Course
Overview
Our intensive and highly practical MA will enable you to develop and enhance your acting skills to a professional level. Guided by our world-class teaching team you will become part of a creative and collaborative community.
You will hone and develop your acting technique by using a variety of practitioner approaches and techniques across stage, screen, movement, and voice. To extend your range of technical performance skills you will experiment with contemporary stage and screen texts and classical texts, ranging from the Greeks to Shakespeare. Collaborating with leading industry professionals, you will generate an original live studio show and a main house production, plus a digital showcase and industry events in London and Manchester. A final practical research project allows you to interrogate and focus upon an area or aspect of the creative industries to deepen your knowledge and engagement as you embark upon your professional career.
Accredited By:
Course Highlights
- Cultivate your specialised practise in professional performance
- Get industry ready through a series of masterclasses and mock auditions.
- Work with practising professionals including casting directors, talent agents and theatre and film directors.
- Graduate with a professional voice reel, showreel and experience an industry showcase.
What You Will
Study
The Actor’s Practice: Acting Technique I
In this module you undertake rigorous movement and voice classes which you integrate into the development of your acting technique. Technical acting principles, rooted in the conventions of Stanislavskian practice are introduced as you start to unearth your individual acting process. You investigate imaginative approaches to character and environment in contemporary, new writing, and scene work, as well as older naturalistic texts, for stage and screen. This work provides the foundations for your more advanced technical acting skills training. Movement practitioner approaches include Rudolph Laban and Jaques Lecoq, while voice practitioner approaches include Kristin Linklater and Catherine Fitzmaurice.
The Actor’s Practice: Acting Technique II
In term two, you deepen your understanding of performance conventions with challenging non-naturalistic texts, such as German expressionism, French farce, or TV sitcom. You examine the nuances of expansive theatrical live performance and heightened film work and investigate approaches to solo and ensemble work through character archetypes and commedia dell’arte in Epic or Greek texts. Your vocal expression is developed through working on animal studies and expanding your physical range. You integrate and demonstrate these skills in a staged Shakespearean work to an internal audience
The Actor’s Practice: Professional Performance I
In this module you experience an intensive rehearsal, technical and production process, as you embark upon a fully supported production with technical crew, set, costume, lighting, and sound design to a public audience. Working with a professional director to further develop creative and technical skills within a professionally simulated production environment, you continue to develop an acute understanding of the industry standards required of the contemporary professional creative artist.
The Actor’s Practice: Professional Performance II
The industry showcase provides an opportunity to present yourself to an invited audience of agents, casting directors and creative organisations, at leading performance venues in London and Manchester. You create and generate digital and live material across a range of genres. Under the guidance of a professional director material is selected to showcase your versatility, casting, and marketability and introduce you to members of the creative industries.
The Actor’s Practice: Professional Performance III
This year-long module is a sustained Independent Research Project which forms the dissertation or practice research element of your course. You undertake research and development to identify analytical and critical components, as well as cultural perspectives, to integrate, consolidate and produce an original short-film or staged performance. The process is documented to establish your understanding of the rigors of self-generated work, as well as the creative and technical skills you bring to the industry for the start of your professional career.
How You Will
Study
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Workshops
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Performances
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Seminars
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Lectures
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Independent study
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Group Work
-
Masterclass
How You Will Be
Assessed
Students will be assessed primarily through performance and modes of self-reflection (podcasts, viva, essay, or presentation). We are interested in how you develop yourself as an artist and so all of our assessments are designed to challenge and develop your techniques and to also allow you to reflect and research on the type of artist you wish to become.
Practical/written work ratio
80% practical work / 20% written assignments
Validation
LIPA aims to have probationary degree awarding powers from September 2025 (subject to Office for Students approval). This is an exciting step, allowing us to take full control of our curriculum and course portfolio. In the unlikely event LIPA does not achieve probationary degree awarding powers, our degrees will be validated by Liverpool John Moores University.
Our
Facilities
Rehearsal Rooms
Our spacious rehearsal rooms are predominantly used for workshop-style teaching and as rehearsal spaces in the lead up to performances. Some have their own sound and lighting facilities.
The Paul McCartney Auditorium (PMA)
The PMA is the largest of LIPA’s performance spaces and is a traditional proscenium arch theatre. It can seat an audience of around 350 people and has flexible seating arrangements and staging configurations.
Each year over 30 performances take place in the PMA. We also hold the majority of our large-scale masterclasses in the PMA and it is used for presentations to the whole student body.
