Category: Transitions

Coaching Sessions for Early 2024

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Coaching 1-1 Sessions 

January to May 2024

A group of people chatting round a table
©RCS-Robbie McFadzean

What is coaching? 

Coaching involves structured conversation which aims to help you work through challenges, set goals and go on a journey of self-discovery. It can be especially useful during times of transition and change. 

The details: 

  • sessions are 45 minutes long 
  • you can take part in up to 5 sessions between January and May 2024 
  • you can meet your coach weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on what is most useful to you 
  • there is the option to meet your coach online or face-to-face 
  • sessions may be available at various times during the weekdays, evenings or weekends

What is Coaching Like?

Here you can watch a series of videos featuring Transitions students on Vimeo talking about the benefits and what coaching sessions are like.

Book Now button

Deadline to sign up:

16 December

Find out more

Check your emails or contact the team for more information at: transitions@rcs.ac.uk

Information Sessions for Prospective Applicants

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Information Sessions 

For Applicants for 2024.25

A group of people chatting round a table
©RCS-Robbie McFadzean

Come along to our information sessions from 5pm – 7pm on:

  • 1 December: for ages 12+
  • 23 January: for ages 16+
  • 26 January: for ages 7-12

The sessions are being held online and are an ideal opportunity for you to:

  • meet the team
  • get more information about Transitions
  • ask any questions you may have

To register your interest in attending, email the team at transitions@rcs.ac.uk

Applications for 2024.25 Now Open!

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Applications Now Open! 

Apply now for Transitions 2024.25

A collage of images of young people doing production and performing arts

*APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED*

Application Deadline: 31 January 2024

Transitions is an award-winning performing and production arts initiative. We believe that everyone with talent and potential should have access to training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland regardless of their background.

We understand that finding and funding suitable training activities and courses can be challenging for many people who want to pursue a career in the performing and production arts.

The Transitions initiative aims to provide funded training for those wishing to study the performing or production arts. We seek to help people who would like to study:

 Can you join Transitions? 

To be eligible you must meet the following criteria:

  • you are 16+ if interested in either drama, film or production
  • you are 7+ if interested in music or ballet
  • you have not completed a higher education programme
And are one or more of the following:
Or are living in an SIMD1 or SIMD2 postcode and:
  • living rurally
  • Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC)
  • a young carer

 Contact Us 

If you would like us to check your postcode, or have any other questions, please contact the team

📧 transitions@rcs.ac.uk

Call, email or visit our website

Let's Talk About

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Let’s Talk About 

A new Fair Access Project working with

Care Experienced and Estranged Young People

Young person holding a camera hiding their face
📸 Graeme Roger

Let’s Talk About…our new project working with care experienced and estranged young people in the performing and production arts. 

Supported by the William Grant Foundation, we are hoping to highlight some of the best arts practice happening across Scotland. We’ve kickstarted the project in Aberdeenshire, working with one of the nine care groups overseen by Holly Robertson, Aberdeenshire’s Virtual Head Teacher. We visited the Meldrum Academy care group on a field trip to Newburgh Seal Beach with our artists in residence, Graeme Roger and Dave Martin. 8 young people got to grips with how to use film, photography, sound equipment and even drones on the beach. We can’t wait to see what work they produce at their exhibition later in the year. 

Let’s Talk About…is taking place in Aberdeenshire, Ayrshire, on Mull and beyond this autumn and winter and we will be sharing how the project is going on a brand-new website soon. In the meantime, if you want to read about some of our care experienced work we did last year, check out our Sounding Out report.

If you are care experienced or estranged and interested in studying the performing and production arts, you might be eligible for our Transitions programme. Find out more about how to apply to Transitions on our website.

Open Call for Care Experienced/Estranged Performers

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Open Call for 

 Care Experienced / Estranged 

 Performers 

An RCS Fair Access Project,

Funded by the William Grant Foundation

A group of young people performing in a hall

The Fair Access department at RCS are seeking care experienced or estranged performers for the rehearsal and tour of a short, well-developed work in progress aimed at children aged 5 – 8. Please note, this will be a fictional story-led show, based on ideas from children.

Performers can be from any artform but must be comfortable in a collaborative devising process and be experienced at interacting with young children in a performing arts context (eg. workshop delivery or performance).

We are looking for open, playful and imaginative performers who enjoy working in non-theatre spaces and are committed to creating a safe and nurturing environment for audiences.

The Fair Access department wants to create opportunities for care experienced and estranged performers in a professional setting that is supported by experienced practitioners.

The project involves: 

  • 3 development days in Glasgow (potentially including workshops in primary schools) – week beginning 11th December 2023. 
  • 2 weeks full-time rehearsal in Glasgow – weeks beginning 8th and 15th January 2024. 
  • 5-day (approx.) tour in various locations around Scotland – week beginning 22nd or 29th January 2024 (tbc).  

Project Fees: 

  • £2500 (3 development days, 2 weeks rehearsal, 5-day tour). 
  • Travel, accommodation and subsistence covered during 5-day tour. 
  • Performers will be employed on a freelance basis and responsible for own tax/NI. 

To express interest in auditioning please use the form above to tell us a bit about yourself, your performance experience and why you would like to be considered. You may also submit a CV if desired.

