Drama school foundation courses - any experiences to share?

[Pebbles574]

DS has been applying to drama schools, but said if he didn't get onto a BA course then he'd go to his 'back up' and do a BA Drama at uni instead (He has an unconditional offer for this at a good RG uni as he did A levels last year and got A*AA).

He hasn't had all the results back yet, but has been offered a Foundation course place from one of the good drama schools and now he's saying he might do this instead.

I've heard various things good and bad about Acting foundation courses and would be interested in hearing from anyone with experience of these.

• Worth it as a possible route into drama school (not necessarily the same one) the following year?
• Worth it as a taste of what the 3 year course is like and may change/ cement commitment?
• Pointless waste of money?

It's quite rare to get straight into drama school first time.

Drama at uni is very different than dram school. It's fine if he wants so to go into different areas like maybe writing, community theatre, arts admin or teaching. But drama school trains actors and you get Spotlight accreditation which is pretty essential in the industry.

Foundation courses can be great (but expensive) but they are no guarantee of getting into drama school afterwards. they are offered to candidates who schools feel have potential, but are not yet ready. How much high quality, practical experience does he have. He will have been going up against those doing the much more practical BTEC or UAL performing arts courses rather than A levels but that's OK as long as he has other experience such as high quality youth theatre.

Thanks for the reply.
Yes, he knows uni is very different to drama school, but has been exploring the various routes in and is considering an MA after uni perhaps instead.
He has lots of practical experience - musical theatre when young, then youth theatre and 2-3 productions at school every year including lead roles etc.

The foundation course he's been offered is accredited and funded by student finance and has a good track record for getting students into drama school.

If it's funded I would definately go for it.

My daughter is currently applying for MA. She's in the last year of a 3 year course but feels an extra year will be beneficial due to covid disruption both in her training and the industry itself.

I know someone who was encouraged to do a 6 month course at guildhall.

She didn’t get in the following year but a friend she made in the course did 🤷🏻‍♀️

My DDs went to schools where dc did get straight into drama schools. The schools put a huge amount of effort into this snd were well versed in requirements. Both independent and had drama scholars etc.

Sadly not a single one got much work after drama school. It’s unbelievably tough. Now mid 20s and some pushing 30, they have all given up.

The two friends who did English at Cambridge and Manchester are both working in tv production. But..... it took years and years to land those jobs. I don’t know about foundation years but if he cannot get in now, it should improve his chances.

I’m slightly bemused that with such good A levels he’s not got anywhere with the universities.

Actually I forgot. A friend of DD2 has a brother who went to Oxford and then Rada. He’s getting some work.

Percy - I'm not sure what you mean? I’m slightly bemused that with such good A levels he’s not got anywhere with the universities.

He only applied to one university - his favourite - this year (a top 10 RG one) and got an immediate unconditional offer?
He didn't apply to more as he needed the UCAS 'slots' for drama school applications.

I was confused about what he had applied for.

If you can afford it, I'd do it. Increasingly the drama schools want them to do something first. A foundation year will help him improve and will also show commitment. If after that he doesn't get on anywhere, well then he still has hos good A levels and can go to university, but if his heart is set on drama school it's worth a go. I know quite a lot of excellent young actors/MT performers who didn't get a place at 18, did a foundation course for a year and then got a place somewhere. It seems to be how it's going these days. Can you say which institution it is?

Dd did this and found it worthwhile. Got in the following year at the same drama school and thought she would probably have got in at another drama school too if she hadn't been rushed into hospital on the day of her final audition for them. She said the foundation year was hard work and she got to do some things that weren't covered in great detail in her later studies, so all worthwhile. She also felt the added maturity was helpful for her next stint at drama school: being too young is not always an advantage here.

The only issue to me is financial- can you afford it?

Thanks for the replies - very helpful.

Biscuits - it's Italia Conti.

And yes, we could afford it, but it's also eligible for Student Finance so he could also apply for that.

Following with interest. Ds is in year 13 doing 3 A levels including drama. He is predicted BBB and has applied for 3X BA drama and scriptwriting and has made 2X BA acting/acting and media ( another of his A levels ) at LIPA.

He sent his UCAS off late and has had 2 offers from the universities but nothing else yet. He has Aspergers and is very talented but struggles with some of the writing/set piece elements which is reflected in his predicted grades.

I don’t know what is best for him. I don’t think he even knows himself. He just wants to do drama.

