BA CPP

In CPP, every day is completely different. Days can be long and tough and they are always amazingly intense. But you learn so much about yourself because of this intensity, and, despite the business of the programme, you are always given time to reflect and space to breathe as part of the timetable. Josephine Hutton, CPP Student

The moment you join the programme, you’ll hit the ground running, working 8am to 6pm five days a week. You should bear in mind that it’s usual for productions and student-generated work to continue into the evenings and over weekends. So if you’re looking for an easy option, this isn’t the programme for you.

First Year

In the first year the focus is autobiographical – you learn about yourself and what you are bringing to a space as a performer. You make all of your own work yourself. You are encouraged to examine your pre-conceived ideas, habits, and learned beliefs.

You will start to learn the practical skills you need to participate in performance making and the devising process. Throughout the year you will have a group performance to work on.

You will develop your critical awareness and your understanding of the social and cultural contexts in which you may make work through the study of theory and performance analysis.

You will begin to look at design and aesthetics and their impact on the performance you are making.

You will begin work on developing an imaginative and articulate vocabulary of movement using Lecoq and Yoga systems as well as exploring the possibilities of the voice. You’ll also start exploring different documentary techniques including making a website and an experimental web project.

Second Year

In your second year you begin to explore how to apply your arts practice in social and participatory contexts including community, education, and contemporary performance. You will take part in a residency in a community with whom you will make an original piece of performance work.

You will explore technology and choreography in performance by creating a new ensemble piece with visiting directors and choreographers. Voice and movement specialists work alongside you in your projects to enable the development of your performance skills.

You will continue to explore ways of documenting your performance projects including a group authored website, learning and teaching packs, manifesto writing, video, and installation.

You will also undertake a Teaching Placement in the Royal Conservatoire's Short Courses programme which gives you the opportunity to work with young people in drama workshops at the weekend.

Third Year

In the third year the emphasis is on research and self-generated work. You’ll learn how to generate text for performance, supported through individual mentoring by a performance tutor.

You will write a dissertation exploring an idea relevant to your own performance practice.

For two days each week during Trimester 1 you will undertake a professional attachment or community placement.

Recent placements have included Tramway, Imaginate, macrobert, The Scottish Refugee Council, Mischief La Bas, and Visible Fictions Theatre Company.

As part of your development in technology and documentation practices you will: develop an experimental scoring system for your work; create web-based documentation of collaborative performance; and develop a 45 minute lecture demonstration on the subject of your dissertation.

You will continue to develop your own daily practice exploring new ways to approach voice and movement in support of performance.

Fourth Year

In the fourth year you are working towards a sustainable arts practice that will support your transition into the world of work. You will now have the opportunity to select projects specialising in directing, performance, solo performance, theatre in prisons, education, site specific work, or a work-based secondment.

You will create your Professional Portfolio to support this work which normally comprises a website, web-based performance documentation, a professional authored DVD, a paper-based portfolio, teaching materials, an interactive CD-ROM, and/or personal manifestos.

You will be responsible for organizing your own Daily Practice project in support of the needs of your projects.

Throughout this final year you are offered professional support to prepare you for your move into the professional field. You are encouraged and supported in devising appropriate strategies designed to help you into the world of work.