Curriculum
Unique Curriculum and Activities:
Master Classes' and 'Cultural Visits'
You'll meet theatre professionals involved in the plays you'll attend as well as other experts in the field. Some may do Q and As, some will do practical workshops. You'll visit Stratford upon Avon, the British Library, British Museum and other museums and buildings of historical interest.
Scene Partners'
Each LDA Conservatory acting student will be paired with a young British actor. We'll arrange a couple of informal social events and your 'scene partner' will be invited to your showings and be able to offer insight and support, as well as become a connection and potential friend in London.
Space/Place/Text
Is a site specific study of British Theatre History and Literature: Classical plays and history will come to life for you as you walk through the streets with Shakespeare or Edward Bond and view the theatres and spaces where their plays were performed.
The Novel Project
Make theatre on arrival with your classmates, based on a British novel which you've all been assigned to read over the summer. Learn about the world of the author with your teachers for a special 10 day introduction to LDA. Dances from the period, mask work, sight reading, acting, dialects...all in relation to the world of the book and writer.
Create stories from the novel, become the characters, delve into rehearsed improvisation which will teach you about storytelling and making theatre. After a brief informal showing the second week and a get together you'll start the regular curriculum.
Student Teacher Ratio
You will have one to one tutorials and feedback throughout the term, and be taught by approximately 20 teachers during the term. Audition tutorials and Alexander Technique are taught one to one, other classes are kept to a maximum of 14 students, usually smaller. Master classes and workshops supplement the curriculum.
Alexander Technique
One to one Alexander Technique sessions each week will give you a deep physical understanding of posture and alignment. The Alexander Technique is excellent for voice production and as a starting point to change habitual physical patterns which may interfere with your movement and voice skills.
A Chance to Travel
Despite the rigorous curriculum, you'll have a mid semester break for a week to travel and/or explore London and most weekends at your disposal to do the same and reflect upon your experiences.
Journal
Keeping a journal is mandatory; feel free to keep a private diary as well as the journal which will be shared with some teachers for feedback and reflection.
Regular Meetings and Tutorials with the LDA Director
You and your classmates will be given individual and group meetings with the LDA Director to discuss any concerns or observations, as well as share monologues or scene work in tutorial as appropriate.
Working Teas
You'll have opportunities to meet and chat with other students (and teachers) at the Fordham London Centre who are enrolled in Liberal Arts and Business courses. Regular tea times are set for both formal and informal discussions on topics of general interest and these are times to reflect together on experiences.
All Classes:
- Movement
- Voice
- Speech/Dialects
- Stage Combat
- Acting
- Acting Shakespeare
- Alexander Technique
- Audition Tutorials
- Physical Theatre
- Period Dance
- Space/Place/Text
- Dramatic Criticism
- Voice Into Text
