatic Art. Within the course, students can choose to specialise in performance practice (including actor training) or theatre practice and gain skills in various aspects of theatre making.

The Performance Practice major is a rigorous and intensive course designed to prepare students for a career in stage and screen acting. It focuses on developing skills, techniques and versatility essential to work in both theatre and screen. Students explore and embody characters and develop emotional depth to their work, guided through exercises, scene work, and improvisation. In turn, this will help them to develop a strong understanding of the actor’s process. In their final year, students learn to adapt these skills for the unique requirements of screen in order to act in a short film.

The Theatre Practice major is designed for aspiring actors, producers, directors and scriptwriters. Students will become equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to create their own original works and begin their own theatre companies after graduation. Throughout the program, students explore the foundations of acting including a variety of techniques and methods. They learn to analyse scripts, embody characters and develop their own unique style of performance. In addition to acting, students will learn about the complexity of theatre management, how to direct scripts, communicate a vision with actors and utilise lighting and sound to create compelling stage works. All this experience will enable them to take on a producer role after graduation.