Acting

Programme Information

Duration: 3 Years

Award: BA(Hons) Acting

The training of the actor is a rigorous, multi-faceted discipline involving mind, body, and emotion. It is also in demand more than ever across a broad range of performance events. Professional acting careers can be sustained in theatre, film, television, and many other forms of media. Actors can use their skills and intelligence to re-interpret the great classics of the world, as well as create innovative, authentic, and thought-provoking portrayals on stage and screen.

This performance-based programme offers quality training in all essential elements: acting, voice and movement techniques, together with imaginative, improvisational, and research skills. Theory is balanced with practice and applied to dramatic literature, script analysis, world theatre, and cinema. LASALLE aims to graduate thinking, expressive actors, informed and creative, with the ability to work across genres, media, and performance cultures. Through classes, projects, workshops, and productions, the course develops your abilities to work in an ensemble environment and with awareness of your own imaginative resources. The programme collaborates with other faculties, especially The Puttnam School of Film, which is part of LASALLE's Faculty of Media Arts, and offers rich training within a wide cultural and historical context. You will participate in a variety of fully-mounted productions directed by international professionals in a range of theatre spaces.

Level 1 considers the relationship between body, voice and mind, and develops physical presence. The unique feature of Level 1 is the Asian Theatre Project and intensive stylistic workshops – from Commedia to Kabuki. Level 2 reinforces the interdependence of the elements that make up the actor's processes. You are guided to a personal work method, through continuous engagement with productions – from Shakespeare to Shepherd. Level 3 operates as a theatre company, with ensemble members, comprising final year students, experiencing a range of roles, styles, genres, and disciplines. You refine your art form with a strong focus on your individual strengths.

Teaching Methods: You will be taught through lectures, seminars, practical presentations, class participation, rehearsals, journals and master classes.

Assessments: Assessment is an integral part of the learning process, and will be formative and diagnostic as well as summative and evaluative, providing feedback to students wherever appropriate. Read more about assessments here.

Modules

Level 1

Acting 1
Acting 1 lays the foundation for the acting methods and the working vocabulary. This module analyses your strengths and weaknesses and imparts technical skills to recognise and free up habitual patterns that impede flexibility and expression. Improvisation offers tools for imaginative and creative explorations as well as developing ensemble work and spontaneity. These skills will be developed and augmented over the three years.

Performance Technique 1
This module introduces the technical skills required of voice and movement. Voice classes develop the range and timbre of the vocal instrument, isolate individual problem areas, and install appropriate breathing techniques to support performance. The programme provides you with a select movement system and physical experiences in forming the bases for a more physically aware performer.

Contextual Studies 1
You are introduced to the history of world theatre and given an overview of theatre systems – from the classical Western model through to the performance styles of a number of non-Western disciplines.

Performance 1A/B
Participation in a series of workshops and in-house performances (Asian and Western) enables you to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills gained through classes and set study. Emphasis is given to the rehearsal process and to performance protocol.

Level 2

Acting 2
Level 2 extends the personally-centred naturalism of Level 1 and moves on from preparation of the actor to the skills of characterisation, observation and greater awareness of theatre genre and style. The lessons of Level 1 are thoroughly tested by the demands of playwrights, directors, characters, and styles.

Performance Technique 2
Performance Technique 2 is an examination of the application of physical and vocal skills. You continue to enrich tone range, clarity and dexterity. Voice and speech includes areas of interpretation, dialects, and particular performance requirements. You are also introduced to basic singing techniques and aural training.

Contextual Studies 2
Exploration of world drama continues with particular attention given to the eras of plays chosen for the Performance modules. These include a range of naturalistic and non-naturalistic genres. Theatre History expands to include the study of film, and cinematic acting styles and techniques.

Performance 2A/B
The performance programme is expanded so that you have the opportunity to experiment with an increased number of plays covering a wider range of eras and styles. Level 2 productions explore heightened language and new styles and genre.

Level 3

Acting 3
You continue personal development and honing of all areas of your acting skills. Classes in all areas address specific performance needs and requirements, usually relating either directly to the subject of the Performance modules or to complete exposure to the fullest range of performance concepts.

Contextual Studies 3
You are informed of a range of subjects related to entering the workforce, managing your careers, and generating your own work. These include resumes, agents, contracts, public relations budgets, and applications for grants and sponsors. You continue to study world film and theatre forms, and reflect upon the acting.

