HND Acting and Performance

About this course

Acting and performance is the study and practice of the performing arts at their most fundamental: the actor's craft of embodying a character, responding truthfully in imagined circumstances, and communicating meaning to an audience through voice, body, presence and imagination. It is a discipline that draws on psychology, physical training, voice work, text analysis and rehearsal practice, and it demands a willingness to be vulnerable, to take risks and to collaborate closely with others. At its best, acting training develops not only performance skills but a depth of self-knowledge and an empathy with other human beings that has value well beyond the stage or screen. At the University of the Highlands and Islands, this part-time programme offers a flexible route into formal training in acting and performance for students who need to balance their studies with other commitments. The mode of study can be adapted to allow you to progress through the content at a pace that fits your situation, whether alongside work, family responsibilities or other creative practice. You will develop the core skills of the actor through practical work, including character analysis, vocal production, physical awareness, improvisation, scene study and devising, grounded in an understanding of the theoretical and historical contexts from which contemporary performance practice has emerged. Graduates from acting and performance programmes pursue careers across the performing arts, in theatre, television, film, radio, community drama, applied theatre and performance in health and education settings. Many graduates also develop careers that combine performance with teaching, directing, arts facilitation or writing. The skills developed through performance training, including communication, empathy, collaboration, confidence and the ability to work under pressure, are transferable across a wide range of professional contexts beyond the arts. Further study in advanced performance practice, theatre directing or applied drama is available for those who wish to deepen their specialism.

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