The PMA is complemented by a green room lounge area and dressing rooms.
The George Harrison Workshop Studio (GHWS)
Seating over 100 people, the GHWS is a fully equipped experimental performance space that offers creatives and performers a ‘blank canvas’ for productions. As well as immersive and promenade performances, it can also host more traditional theatrical productions with a variety of stage and audience configurations. It is also used as an exhibition, rehearsal and teaching space.
Sennheiser TV Studio
Our Sennheiser Studio is a fully realised TV and broadcast studio. The studio, along with motion capture and editing, sound and grading suites, was completed in 2020. Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to replicate a professional environment and support learning.
Costume and Wardrobe Department
LIPA’s wardrobe department has an extensive costume store and well configured spaces for design and making. Our design students plan, design and create costumes for around 15 separate productions throughout the year. You will usually experience this area when taking part in fittings for performances.
Technical Services
LIPA’s Technical Services team can help with general technical queries and booking out equipment for short-term loan. Loan equipment includes musical instruments, microphones, various recording and playback equipment, digital video and stills cameras and AV equipment.
Term-time opening hours allow you access to Technical Services from 9am until 11pm every weekday and 9am until 5pm on Saturday and 11am until 5pm on Sunday. Outside of term time it is open on weekdays from 9am - 5pm.
Learning Resources Centre
LIPA’s Learning Resources Centre (LRC) is a specialist creative and performing arts library with an extensive collection of books, e-books, scores, CDs, DVDs, e-resources, print and electronic journals. Whether you are looking for individual songs or scripts, background research or creative inspiration, the LRC Team will be able to help. The LRC offer support sessions in ICT and study skills through subject specific lectures, as well as one-to-one and drop-in sessions, ensuring you get the most out of your study.
The LRC website provides the gateway to LIPA’s online catalogue and electronic resources and includes links to a wide selection of help sheets and video guides. In addition, LIPA’s virtual learning provision which includes Moodle, holds a variety of subject-specific learning materials, such as lecture notes, useful web links and module information. The majority of these services are available off-campus.
LIPA’s integrated learning environment has a variety of study spaces, including individual and group work areas, and an open-access computer suite. Facilities include printing, copying and scanning, plus binding and laminating equipment. A range of stationery is available for purchase to support your studies.
Opening hours during term-time are Monday and Wednesday 9.00am to 6.00pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9.00am to 8.00pm, Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. The LRC may be closed for some weeks in June and is also closed during July and August.
ICT Services
LIPA's Information, Communications and Technology Department provides the infrastructure and services framework that enable students to exploit the latest information and communication developments.
Industry-standard computer resources are running the latest productivity software on high specification workstations in dedicated computer suites. LIPA also has a colour A0 plotter, ideal for floor plans.
All PCs are installed with Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office & Project as standard. There is also access to a range of additional specialist software installed on selected workstations. These include AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Cloud applications, EarMaster, Sibelius, MindManager, Vectorworks and WYSIWYG.
All workstations have access to the Internet, email and other electronic resources. There is free Wi-Fi access throughout our buildings for students and staff members via the Eduroam network which provides a world-wide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community.
Specialist ICT staff are available to answer questions, give assistance and advise on ICT issues.
LIPA Bar and Canteen
As well as serving food and drink, the bar and canteen are the hub of social activity within LIPA with both spaces licensed for performances.
The canteen is the venue for LIPA’s weekly gig night, The 2ube. Most Fridays the 2ube features live performances, showcasing musicians from LIPA and Liverpool’s music scene. The event is a collaboration between Management, Music, Sound Technology and Theatre & Performance Technology students.
The canteen also hosts open mic and jukebox shuffle nights, and independent student organised performances and benefit nights. The bar hosts regular quiz nights and Student Event Board parties.
The bar is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 3pm - 11pm, and Tuesday and Wednesday from 3pm - 10pm, with extended hours for special events.
The canteen is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am – 3pm, serving food and drink at student-friendly prices.
LIPA is also home to a 92 Degrees Coffee shop. The popular Liverpool independent has a number of coffee stores and roasteries across the north west. It serves up barista coffee and cakes in the Art School Atrium during term time.
Will Hammond
Director of School of Performance
Will has worked in theatre, TV, film and radio. Having worked across mediums and platforms, Will can support students to become adaptable. His credits include the BBC, Lime Pictures, Greenwich Films, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Paines Plough, Frantic Assembly and Soho Theatre. Will has won the High Sheriff Award for New Writing from the Stephen Joseph Theatre, judged by Sir Alan Ayckbourn. He co-wrote the musical Kate and the Devil, which was shortlisted for the Stiles & Drewe Best New Song Award 2015. He feels it is important for actors to cultivate their own independent approach to acting in preparation for sustainable careers.