Performance Research
This module requires you to undertake a substantial piece of research and to create a written work that reveals the perception expected of the thinking actor. Subject matter can extend an area of the course or open more original or alternate thought.

Performance 3A/B
The final year of the programme develops both the individual and the ensemble through the graduation year performance company. Through the company, you take on a range of roles in a variety of carefully selected plays in a year of two major and two minor theatre productions as well as extended work with the camera.

Faculty Members

Programme Leader, Acting
Edith Podesta

• BA Acting, National Institute of Dramatic Arts, University of South Wales, Australia
• Graduate Diploma Dramatic Art (Movement Studies), National Institute of Dramatic Arts, University of South Wales, Australia

Edith Podesta is a graduate of both National Institute of Dramatic Art's (NIDA) Acting and Movement Studies courses, who has worked extensively across Australia as an actor, director, choreographer, movement consultant and teacher. As a choreographer she works across all genre's including opera (Pinchgut Opera Company), musicals ("The Three Furies", "The Sydney Festival"), live music events ("MTV Awards", "Jazz in the Domain") and has extensive experience in devising and developing of original physical theatre work.

As an actor Edith works across all mediums. Her television credits include "All Saints", "Blue Heelers", "Fire Flies", "Love My Way" and "HeadLand". Her theatre credits include "There is No Need to Wake Up" directed by Barrie Kosky for the Olympic Arts Festival and "Death in Venice" directed by Jim Sharman (Opera Australia). While in Singapore she has appeared on stage in "Home Boxes" directed by Benjamin Ho and "LIV" directed by Nelson Chia for the Singapore Arts Festival.

Edith has also lectured at the Theatre Training and Research Programme (TTRP), and in Australia at the NIDA, Conservatorium of Music and University of Technology Sydney. Edith attended the LaMaMa International Symposium for Directors (Spoleto, Italy), SITI Summer Theater Workshop (Saratoga Springs, NY) and is currently working on a series of performances that involves ways of dropping out of the human horizon and 'becoming animal' as part of her Masters of Arts Fine Arts studies at LASALLE College of the Arts. Edith is a founding member of A Group Of People.

Lecturer, Voice
Aole Miller

• BA of Fine Arts Theatre, New York University, USA

Aole T. Miller is the Head of Voice and Speech at LASALLE. He is a Certified Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework and a UNESCO designated Teacher. He was the Executive Director of the International Antonin Artaud Fringe Theatre Festival 2008. He has been an actor-director-writer-teacher throughout the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. He is the first African American Ceremonial Mask Dancer of Bali and the first teacher to bring Fitzmaurice Voicework to Denmark, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. He coached Michelle Williams for her Academy Award nominated performance in Ang Lee's movie "Brokeback Mountain". He has been on the faculties of The Chautauqua Theatre Company since 2004. He has taught at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Yale University, The New School (MFA), University of Southern California, The National University of Singapore, The Queensland Theatre Company, and Curtin University of Technology (Perth). He coaches voice at KLPAC (Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Center). He holds a B.F.A. in theatre from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He was a featured presenter at the International Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA) conference in Mexico City 2010.

Entry Requirements

Academic Requirements

• Completed High School (Grade 12), Junior College or Pre-University education.
• Recognised Singapore qualification: Singapore-Cambridge GCE 'A' Level: Minimum 'Pass' in 2 subjects + General Paper or recognised equivalent.
• Recognised international qualifications: Please click here to view list.

Note:

• Additional subject requirement of Physics or Mathematics with a minimum 'Pass' or recognised equivalent.
• Alternative English qualification: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT80.

Audition Requirements

• Applicants must perform two contrasting speeches from memory and in English. One of the speeches should be from a Shakespearean play and the other from a more contemporary play, in more standard modern English.
• The combined duration of the speeches should not exceed five minutes.

Things to consider

• In preparing for the auditions, you are advised to have read the plays from which the speeches are taken beforehand, and to select speeches that are appropriate for your age and experience.
• Please note that you may be asked to improvise or sight read.

What we are looking for

The assessment of your audition will be based on your acting, vocal and movement abilities, as well as your potential to develop as a professional in your chosen discipline.

You do not have to appear like a 'finished', polished performer. We are looking for an honest connection with the words and thoughts of the piece you have chosen, and a capacity for that connection to be expressed through your body and voice.

That said, you must know your piece well, and play it with fullness and clarity, in order to be considered for the programme.

