Gap Year Acting Diploma

Course Title

Join us for our Acting Diplomas Online Information Session to find out more about training on our Diplomas in 2024/25.

The next Information Session is on 26 March at 7-8pm.

Gap Year Acting Diploma

The Gap Year Acting Diploma is a one year, part-time course designed to develop your acting skills. 

The course is aimed at those aged 18 - 25 who are interested in preparing to apply for an acting course at higher education level.

Course Content
  • Develop career skills, audition techniques and acting skills
  • Perform extracts from plays in a studio-based performance
  • Take specific classes in movement, voice and text. This work will be underpinned and linked with audition technique for those wanting to apply to an undergraduate course
  • Career development sessions offering guidance through the Higher Education/drama school process, and on prospective careers in the performing arts
  • In the final term, rehearse and perform a performance showcase. Although we do not invite agents to this, all students on this course will be seen by an undergraduate course tutor and will be offered guidance on applying to higher education courses

This may be an ideal course if you feel you want a year to hone your skills before applying to a full-time course, or to increase skills if you have not been successful at auditions.

We are looking for people who:

  • demonstrate commitment to the subject
  • can work well within a team
  • are passionate about acting and theatre
  • are willing to work independently
  • show an understanding/respect for rehearsal room etiquette e.g. time keeping and discipline
  • want to progress and learn about acting in a practical way
Course Dates

September 2023 - July 2024

The course will run on Saturdays with one intensive week at the beginning and a final intensive week at the end of the course - see below for provisional dates for 2023/2024. 

Term 1: Acting Fundamentals, Voice, Movement and Audition Technique

Initial Intensive Week: Monday 25 September 2023 – Friday 29 September 2023 

Saturdays: Saturday 7 October 2023 - Saturday 9 December 2023

Term 2: Text, Acting for Camera, Devising

Saturdays: Saturday 13 January 2024 - Saturday 16 March 2024

Term 3: Shakespeare, & Performance Project: Rehearse & perform in a theatre project

Saturdays: Saturday 20 April 2024 - Saturday 22 June 2024

Intensive week of final rehearsals

Intensive Saturday: Saturday 29 June 2024

Intensive week: Monday 1 July 2024 - Friday 5 July 2024

Performance day: Friday 5 July 2024
Course Dates

September 2024 - July 2025 

The course will run on Saturdays with one intensive week at the beginning and a final intensive week at the end of the course - see below for provisional dates for 2024/2025.

Term 1: Acting Fundamentals, Voice, Movement and Audition Technique

Initial Intensive Week: Monday 23 September 2024 – Friday 27 September 2024

Saturdays: Saturday 5 October 2024 - Saturday 7 December 2024

Term 2: Text, Acting for Camera, Devising

Saturdays: Saturday 18 January 2025 - Saturday 22 March 2025

Term 3: Shakespeare & Performance Project: Rehearse & perform in a theatre project

Saturdays: Saturday 26 April 2025 - Saturday 28 June 2025

Intensive week of final rehearsals

Intensive Saturday: Saturday 5 July 2025

Intensive week: Monday 7 July 2025 - Friday 11 July 2025

Performance day: Friday 11 July 2025
Course Dates

September 2025 - July 2026

The course will run on Saturdays with one intensive week at the beginning and a final intensive week at the end of the course - see below for provisional dates for 2025/2026.

Term 1: Acting Fundamentals, Voice, Movement and Audition Technique

Initial Intensive Week: Monday 22 September 2025 – Friday 26 September 2025: 10am – 5pm

Saturdays: Saturday 4 October 2025 - Saturday 6 December 2025: 10am – 5pm

Term 2: Text, Acting for Camera, Devising

Saturdays: Saturday 10 January 2026 - Saturday 14 March 2026: 10am – 5pm

Term 3: Shakespeare, & Performance Project: Rehearse & perform in a theatre project

Saturdays: Saturday 18 April 2026 - Saturday 20 June 2026: 10am – 5pm

Intensive week of final rehearsals

Intensive Saturday: Saturday 27 June 2026: 10am – 5pm

Intensive week: Monday 29 June 2026 - Thursday 2 July 2026: 10am – 5pm

Performance day: Friday 3 July 2026: 10am – 10pm
Auditions are open for 2024/25!

For your audition, you will be asked to submit an audition self-tape and if successful, you will be invited to an in-person second round audition in London.

You will need to prepare a contemporary monologue from a published play, from the last 20 years, of no longer than two minutes in duration.

First Round Audition - please film and submit a video of your contemporary monologue. Read our guidance on how to film and submit your audition video.

You don’t need special equipment; your phone, a table, a chair and some books are all you need!

Once we have received your audition video, it will be reviewed and assessed by a panel of two industry professionals, one of whom will be the Course Leader.

We recommend submitting your audition video as soon as possible, as places will be filled on a first come first served basis. Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide feedback on unsuccessful tapes.

Second Round Audition – Successful applicants will be invited to attend a Second Round Audition. Second Round Auditions will commence from March 2024 and will be held in-person at our Swiss Cottage campus in London with a member of teaching staff from the course. There will be a 45-minute Acting Workshop with the group, before an individual audition with the panel. This will consist of a discussion on why you are applying, performing your monologue, receiving re-direction on your monologue and repeating it once more. Further information will be emailed to you nearer the time. 

Audition Fees

There is an audition fee of £10 for the first round and no additional fee for the second round. 

If you meet any of the following criteria, you may be eligible to apply for a free audition:

  • I am from a low income household (below £25,000)
  • I am Care Experienced (care Leaver/in the care of your Local Authority)
  • I have a registered disability
  • I have Caring Responsibilities (Young carer/ carer)
  • I am a refugee/asylum seeker

If this is applicable to you, please complete an application form and send your supporting evidence to short.courses@cssd.ac.uk.

Any questions, please contact us at short.courses@cssd.ac.uk

Course Fee

Course fee is under review.

There are free auditions, partial bursaries and full bursaries available for the Gap Year Diploma and Acting Diploma.

To be eligible, you must live in England and meet one of the following criteria:   

  • I am from a low income household (below £25,000)
  • I am care experienced (care leaver/in the care of your local authority)
  • I am a disabled student
  • I have caring responsibilities (young carer/carer)
  • I am from the global majority
  • I am a refugee/asylum seeker

To apply, please submit your self-tape before completing our bursary application form here.

A member of the team will be in touch with the outcome within 2 weeks of receiving your supporting evidence. Any questions, please contact us at short.courses@cssd.ac.uk

Course video

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