Course Summary
We have developed this programme in consultation with arts practitioners in Ireland and abroad. It has the support of nationally and internationally-acclaimed theatre and film practitioners as well as major locally-based arts organisations including the Blue Raincoat Theatre Company, The Model Arts Centre and The Hawk’s Well Theatre.
This programme is unique in Ireland, offering tuition to Level 8 in the linked fields of acting and theatre design. The design strand is linked to the Abbey Theatre, giving students access to rehearsals, technical departments, work placements and backstage.
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
A common first year gives students an overview of all areas of the performing arts. In Year 2, students choose to specialise in either Acting or Theatre Design. This flexibility to change direction allows students to figure out where their passion lies.
Students are encouraged to take up short work placements in Year 3. This allows them to create industry contacts and gain first-hand professional experience. Work placements take place in a variety of settings including schools, radio stations, arts centres and theatre companies. Work placement locations have included the Abbey Theatre, Blue Raincoat Theatre Company Sligo, CBC television (The Tudors) as well as in theatre companies across Europe and the United States.
Theatre strand students on this programme can apply for a six-month Yeats Design Residency at the Abbey Theatre. Our unique partnership with the Abbey Theatre introduces core skills in all forms of stagecraft, including directing, lighting design and digital projection. The Theatre strand is also linked with the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia. Our students spend one week here, intensively studying set, lighting and costume. Guest lecturers, well known in industry, visit and share their expertise also.
The Acting strand has partnered with Debrecen University in Hungary where our acting students may go for two weeks of masterclasses in voice, movement and acting.
YEAR 1
All students study acting, theatre design, voice and movement, cultural studies, digital media, performance analysis and directing.
YEAR 2
Students can can chose to specialise in either acting or theatre design, with cultural studies and directing common to both strands.
YEAR 3
Students are introduced to the theatre and film industries by participating in a 4-6 week work placement of their choice, for example, at the Abbey Theatre, Blue Raincoat Theatre Company Sligo, CBC television (The Tudors) as well as in theatre companies across Europe and the United States.
YEAR 4
The focus is on professional practice. Leading practitioners from the industry discuss their work with students and offer specialist advice.
KEY SKILLS STUDENTS WILL LEARN
Acting - Students are exposed to a variety of genres, styles and play texts from the classics, exploring a range of approaches to acting. Students develop a range of skills; vocal, physical, intellectual and emotional, in order to create characterisation. Students work effectively and creatively in acting through collaboration with others and take part in a solo showcase and graduation show. Graduates are employable and entrepreneurial self-managing artists in an increasingly diverse profession.
Theatre Design - Students develop skills in performance design disciplines, including visual research and awareness; text and character analysis; spatial exploration; costume design and model-making; technical drawing and imaging for stage and film. The emphasis is on developing imagination, creativity and visual awareness along with interpretive and collaborative skills. Specific disciplines include film, TV, dance, opera, performance art and music video. Students collaborate with professional directors, prepare a portfolio of work and exhibit in the graduation exhibition.
Cultural Studies - Cultural Studies introduces students to a variety of visual, literacy and critical faculties from a range of cultural and historical backgrounds. The exploration of text to modes of performance is examined, including play texts, film, productions and performance art as well as visual and material culture.
Transferable Skills - Students develop generic and transferable skills such as research, critical thinking, analysis, written and verbal communication. Graduates work both as creative individuals and as part of a team.
YAADA Showcase 2024
NEW CREATIVE TEACHING HUB AT ATU SLIGO
A new €17million creative teaching hub with state of the art performance facilities will open at ATU Sligo in 2023. These include two large black box theatres/studios, production design studios, costume design studios, computer aided design and fabrication studios and dance/rehearsal spaces. The facilities will make studying Performing Arts at the Yeats Academy of Arts, Design and Architecture an especially rewarding experience leading to great employment prospects in the expanding film, TV and theatre creative industries.
Entry Requirements
Entry requirements for CAO courses at ATU Sligo are available for download below:
- Download Entry requirements for just Level 8 programmes
- Download Entry requirements for all programmes
Mathematics is not required to study this degree.
Garda vetting:
All entrants to this programme will be required to undergo vetting by An Garda Síochána. If you have a criminal conviction in Ireland or elsewhere, this may adversely impact on your ability to undertake a professional placement or to secure employment in the field of Performing Arts.
Career Opportunities
Graduates work as actors, designers, teachers and facilitators in the performing arts and creative industries. Our graduates work for some major production companies across the film, tv and theatre industries. They have worked as actors and designers on big productions including Normal People, Orange is the New Black, Game of Thrones, The Queens Gambit, The Young Offenders, Finding Joy and on Broadway and West End productions.