Programme Information

Duration: 3 Years

Awards: BA(Hons) Acting

The training of the actor is a rigorous, multi-faceted discipline involving mind, body, and emotion. It is also in demand more than ever across a broad range of performance events. Professional acting careers can be sustained in theatre, film, television, and many other forms of media. Actors can use their skills and intelligence to re-interpret the great classics of the world, as well as create innovative, authentic, and thought-provoking portrayals on stage and screen.

This performance-based programme offers quality training in all essential elements: acting, voice and movement techniques, together with imaginative, improvisational, and research skills. Theory is balanced with practice and applied to dramatic literature, script analysis, world theatre, and cinema. LASALLE aims to graduate thinking, expressive actors, informed and creative, with the ability to work across genres, media, and performance cultures. Through classes, projects, workshops, and productions, the course develops your abilities to work in an ensemble environment and with awareness of your own imaginative resources. The programme collaborates with other faculties, especially The Puttnam School of Film, which is part of LASALLE's Faculty of Media Arts, and offers rich training within a wide cultural and historical context. You will participate in a variety of fully-mounted productions directed by international professionals in a range of theatre spaces.

Level 1 considers the relationship between body, voice and mind, and develops physical presence. The unique feature of Level 1 is the Asian Theatre Project and intensive stylistic workshops – from Commedia to Kabuki. Level 2 reinforces the interdependence of the elements that make up the actor's processes. You are guided to a personal work method, through continuous engagement with productions – from Shakespeare to Shepherd. Level 3 operates as a theatre company, with ensemble members, comprising final year students, experiencing a range of roles, styles, genres, and disciplines. You refine your art form with a strong focus on your individual strengths.

Teaching Methods: You will be taught through lectures, seminars, practical presentations, class participation, rehearsals, journals and master classes.

Assessments: Assessment is an integral part of the learning process, and will be formative and diagnostic as well as summative and evaluative, providing feedback to students wherever appropriate. Read more about assessments here.

Modules

Level 1

Acting 1
Acting 1 lays the foundation for the acting methods and the working vocabulary. This module analyses your strengths and weaknesses and imparts technical skills to recognise and free up habitual patterns that impede flexibility and expression. Improvisation offers tools for imaginative and creative explorations as well as developing ensemble work and spontaneity. These skills will be developed and augmented over the three years.

Performance Technique 1
This module introduces the technical skills required of voice and movement. Voice classes develop the range and timbre of the vocal instrument, isolate individual problem areas, and install appropriate breathing techniques to support performance. The programme provides you with a select movement system and physical experiences in forming the bases for a more physically aware performer.

Contextual Studies 1
You are introduced to the history of world theatre and given an overview of theatre systems – from the classical Western model through to the performance styles of a number of non-Western disciplines.

Performance 1A/B
Participation in a series of workshops and in-house performances (Asian and Western) enables you to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills gained through classes and set study. Emphasis is given to the rehearsal process and to performance protocol.

Level 2

Acting 2
Level 2 extends the personally-centred naturalism of Level 1 and moves on from preparation of the actor to the skills of characterisation, observation and greater awareness of theatre genre and style. The lessons of Level 1 are thoroughly tested by the demands of playwrights, directors, characters, and styles.

Performance Technique 2
Performance Technique 2 is an examination of the application of physical and vocal skills. You continue to enrich tone range, clarity and dexterity. Voice and speech includes areas of interpretation, dialects, and particular performance requirements. You are also introduced to basic singing techniques and aural training.

Contextual Studies 2
Exploration of world drama continues with particular attention given to the eras of plays chosen for the Performance modules. These include a range of naturalistic and non-naturalistic genres. Theatre History expands to include the study of film, and cinematic acting styles and techniques.

Performance 2A/B
The performance programme is expanded so that you have the opportunity to experiment with an increased number of plays covering a wider range of eras and styles. Level 2 productions explore heightened language and new styles and genre.

Level 3

Acting 3
You continue personal development and honing of all areas of your acting skills. Classes in all areas address specific performance needs and requirements, usually relating either directly to the subject of the Performance modules or to complete exposure to the fullest range of performance concepts.

Contextual Studies 3
You are informed of a range of subjects related to entering the workforce, managing your careers, and generating your own work. These include resumes, agents, contracts, public relations budgets, and applications for grants and sponsors. You continue to study world film and theatre forms, and reflect upon the acting.

