The Advanced Performance Course is intended exclusively as an advanced progression course for students who have successfully completed our Foundation Course in Acting and want to develop their acting skills to a high level. Every year most of the students on the Foundation Course in Acting progress on to this course.

Introduction

In the Autumn term, the classes in Body and Movement and in Voice and Speech continue, and the Acting classes apply the principles that you have learned in order to bring a script to life in performance. You will also learn how to work with a director.

In the Spring and Summer terms, work is geared to two full-length productions, one in March and one in July. These two productions are given full technical resources and feature in the season of plays at The Questors Theatre. The March production takes place in our Studio theatre and the July production in our Playhouse.

Recent productions have been:

• On the Razzle by Tom Stoppard (2023)
• The Gut Girls by Sarah Daniels (2023)
• The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (2022)
• Loveplay by Moira Buffini (2022)
• Strange Orchestra by Rodney Ackland (2021)

Progression

Some students go on to pursue a professional career as an actor, while many join our acting company at The Questors and continue to perform here regularly.

Recent students on the course have successfully gained places at drama schools, and have appeared professionally at the National Theatre, in the West End and on Film and TV.

CLASSES

Classes are held at The Questors Theatre in one of our large rehearsal rooms.

Acting

• Saturdays 3.15 - 6.30pm 

• Wednesdays 7.30 - 10.00pm

Body & Movement

• Tuesdays 8.45 - 10.05pm

Voice & Speech

• Tuesdays 7.15 - 8.35pm

There are also many additional rehearsals for the two major productions.

BENEFITS

Membership at the Questors Theatre

As a Questors student you enjoy all the facilities and benefits of membership of The Questors Theatre, including free tickets to all productions by The Questors during the year (except the Christmas show).

Equity Membership

As a student on the Advanced Performance Course, you are eligible to join Equity as a student member.

CONDITIONS

Admissions

Only applicants who have successfully completed our Foundation Course in Acting will be considered.

Term dates

• Autumn: 23 September to 16 December 2023

• Spring: 6 January to 23 March 2024

• Summer: 6 April to 20 July 2024.

COSTS AND FUNDING

Tuition Fees

£372 per term, in advance; or by direct debit in 3 monthly instalments of £139 (£417). Find out about scholarships and bursaries.

Scholarships for Foundation Course in Acting and Advanced Performance Course

Nevile and Julie Cruttenden Fund

Support is available from the Nevile and Julie Cruttenden Fund for those accepted on the Foundation Course in Acting and the Advanced Performance Course. This may cover all or some of the course fees, and the governors may also make a contribution towards travelling expenses.

Alfred Emmet Bursary

This is a discretionary award to cover the fees for one student per year who would otherwise be unable to take either course.

In each case, a student must demonstrate commitment and reliability in attendance before an award can be made.