David Salter
Head of Acting (Stage & Screen)
David is an award-winning theatre director and acting teacher.
Previously he has taught and directed at a number of drama schools including RADA, Mountview, Rose Bruford College, Drama Centre, The American Academy of Performing Arts, New National Theatre Drama Studio, Tokyo and the Manchester School of Theatre, where he led the Acting Programme.
David attended the Director’s Course at the Royal National Theatre Studio and has directed productions across the UK and internationally, including Brecht’s The Life of Galileo at the Studio Theatre, Washington DC. David was associate director to Peter Stein on David Harrower’s Blackbird at the Edinburgh International Festival, to Howard Barker on his production of Scenes From An Execution at the Barbican and on numerous productions at the Almeida Theatre including Richard II with Ralph Fiennes and the world premiere of The Shape of Things with Rachel Weisz and Paul Rudd.
publications
Contributor to ‘Actor Trainers on Acting: For The Twenty First Century’ Edited by Professor Anna McNamara for Routledge (upcoming)
Gary Horner
Programme Leader: MA Acting, Lecturer & Visiting Lecturer
Gary trained as an actor at Guildford School of Acting before going on to work professionally throughout the UK. Subsequently he went on to gain his MA from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in Voice studies and trained intensively with author of Freeing the Natural Voice, Kristin Linklater to become a designated Linklater teacher. Gary is an internationally recognised voice coach and director and has worked extensively within the UK Drama School sector.
Alongside being the course leader for the MA in Acting (Company) at LIPA, Gary continues to work professionally as a voice coach and director. Mostly recently, Gary was an associate voice coach on Henry VI part 3 at The Royal Shakespeare Company. Prior to this some of Gary’s credits include Matilda the musical (Cambridge Theatre, London), Acts of Resistance (Bristol Old Vic), The Boy with Two Hearts (Wales Millennium Centre / The Royal National Theatre), Brainstorm (The Royal National Theatre), Sour Lips (Oval House Theatre), The Arsonists (Watford Palace Theatre), Bush Bazaar (The Bush Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (The Chocolate Factory), Titus Andronicus (Bedlam Theatre/UK TOUR), In His Image (Hampstead Theatre), Reverie (Pleasance Theatre), Hello, Mr Capello (Watford Palace Theatre).
Gary oversees the development and delivery of the MA Acting (Company) course, as well as delivering across the BA and Foundation courses within the Acting department. He directs projects, final year productions and teaches technical voice and voice into text.
Working within the theatre industry with some of the biggest theatre companies and theatres around the UK allows Gary to understand the current trends within the professional sphere and ensures that the training he delivers at LIPA is relevant and fully prepares students for entering into the acting industry.
Publications/research
A non-elitist approach to Professional Development in Actor Training - Drama and Theatre Publication – Summer Term 1 – 2019/20 (Publication)
Northern Centre for Voice and Movement bringing Cultural Capital to a forgotten land – International Network for Voice Symposium – 2019 (Presentation)
Rosemary Berkon
Teaching Fellow
Rosemary is an actor, voice coach and community facilitator. She trained as an actor at ALRA and as a voice coach at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. As an actor Rosemary has toured nationally, performing at venues such as HOME theatre, The Leeds Playhouse, Theatre 503, The North Wall Arts Centre and Manchester Opera House. With a passion for new writing and outreach she has worked as a performer and facilitator to create original work that emphasises community engagement with various theatre companies including Odd Arts, Papatango, Quantum Theatre and Byteback Theatre.
She brings her experience as a performer and facilitator into her teaching, alongside her experience as a private coach, which sees her work with many different voices encouraging confidence and communication. She currently works with clients in preparation for auditions, public speaking (that has included TEDx talks) and at other drama schools.
Rosemary is fascinated by accents, how speech is made and the social implications of teaching this to actors. She is a member of The Voice and Speech Trainers Association, passionate about cutting-edge pedagogy and aims to work with a sense of community and inclusivity in her studio spaces.
Rosemary understands the resilience required to sustain a career in the theatre industry, she endeavours to share with honesty challenges from her professional experience and also her hopes for the future of the creative arts.
