Diploma in Acting and Theatre

Diploma (NFQ Level 7)
1 Year Full-Time
16 Places

Overview

What is the Foundation Diploma in Acting and Theatre?

The foundation course is aimed primarily at school leavers interested in preparing themselves for three-year actor training at conservatoire level, either at The Lir Academy or other drama schools. With an additional focus on broadening students’ reading and understanding of plays and theatre history, it also prepares students for broader drama degrees and related areas of study and work. The course is taught by a committed team of teachers, including many of The Lir Academy’s core acting tutors and teachers from our Master of Fine Art programmes. The personal development of students is enhanced by regular individual tutorials with the course director, a dedicated member of staff who supervises all aspects of the programme.

The course also encourages students to develop their own individual creativity with a focus on collaboration, improvisation and lateral thinking.

Do you enjoy…

  • Devising theatre and film scripts in a creative collaborative environment?
  • Performing and studying Shakespearean and contemporary plays?
  • Developing your acting, vocal and movement technique for performance?

Foundation Diploma in Acting and Theatre: The course for you?

This course runs for 24 weeks and culminates in an intensive week of rehearsal and project based work. Classes will take place from Monday to Friday, for six hours per day, and will cover the core subjects of acting, voice and movement as well as physical theatre, dance, text analysis, choral singing, acting for screen, theatre history, audition technique classes and professional development with a focus on career progression. Assessment is based on a series of practical class presentations in all modules.

The course is specifically designed to prepare students for drama/acting degrees and related areas of study and work within the theatre, TV and film industries. All the training is provided by dedicated theatre professionals with strong industry links.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

The Foundation Diploma provides the students with a basis in the fundamentals of Acting, Voice and Movement technique. Students study the main genres of dramatic writing as well as performing these works and developing their own. This training provides the foundation for their future study as actors at drama conservatoires as well as for studying academically at B.A. level.

Your course and what you’ll study

This course runs for 24 weeks and culminates in an intensive week of rehearsal and project based work. Classes run Monday to Friday, with six hours contact time per day. Classes are led by The Lir Academy’s regular teaching staff and incorporate subjects such as:

  • Core techniques of movement, voice and acting.
  • Individual tutorials with dedicated foundation course coordinator.
  • Project based work, focusing on classical and contemporary theatre, culminating in week-long intensive rehearsal periods
  • Improvisation and physical theatre.
  • Text analysis and sight reading.
  • Choral singing.
  • Acting for screen.
  • Solo Shakespeare and Shakespearean scenes.
  • Theatre history.
  • Audition technique.
  • Professional development and career progression classes, with a focus on professional acting and non-acting based theatre, TV and film careers.

Click here for further information on modules/subject.

Study the Foundation in Acting & Theatre at The Lir Academy

Join The Lir's Director, Loughlin Deegan, to learn about the one-year Foundation Diploma in Acting & Theatre.

Course Details

Awards

Diploma (NFQ Level 7)

Number of Places

16 Places
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Admission Requirements

This is a restricted entry course. Applications must be submitted by the beginning of February 2024. This course is taught by The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art at Trinity. It is not part of the CAO application system. Application forms can be completed online on The Lir Academy website at: www.thelir.ie

Only one application is needed for the Bachelor in Acting degree and the Foundation Diploma in Acting and Theatre if students are applying for both courses.

Entry is by audition. Students will prepare a classical and a contemporary monologue for the first audition. Each monologue should be no more than three minutes long. Successful applicants at first audition will be required to attend one more round of auditions at which voice, movement and group skills will be assessed. Auditions will be held between November 2023 and March 2024.

Course Fees

Click here for a full list of undergraduate fees.

Apply

To apply to this course, click on the relevant Apply Link below

EU Applicants

Read the information about how to apply, then apply directly to CAO.

Get in Touch

admissions@thelir.ie

Website

www.thelir.ie

Register Your Interest

Register your interest in studying at Ireland’s leading university, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin.

Register Your Interest

The Foundation Course at The Lir Academy, Trinity, really is a foundation for life. The scope of the training introduced me to acting techniques and disciplines I had never encountered before, alongside encouraging me to continually grow and take risks as a performer. The distinctly welcoming and supportive environment of The Lir, cultivated by its family of exceptional tutors and like-minded, creatively driven students, makes whatever challenge the course presents even-more achievable.

Katie Killarney

Graduate