Ireland’s screen production sector has more than doubled in the last decade, with major streaming giants using Ireland for productions. Globally, the screen industry is transforming at an unprecedented rate as on-demand streaming has increased significantly. Companies such as Netflix, Amazon, and Apple TV continue to escalate production schedules to respond to the public appetite for home entertainment.
Further Study
Graduates may continue to a Higher Diploma in Education, Master of Arts, Professional Master of Education (PME), MPhil in Theatre and Performance or embark on a PhD. Graduates may also continue their studies with ATU Sligo in the Master of Arts in Creative Practice.
Testimonials
“My qualification has given me the opportunity to build great connections with many other people working in the Arts. I gained priceless skills which I have used to build and maintain my theatre company.”
Treasa Nealon, BA (Hons) in Performing Arts graduate and now a Theatre Maker/Actor at Rabbit’s Riot Theatre Company
"The programme is brilliant! It was everything I expected and more. Class sizes are small so you get to know your classmates and lecturers. The lecturers are amazing and always there to provide support and encouragement. Everyone studies a common first year, which is great for people who are a little unsure if they prefer acting or theatre design. You make great connections and get opportunities to work with top professionals from the industry"
Caoimhe Cassidy, BA (Hons) in Performing Arts
“The best thing about this programme is you learn so much both academically and personally. The modules in first year are very varied, no two days are the same. It is a different style of learning, something you cannot learn from any textbook. The programme is challenging but very rewarding. The lecturers are a huge support. Performing Arts in ATU Sligo will increase your confidence without you realising it, all whilst you learn skills that are transferrable for many work places.”
Stacey Flaherty, BA (Hons) in Performing Arts
Did you know?
We also offer two Performing Arts degrees at Level 7 - A degree in Theatre Design AU824 BA in Performing Arts (Theatre Design) and a degree in Acting AU823 BA in Performing Arts (Acting) Students can progress to the final year of this honours degree programme having completed either of these degrees.
A common first year gives students an overview of all areas of the performing arts. In Year 2, students choose to specialise in either Acting or Theatre Design. This flexibility to change direction allows students to figure out where their passion lies.
Students are encouraged to take up short work placements in Year 3. This allows them to create industry contacts and gain first-hand professional experience. Work placements take place in a variety of settings such as schools, radio stations, arts centres and theatre companies. Work placement locations have included the Abbey Theatre, Blue Raincoat Theatre Company Sligo, CBC television (The Tudors) as well as in theatre companies across Europe and the United States.
Theatre strand students on this programme can apply for a six-month Yeats Design Residency at the Abbey Theatre. Our unique partnership with the Abbey Theatre introduces core skills in all forms of stagecraft, including directing, lighting design and digital projection.
The Theatre strand is also linked with the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia. Our students spend one week here, intensively studying set, lighting and costume. Guest lecturers, well known in industry, visit and share their expertise too.
The Acting strand has partnered with Debrecen University in Hungary where our acting students may go for two weeks of masterclasses in voice, movement and acting.
Ireland’s screen production sector has more than doubled in the last decade, with major streaming giants using Ireland for productions. Globally, the screen industry is transforming at an unprecedented rate as on-demand streaming has increased significantly. Companies such as Netflix, Amazon, and Apple TV continue to escalate production schedules to respond to the public appetite for home entertainment.
Final year YAADA students take part in a creative showcase each year. Check out the Yeats Academy of Arts, Design and Architecture Yearbook to see their work.
Mathematics is not required to study this degree.
Alumni
"I’ve worked on shows such as Riverdance, Hamilton (when it was off Broadway at The Public Theater) and Be More Chill (Broadway and The West End). I then moved into TV and film working on shows such as The Hunger Games, Orange Is The New Black, The OA, Krypton, Dublin Murders and The Queens Gambit. I now live in Berlin and work for Lionsgate."
Darren Mc Granaghan, BA (Hons) in Performing Arts graduate and currently working for Lionsgate, Berlin
Course Format
Semester 1
Semester 2
Semester 3
Semester 4
Semester 5
Semester 6
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Lighting Design and Digital Theatre | 10 |
| Semester 6 - Creative Writing Practice | 05 |
| Acting to Camera [E] | 05 |
| Acting 6 Acting for production 2 [E] | 10 |
| Theatre Design (for Production 2) [E] | 15 |
Semester 7
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Dissertation | 10 |
| Global Shakespeares | 05 |
| Acting 6 Audition Show [E] | 10 |
| Voice and Movement 4 [E] | 05 |
| Theatre Design 3 Design for Performance Adv [E] | 10 |
| Theatre Design Studio Skills 5 (Advanced) [E] | 05 |
Semester 8
[E] = Elective Module. Modules subject to availability.