Recharge Your Theatre Practice, Season Two!

 Recharge Your Theatre Practice 

Career Long Professional Learning for

N5, Higher and Advanced Higher Teachers

A woman on stage in costume, reading from an old blotted bit of paper

Build your skills in Directing Monologues for Auditions and Practical Lighting. Join us at RCS and All Saints Secondary School Glasgow for workshops to refresh your creative practice and share new ways of working!

Directing Monologues and Audition Techniques

Practical Lighting Skills

When: Wednesday 10 May, 4 – 6pm
Where: RCS, Wallace Studios
When: Thursday 18 May, 4 – 6pm
Where: All Saints Secondary School
Led by: Liz Carruthers, Director

Find out what a typical drama school audition process looks like from Liz Carruthers, who sits regularly on audition panels for the RCS, both in Scotland and internationally. Discover how you can best prepare your pupils or students, including choosing and working on suitable monologues, responding well to re-direction in the audition and being best prepared for the interview.  Liz will also discuss managing auditionee expectations and having a good plan B if not successful the first time, which is very common! 

Led by: Christoph Wagner, Lecturer in Lighting RCS 

Explore what makes an effective lighting design and how to achieve this with equipment typically found in a secondary school drama studio. This hands-on session will also look at how to use lights and equipment correctly. Using short scenes as stimulus, we’ll consider how to light key moments and document this with plans, notes and cue sheets. With lots of opportunities for questions, to troubleshoot challenges with teaching lighting in school, and sharing solutions.

‘Super helpful and I have lots of ideas to take back to school! Thank you’ 

‘Really inspiring and enjoyable – I wish we had more opportunities like this’

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions or queries, get in touch with the team on: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

BEd Music Bridging Programme 2023

 So You Want To Be A Music Teacher? 

Join our BEd Music Bringing Programme, starting this September!

Young woman with violin pointing to a class powerpoint

Are you interested in studying music teaching at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland? This Fair Access BEd Bridging Programme here at RCS aims to enhance the educational context of music teaching and get you ready to apply.

The Bridging Programme is a great opportunity to:

  • explore the skills and qualities of a good teacher
  • learn about educational policy and the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE)
  • develop vocal leadership skills 
  • be offered optional activities such as piano accompaniment, music technology or composition
  • receive your music tuition from the RCS Junior Conservatoire

In addition, you’ll gain valuable experience before applying for the BEd and meet like-minded peers.

This free course is aimed at those aged 16+, who are either:

Ticket button for registering

Contact Us

If you would like to find out more or discuss any queries you may have, contact the team on: fairacccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Self Tape Sessions

 Self Tape Sessions 

Year of Application Students

Young woman standing in front of a camera recording an interview session.

Throughout January, we had a wide selection of Transitions students come into RCS to have audition tapes filmed for their college, university, and conservatoire applications. Students ranging in disciplines from acting, musical theatre to music teaching, were accompanied by an engineer to record their self-tapes.

Working in partnership with RCS Admissions it was great to see how prepared they all were.

The feedback has been extremely positive with applicants loving their tapes and appreciating the atmosphere in the studio. It helped students feel more confident so we hope that this is something we can offer in the future again.

Recharge Your Theatre Practice

 Recharge Your Theatre Practice 

Career Long Professional Development for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher Drama Teachers. Re-energise your Practice in Directing Actors and Devising Theatre

Group of people sitting in a theatre studio having a discussion

Join us at the RCS or CentreStage Kilmarnock for workshops led by professional theatre makers which will leave you upskilled, inspired and reconnected to your artform.

 Click Here to Book Your Session 


 Devising Theatre 
Led by: Theatre Maker Phillipa Clark
*Choose from either Glasgow or Kilmarnock

Wednesday 2 November
4 – 6pm
RCS, Glasgow
Wednesday 9 November
4:30 – 6:30pm
CentreStage, Kilmarnock

This session will be practical, purposeful and playful.  Explore strategies for creating devised drama from a stimulus. Refresh your skills and develop your toolkit of theatre-making techniques in a collaborative environment.  Philippa’s influences as a theatre maker include Frantic AssemblyPina Bausch, Quarantine, Mammalian Diving Reflex and Candoco. 