There is no set way now of getting into performing-what does your ds want to do? Films/screen work or musical theatre/stage? When I went in the 90's we all used to apply to the few accredited drama schools that gave you the golden equity card at the end of the course. Now you can work without one so it's not so necessary to have a full on training. I was also the last student from my area whose council paid full fees. ( they were extortionate and I wouldn't have gone without that assistance) Then they became degree courses which was great and opened up training for everyone no matter your financial background. Most actors have had some form of recognised training though-I think the year foundation will be a great choice to do. Has your ds applied to the NYT and NYMT ? They are well respected and he is at an age were he stands a great chance of getting into a show. I know lots of younger actors who spent 2-5 years applying to the top drama schools-they would see the same kids each year in the audition rounds so persistence pays off!

@nancypineapple - could you explain this a bit more please - what has changed?

drama schools that gave you the golden equity card at the end of the course. Now you can work without one so it's not so necessary to have a full on training

I was under the impression that actors still needed proper training in order to get their Spotlight 'PIN' and page?

@OnlyTeaForMe when I graduated we were given a student equity card and put on the spotlight student book for the year.
As an actor you couldn't legally work professionally without an equity card, so they were very hard to get unless you went to one of the accredited drama schools. Now you can work without being an equity member.
Spotlight is different- it's a huge database of actors from agencies or drama school graduates. Casting directors send out breakdowns via spotlight to agents who then submit their clients.
There are other casting sites such as Mandy which seem fairly reputable and can be a good way of getting student films/short film credits.( Spotlight ask that you have 4 or more professional credits or have trained at a drama school in order to be registered) I would encourage any young actors to apply for any short films or open castings which will count towards a credit -CD's often put out requests on their Twitter and instagram pages. Self tapes have changed casting -now a CD can see 100 actors whereas maybe only 25 previously in person so it works in favour of younger actors without an agent.

@Katinthedoghouse

I know someone who was encouraged to do a 6 month course at guildhall.

She didn’t get in the following year but a friend she made in the course did 🤷🏻‍♀️

That’s not unusual. Drama schools are effectively creating an acting company each year so will look to have a balanced group of diverse talent - sometimes people don’t fit one year but do the next, or, indeed, try several times and then get in because this time they are spot on for what the school wants for that year’s intake.

Close family member did foundation from school at prestigious drama school. Out of their cohort of 48, one was accepted on to the BA at said drama school. I think it is a money spinner for drama schools. 9k for less than 6 months training. Plus London living costs. And after 6 months of intensive training in the very model and approaches of the drama school, on one is up to their standard? Fuck that. PS it was RADA.

It does seem to be very hit and miss as to whether you get in, and even whether it's worth it. I remember reading up about Emma Corrin who played Princess Diana in The Crown. She failed to get into drama school twice but her bio says she attended LAMDA for a Shakespeare course. In reality this is a non-auditioned Summer course which anyone can book for £2000 and yet this is often cited as her 'training'!

My son did a one year access course in 2004. He didn’t get onto any degree courses that year. It was a year of ups and downs. It turns out that he was quite immature. He enjoyed the socialising and college life, spent a lot of money, but suffered some depression during the second term, got some help and counselling and finally finished the year in a much better place. He decided not to apply for a degree that year but came home to work locally and save some money.

The following year he got onto a 3 year degree course at another drama school. He was in a much more realistic place, having grown up. He thoroughly enjoyed his time there, got an agent and did some acting work. Not enough to earn a living though but always managed to support himself, through promo work and hospitality jobs. Through that he is now an assistant manager at a gastronomic pub. He became disheartened withTheatre in Education jobs and travelling while still having to pay rent on his property. He doesn’t earn a huge salary but is happy and lives with his girlfriend.

I think you have to be realistic these days. It’s true, only a lucky few manage to survive in the acting world and having contacts in the industry really helps. It is not always the most talented who manage to make a successful career from acting. They really have to be persistent and proactive and prepared for so many knock backs.

Doing a foundation year could give your child an more realistic idea of where a degree course could lead. The experience will certainly not be wasted. Follow your dreams and all that.

Incidentally, my daughter, who did a 3 year acting course three years earlier has finally had enough of minimum wage jobs to survive. She has been far more fortunate with acting work, having toured with theatre, worked at the Globe and BBC, and recorded many audio books among other things. She wants to be in a more secure financial position and feel fulfilled in a different profession. She has just applied for a totally different vocational degree at uni and we are keeping our fingers crossed that she gets in. The skills she has gained over the last 16 years in other areas will never be wasted, but at 37 she wants to feel secure and settled.

I hope the helps.

By the way, many drama school courses are covered by a Dada award which means, if you are awarded one, you do not pay fees. I don’t know if this applies to a foundation year, it didn’t in my son’s case, but both my two got them for their three year courses. It means they just have to fund their accommodation and living expenses.

Sorry to waffle on, but I think my son did get a Dada award to do his foundation year. He just got a student loan for his living expenses.