Peter Carroll
Lecturer
A graduate of both Manchester University and Manchester Metropolitan, Peter also studied and developed his craft at The Acting Studio in New York City. He has a PGCert teaching qualification and has worked extensively in both education and the wider industry as a drama facilitator, workshop deviser and acting coach. He specialises in screen acting and the Meisner Technique. He remains very active within the industry. Peter is founder and creative director of Thinking Actors - an independent training and filming support centre for actors, content creators and casting. He’s passionate about Continued Professional Development. He works closely with both emerging and established talent and his clients can be seen across major terrestrial and digital platforms.
Peter believes his job is to facilitate an actor’s ‘truth’, their voice and their uniqueness. He aims to create confident, resilient, efficient and resourceful actors who understand and embrace the very different demands of acting for camera and the development of a life and truth under imaginary circumstances.
Beth Vyse
Lecturer
Beth is a critically acclaimed and award-winning creator/performer. She recently finished an international tour of her own show As Funny As Cancer, she also has national and regional theatre, global RSC, BBC, and ITV credits to her name. Over the last 20 years she has worked tirelessly within an industry she adores to become an established comedian, director, and lecturer – sharing her wealth of experience to help educate and encourage those with her shared passion for performance.
What Our
Graduates Do
Throughout the year we will work intensively with students so that graduates are well-equipped to immediately apply their acquired specialist skills to performing, directing, writing, and producing for stage, screen and radio.
Some of the outcomes of graduates on our previous course include:
Angela Rose (2021)
Theatre credits include Deborah, The Hunger (Black Bright Theatre Company), Eve, The Last Motel (Sheepish Productions), Titania, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, (Less is More Theatre Company) and Lady Capulet, Romeo and Juliet (Theatre Space North East). Angela also works with arts wellbeing specialists Night Light Theatre CIC co-creating material with service users of the NHS and criminal justice system and as a freelance arts facilitator.
Jaquell Walker (2021)
TV credits include Protection (ITV), Waterloo Road (BBC) and A Gentleman in Moscow (Paramount+). Theatre credits include SealSkin for Tmesis Theatre and two Shakespeare productions for Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin. Jaq has also been cast in TV commercials, worked as a model and for corporate media.
Educational qualifications are important but limited in what they can tell us about you.
Your natural ability, your fit with what and how we teach, your growth and your potential are also key factors in our admission process. We can’t evaluate these solely on your educational achievements, so no matter which course you are applying for, we look for the following attributes on your application and at the interview stage.
Additional Costs
As part of this course, there are likely to be some additional costs that are not included within your tuition fees. Some of these are optional.
Clothing
We recommend that you bring specific clothing and footwear for your practical classes. These are standard items of clothing that you will need as a working actor. Costs will vary, but we estimate this to be in the region of £200.
Career development
During the course, we would recommend that you organise professional headshots, which can range in cost from £100 to £500, depending on the photographer you choose to work with. UK students may also need to sign up for Spotlight/Equity membership, which costs from £100 for graduates.
Seeing shows
You should go to the theatre as often as you can. This is not compulsory, but it will help your development as a performer. Theatre visits are not covered by your tuition fees, so you'll need to cover these costs yourself. Most theatres offer student discounts and we are occasionally offered a limited number of free or discounted tickets for shows in the city. It is highly recommended that you attend the Acting department performances. We offer discounted student tickets to make this as affordable as possible. We advise that you budget around £100 for theatre visits during the course.
Additional Costs
As part of this course, there are likely to be some additional costs that are not included within your tuition fees. Some of these are optional.
Clothing
We recommend that you bring specific clothing and footwear for your practical classes. These are standard items of clothing that you will need as a working actor. Costs will vary, but we estimate this to be in the region of £200.
Career development
During the course, we would recommend that you organise professional headshots which cost £60. This is a discounted price for LIPA students; if you wish to choose your own headshot photographer you may choose to do so but we are not able to offer a discounted price.
UK students will also want to purchase a Spotlight Graduate Membership - £11.70 per month or £129 per year (2024/25 prices). Spotlight is a requirement for all UK actors.
We pay for your travel to the London showcase towards the end of your course, but you will need to cover your accommodation costs.
Seeing shows
You should go to the theatre as often as you can. This is not compulsory, but it will help your development as a performer. Theatre visits are not covered by your tuition fees, so you'll need to cover these costs yourself. Most theatres offer student discounts and we are occasionally offered a limited number of free or discounted tickets for shows in the city. It is highly recommended that you attend the Acting department performances. We offer discounted student tickets to make this as affordable as possible. We advise that you budget around £100 for theatre visits during the course.
View the programme specification on the LJMU course catalogue here