 Directing Actors 
Led by: Theatre Director Guy Hollands
*Choose from either Glasgow or Kilmarnock

Wednesday 10 November
4 – 6pm
RCS, Glasgow
Wednesday 16 November
4:30 – 6:30pm
CentreStage, Kilmarnock

Gain insight into Guy’s approach to directing, with an emphasis on the director’s relationship with actors in rehearsal. The session will include some practical work on text and a Q&A and hopes to build your own confidence with directing.  Guy has worked with companies including the Citizens TheatreEdinburgh LyceumRCSVisible Fictions and 7:84 


 Click Here to Book Your Session 

‘Absolutely loved this session!
Great delivery, content, pacing…every CLPD should be like this!’
– Drama Teacher, CLPD May 2022 

In partnership with:

 Get In Touch 

If you require any further information or have any questions, email: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Call Out for Early Years R&D Opportunity

 Experimentation Playground 

Making Performance for Tinies

Young girl making drama scene face and hands.

Are you care experienced, estranged or a former Transitions student? Do you like the idea of making performance for tiny people? Would you like to be paid £150 to take part in a week of R&D between 25 and 29 July at RCS?

The Fair Access department is looking for 4 students to take part in a week of R&D focusing on making performance for early years. You will be working alongside 4 care experienced young people aged 18-25 from the Citizens Theatre.

We will be focusing on creative play and the week will be co-led by early years practitioner Corrie McKendrick alongside our Fair Access Manager Jesse Paul and Outreach Officer Louise Brown.

The emphasis of the R&D will be to share skills, explore early years theatre making and create joy. We are keen to hear from people across all disciplines.

If you are interested, please fill in the form below:

Deadline: 8 July 2022 at 5pm

 Get In Touch 

If you require any further information or have any questions, email: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Bridging Programme: BEd (Music Teaching)

 BEd BRIDGING PROGRAMME 

Start Date: September 2022

Two young women practicing violin

Are you interested in studying at RCS in music teaching? This Fair Access Bridging Programme aims to enhance your understanding of the educational context of music teaching and in getting you ready to apply.

The core sessions will be based on the Curriculum for Excellence and aim to build understanding of related policies, vocal Leadership, lesson planning and coaching skills. Participants may also be offered optional activities in subjects such as piano accompaniment, music technology and composition. 

This course is aimed at those aged 16+ who are either living in an SIMD1 postcode area or are care experienced or estranged or black, indigenous or person of colour. 

Register your interest by clicking the button below:

 Get In Touch 

If you require any further information or have any questions, email: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Apply Now To Become A Fair Access Ambassador!

 FAIR ACCESS AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME 

September 2022 through to Summer 2023

⭐️ Applications are now open for our Fair Access Ambassador programme ⭐️

Young people sitting chatting in student area

 What is Fair Access? 

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is an inclusive and diverse environment. We want to encourage as many people as possible, regardless of their background, to get involved with the performing and production arts. The Fair Access department at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland run two programmes – Transitions and WACI – alongside our Fair Access Outreach and Partnership programme. 📽 Watch more here.

 The work of Fair Access Ambassadors 

Our Ambassadors work alongside our staff to help promote and provide information on opportunities around entering into the performing and production arts and our Fair Access activities and events within their local schools and communities. In return, our Ambassadors gain experience within the arts sector, working with people, and developing teamwork and communication skills alongside bespoke training opportunities.

 About you! 

The Ambassador programme is aimed at those aged 16+ who are passionate about the performing and production arts. You will meet the WACI eligibility criteria or be a current Transitions studentChecking your emails regularly, having good knowledge in social media, clear communication skills and being comfortable in social situations are an advantage.

 When will I need to be available? 

Aside from normal Ambassador activities, you will be available to attend our Ambassador meetings either at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland or via Zoom:

▪️ Residential Weekend: 2 – 4 September
▪️ Meetings: 20 Nov 22, 18 Feb 23 and 17 Jun 23.

 Sounds good, where / how do I sign up? 