Performance Research
This module requires you to undertake a substantial piece of research and to create a written work that reveals the perception expected of the thinking actor. Subject matter can extend an area of the course or open more original or alternate thought.

Performance 3A/B
The final year of the programme develops both the individual and the ensemble through the graduation year performance company. Through the company, you take on a range of roles in a variety of carefully selected plays in a year of two major and two minor theatre productions as well as extended work with the camera.

Faculty Members

Programme Leader, Acting
Edith Podesta

• BA Acting, National Institute of Dramatic Arts, University of South Wales, Australia
• Graduate Diploma Dramatic Art (Movement Studies), National Institute of Dramatic Arts, University of South Wales, Australia

Edith Podesta is a graduate of both National Institute of Dramatic Art's (NIDA) Acting and Movement Studies courses, who has worked extensively across Australia as an actor, director, choreographer, movement consultant and teacher. As a choreographer she works across all genre's including opera (Pinchgut Opera Company), musicals ("The Three Furies", "The Sydney Festival"), live music events ("MTV Awards", "Jazz in the Domain") and has extensive experience in devising and developing of original physical theatre work.

As an actor Edith works across all mediums. Her television credits include "All Saints", "Blue Heelers", "Fire Flies", "Love My Way" and "HeadLand". Her theatre credits include "There is No Need to Wake Up" directed by Barrie Kosky for the Olympic Arts Festival and "Death in Venice" directed by Jim Sharman (Opera Australia). While in Singapore she has appeared on stage in "Home Boxes" directed by Benjamin Ho and "LIV" directed by Nelson Chia for the Singapore Arts Festival.

Edith has also lectured at the Theatre Training and Research Programme (TTRP), and in Australia at the NIDA, Conservatorium of Music and University of Technology Sydney. Edith attended the LaMaMa International Symposium for Directors (Spoleto, Italy), SITI Summer Theater Workshop (Saratoga Springs, NY) and is currently working on a series of performances that involves ways of dropping out of the human horizon and 'becoming animal' as part of her Masters of Arts Fine Arts studies at LASALLE College of the Arts. Edith is a founding member of A Group Of People.

Lecturer, Voice
Aole Miller

• BA of Fine Arts Theatre, New York University, USA

Aole T. Miller is the Head of Voice and Speech at LASALLE. He is a Certified Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework and a UNESCO designated Teacher. He was the Executive Director of the International Antonin Artaud Fringe Theatre Festival 2008. He has been an actor-director-writer-teacher throughout the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. He is the first African American Ceremonial Mask Dancer of Bali and the first teacher to bring Fitzmaurice Voicework to Denmark, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. He coached Michelle Williams for her Academy Award nominated performance in Ang Lee's movie "Brokeback Mountain". He has been on the faculties of The Chautauqua Theatre Company since 2004. He has taught at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Yale University, The New School (MFA), University of Southern California, The National University of Singapore, The Queensland Theatre Company, and Curtin University of Technology (Perth). He coaches voice at KLPAC (Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Center). He holds a B.F.A. in theatre from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He was a featured presenter at the International Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA) conference in Mexico City 2010.

Entry Requirements

Academic Requirements

• Completed High School (Grade 12), Junior College or Pre-University education.
• Recognised Singapore qualification: Singapore-Cambridge GCE 'A' Level: Minimum 'Pass' in 2 subjects + General Paper or recognised equivalent.
• Recognised international qualifications: Please click here to view list.

Note:

• Additional subject requirement of Physics or Mathematics with a minimum 'Pass' or recognised equivalent.
• Alternative English qualification: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT80.

Audition Requirements

• Applicants must perform two contrasting speeches from memory and in English. One of the speeches should be from a Shakespearean play and the other from a more contemporary play, in more standard modern English.
• The combined duration of the speeches should not exceed five minutes.

Things to consider

• In preparing for the auditions, you are advised to have read the plays from which the speeches are taken beforehand, and to select speeches that are appropriate for your age and experience.
• Please note that you may be asked to improvise or sight read.

What we are looking for

The assessment of your audition will be based on your acting, vocal and movement abilities, as well as your potential to develop as a professional in your chosen discipline.

You do not have to appear like a 'finished', polished performer. We are looking for an honest connection with the words and thoughts of the piece you have chosen, and a capacity for that connection to be expressed through your body and voice.

That said, you must know your piece well, and play it with fullness and clarity, in order to be considered for the programme.