Performing Arts at Runshaw

Performing Arts is a very successful area at Runshaw, combining high grades with professional-quality performances and excellent progression to drama school and university. There are courses and activities that cater for all interests, and a host of performance opportunities in dance, music and drama.

Courses

Performing Arts can be studied as part of an A Level package, or as a full time course in its own right.

The A Levels offered in performing arts are: Dance, Drama and Theatre Studies, Music, Music Technology, and Performance Studies. All these subjects are taught by highly-qualified tutors with a wealth of experience in the industry, and students on these courses regularly achieve exceptional results. For example, in June 2011, 85% of Performance Studies students gained an A or B grade – making Runshaw the top college nationally for this subject.

Further details on all the A Levels can be found in our Course leaflets for Music and Performing Arts:

 Performing Arts course leaflet (1.78 MB) or  Music course leaflet (1.2 MB)

Individual course pages: Dance - Drama and Theatre Studies - Music - Music Technology - Performance Studies

For those students who want to specialise in the performing arts, we offer the Professional Performance Programme: an intensive, practical course for dedicated performers that offers the hands-on training that A Levels do not provide. Because most dance and drama schools are far more interested in performance skills at audition than in grades, it is the PPP that represents the best preparation for a career in the performing arts. Many of the students who have taken this pathway have now progressed to various prestigious institutions, such as: Mountview, LIPA, BSA, East 15 and Northern Ballet. One graduate from LIPA commented that this course was the best preparation for drama school that she had encountered. More details on the PPP can be found in our Course Leaflet:

 Performing Arts course leaflet (1.78 MB)

Individual course pages: Professional Performance Programme - PPP Foundation

Enrichment

Runshaw also offers a range of enrichment activities for those interested in the performing arts. There are lunchtime drop-in sessions for anyone wanting to try out different dance styles such as Street or Jazz, and more able dancers can audition for a place in EXTENSION 12 – our prestigious dance academy – and be given the opportunity to compete in national and international competitions. In 2011, the academy students won first place in the Barcelona Dance Grand Prix, which featured over 700 competitors from all across the world.

In drama, all Runshaw students may audition for roles in the various college shows. We usually put on ten full-scale productions each year, and three of these are cross-college projects that any Runshaw student may audition for. Past shows have included Blood Brothers, Road, Julius Caesar, The Pillowman, Brassed Off, and many more. Click here to see some stills from our previous shows. In 2011, we took one of our cross-college productions – Agamemnon by Steven Berkoff – to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it received glowing reviews, as can be seen by following this link.

Further Details

Our college productions are open to the public. To see the programme of shows for 2011-12, click here. 

To find out more about Performing Arts at Runshaw, browse through our Course Leaflets or pop along to one of the college Open Events to have a look at our facilities and chat with the staff.

British Youth Film Academy

Runshaw College is one of 18 FE & HE institutions in the North West, West Midlands, East Midlands & Yorkshire who are members of the British Youth Academy. As a member, our students may attend the summer camps for free. For more information, click here.