Description

What’s it all about?
Discover Acting is your backstage pass into the world of performance! Run at Adelaide College of the Arts, this short course series lets you dip your toes or dive right in into everything from improv and movement to screen acting and singing. Think of it as drama school in bite-sized chunks, perfect for exploring your acting passion without the full-time commitment.

Who’s it for?
Aspiring actors, curious creatives, or anyone who's ever watched a movie and thought, “I really want to do that!” Whether you're new to acting or brushing up your skills, this course has something for you. You can choose just one term or pick multiple terms for the subjects that interest you the most.

What you need to know?
Each term is focused on different aspects of acting—improv, movement, voice, screen and singing. You enrol term by term (and pay term by term), so it's flexible and commitment friendly. Oh, and as a bonus? You get a double pass to an AC Arts production. Live theatre, baby!

Term 1 (Feb–Apr)
Improvisation
Get ready to think on your feet and embrace the unexpected! Navigate through structured improvisation to acquire knowledge and skills for scene building, accepting, and developing offers, and exploring characters. Improvisation serves as an excellent foundation for learning acting skills by training students to listen, respond, and follow impulses during performances.
Movement
Acting isn’t just about your voice—it’s about your whole body. Explore movement as non-verbal expression in performance. Develop various movement techniques; awareness of your physical abilities, and how to use your body to fully express yourself as an artist. The body is vital in creative expression, and this subject sets you up well to study acting with an open, expressive physical instrument.

Term 2 (May–June)
Acting
Lights, camera… foundation! This term gives you the building blocks of acting. Dive into character creation, text analysis, and scene work with your fellow actors. Learn how to use your imagination, body, and research to craft believable, moving performances.
Auditions
Develop audition confidence, experience, and techniques. Learn how to prepare audition pieces which suit you as a performer, including the delivery of speeches ranging from classical to contemporary, with the possibility to also explore film auditions.

Term 3 (Aug–Sept)
Auditions Advanced
Continue to develop auditioning skills and learn the preparation techniques for the audition process using classical to contemporary monologues.
- Workshop to create and develop an idea and ensemble skills.
- Scene development.
- Participate in a simulated audition process, including taking direction on audition material.
Voice
You will be lead through the fundamentals of using your voice in performance. Learn about breathing, breath support, resonance, and articulation, as well as participating in a range of exercises to explore the delivery of text. Vocal health and safety on how to build and maintain strong, versatile, healthy voices will also be covered.

Term 4 (Oct–Dec): Showtime Skills
Singing
Learn basic singing techniques and improve your current skills. A range of genres are taught to assist preparation for potential audition songs as well as acting techniques to apply to singing performances.
Screen Acting
Learn how to adjust your acting for the medium of film. Students will experience being directed in front of the camera, allowing them to watch themselves back and giving detailed notes and direction to develop film performance techniques.

Enrolment in the Discover Acting short course includes one double pass to an AC Arts acting production of your choice. Please refer to cost information below for details.

For organisations that wish to pay the student fees for this course and are unable to pay by credit card via the website, please contact the Short Course team via email on shortcourses@tafesa.edu.au to organise a Third Party Payment invoice.