Our application form will ask you to fill in your personal details and write a short response to the following questions:

▪️ Why are the arts important?
▪️ How would you promote the arts within your community to young people?
▪️ Why and how would you commit to being a Fair Access Ambassador?

*Alternatively, you can attach a short video (2-3 mins) that answers the questions above.


 Completing you application 

To complete your application we ask that you provide a reference from someone you know who is involved in the arts. This can be a teacher, tutor, community practitioner etc.


Get in touch 

If you require further information or have any questions, get in touch with the team at: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Applications for 2022/23 Are Open!

Applications are now open for our funded Transitions programme where students receive support to kick start their journey in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Over the next few weeks and months, you’ll be able to hear from our students and alumni on what it has meant to them to be part of the Transitions programme. First up we feature some of our music students and alumni.

Young woman sitting in front of an electronic piano. Looking away smiling.
📸 Robbie Mcfadzean

We recommend that students apply as soon as possible in order for applications to be considered for 2022/23 entry. In order to guarantee consideration for an Autumn 2022 start, applications need to be submitted by the closing dates below:

  • Music: 7 February 2022
  • Acting & Musical Theatre: 28 March 2022
  • Film & Production: 30 May 2022

Head over to our ‘Apply’ page to apply and find out more.

If you have any questions about your application, you can contact us on: transitions@rcs.ac.uk

BEd (Bachelor of Education - Music) Pilot Module

We are currently running a pilot module for young people who are interested in becoming music teachers.

Six students from our Widening Access to the Creative Industries and Transitions programmes have been learning all about what it means to be a teacher, how the national curriculum works and all things music education. They are building the skills they need to get ready to apply to become a music teacher at RCS. We are delighted with how the course is going.  

‘It’s great to see the (Transitions) students grow in confidence as they explore aspects of Educational Policy and discuss what it means to be a teacher in the 21st Century’ Mairi Warren BEd Lecturer

If you are a music teacher with students interested in a career in teaching music, why not get in touch. Your students may be eligible for our Transitions programme and applications are now open. Click here to find out more or contact Transitions on transitions@rcs.ac.uk

Deadline: January 2022

RCS Fair Access News | June 2021

 June 2021 

Welcome to the June edition of Fair Access News.

This is where we will feature opportunities, news, offers, and information on upcoming events and activities across the Fair Access department here at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.


 Opportunities 

▶️ Transitions are still recruiting
Transitions are still recruiting in Filmmaking, Theatre Production, Music Education (BEd) and Contemporary Performance Practice (CPP).  

▶️ What It Means to be Me
We are on the lookout for Care Experienced and Estranged young people aged 12 to 18 to take part in a series of creative workshops which will result in the making of a music video. 

▶️ WACI Online Summer School Scholarship
Now open for applications! – WACI are offering fully-funded places on Summer Schools taking place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland throughout the summer school holidays.  

▶️ School of Music – Open Day
The RCS School of Music will be hosting an Open Day on 20 June 2021.  


 News 

▶️ Positive Stories for Negative Times
At Fair Access, we are delighted to be collaborating with BA Performance graduate Petre Dobre and Wonder Fools Theatre company to create a performance with d/Deaf students at St Roch’s Secondary school.  

▶️ Digital Resources and Summer School for Media Teachers
We are excited to announce that The Fair Access Department at the RCS is working in collaboration with Gmac Film to developing a series of digital resources on practical filmmaking skills with National 5 and Higher pupils.


 Gifts 

▶️ Stage Management Digital Resource
Our special gift to you in this newsletter is a fantastic Stage Management digital resource teaching pack.

▶️ Mental Health and Wellbeing tips
Top 3 tips from our student cohort on maintaining mental health and wellbeing.


 Coming soon 

▶️ Podcast Project
A project to get involved with over summer.


 Get our newsletter straight to your inbox! 

If you would like to be added to the Fair Access Newsletter to receive information straight to your inbox, click here to fill out our form.

The Fair Access department at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland includes both the Transitions and WACI programmes. For more information on Fair Access visit 🌐 rcs.ac.uk/fair-access-expo