Deadline for applicants:

Monday 23 October 2023 at 12noon. 

Auditions will take the form of a practical workshop on Thursday 9 November 2023 from 10am – 12noon at RCS, 100 Renfrew Street, G2 3DB. 

Contact Us

If you would like more information, please contact us on transitions@rcs.ac.uk with the subject ‘Open Call Query’

Focus Group: Transitions Students

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Focus Group for Transitions Students 

Wednesday 15 Nov 2023 & Wednesday 27 Mar 2024, 6 – 7:30pm

A group of young people in parallel lines talking

You are warmly invited to come along to our Focus Group for Transitions here at RCS.

What it’s for:
These sessions are run by Jesse Paul, the Head of Fair Access and members of the Transitions team. At the focus group, you will have the opportunity to tell us about your experience as an RCS Transitions student. Each year, we want to make improvements so that we can support you best. 

Dates for the diaries:
Book now to secure your place on the Focus Groups taking place on:

  • Wednesday 15 November 2023
  • Wednesday 27 March 2024

 Click Here for the Booking Page  

Location
Both Focus Groups will take place in the Renfrew Street Building
Future reminders:
Add details of this Focus Group to your calendar or diaries but you can also check the dates at any time on our online calendar.
Got questions?
You can get in touch with Jesse at: j.paul@rcs.ac.uk

Creative Conversations, Get Ready and Ambassadors

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Recent Events and Activity 

Creative Conversations, Get Ready, and Ambassadors

☀️ As we approach the end of the academic year, we’ve had a busy time across our Fair Access departments.

🎙️ CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS

Panel of people talking to students

Last week we held two Creative Conversations. The first at St Margaret Mary’s Secondary School in Castlemilk. Actors Atta Yaqub and Martin Docherty and BA Musical Theatre student Star Penders spoke to Higher and NC5 pupils about their careers, obstacles and inspirations. Marty Docherty was once a St Margaret Mary’s pupil and is still a local Castlemilk lad.

Group of students sitting on the floor

The second was at Holyrood Secondary in Govanhill, this time with a musical focus. Musicians Michael John McCarthy, Ray Aggs and RCS masters student Dean Garrity talked to a group of pupils about the joys of musical collaboration, taking creative risks and why being in a band is such a good thing!

🎥 Filmmaker Seth Hardwick is making a short film on both events that we hope to share with you all.

🎓 GET READY

Two students doing a presentation

This week, Transitions held the first of two events for students, parents and carers in our Get Ready series.

Get Ready to Apply focused on information around personal statements, UCAS and interview skills. The Transitions team have been working away creating a brand new resource ‘Get Ready to Apply’ which can be accessed on our portal:

🌐 portal.rcs.ac.uk/tstudents

Students doing a presentation

Get Ready to Study, took place last night and we’d like to thank Ken Fairbrother, the RCS SU President and Transitions Alumni, for coming along and telling us more about what support, communities and opportunities there are available at RCS.

A huge thank you also to Gem and Charlotte for sharing their own experiences of being a new student, for giving lots of tips, advice and motivation. It was great to see you all there and please keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on.

⭐️ FAIR ACCESS AMBASSADORS

Lastly, the final meeting for session 2022.23 of our fabulous Fair Access ambassadors and Transitions alumni/student assistants took place this week. A chance to celebrate their amazing year and thank them for everything they’ve done to spread the word about Fair Access in their schools, colleges and communities. We’ve learned so much from them and had a great laugh at the same time! Thank you!

 Get In Touch 

If you would like to find out more about the work that Fair Access do, visit or website at rcs.ac.uk/fair-access, sign up for our newsletter via the website or if you have any questions or queries, email: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Performance Making Taster Workshops

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 PERFORMANCE MAKING WORKSHOPS 

at the Traverse in Edinburgh and RCS in Glasgow

Two young people standingwith their back to each other, touching with a foot

In partnership with Dr Vania Gala, Head of the new Performance Making BA, Fair Access has been running taster workshops at the Traverse Theatre and at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. 

At both venues, we had a brilliant turnout of creative people, willing to move, collaborate and explore new ways of working together:


‘I loved being creative, moving and the energy in the room’ 


 ‘It felt so good to move’ 


 ‘I enjoyed the positive way we connected to each other and to our own bodies, and thinking about movement in a different way…I had a lot of fun!’ 


 ‘Learning that there are resources out there that encourage new theatre being created was so useful’ 


 Our session at RCS was run in partnership with Scottish Youth Theatre and Creative Director Rikki Payne brought a group of young artists from Dunoon to take part and also couldn’t resist joining in himself! The session was co-led by Lucy Cash who teaches on the new degree programme.

Interested in exploring Performance Making with Transitions?

If you’re keen to work across different artforms including performance, movement, dance, choreography, sound, light and community arts, apply to Transitions on our website.  

Fair Access 'Behind the Scenes' Expo

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Fair Access Behind the Scenes EXPO 

Focus on Film, Production Arts and Technology

Monday 5 June, 10 – 3pm

Civic House, 26 Civic Street, Glasgow G4 9RH

Three young adults playing with lighting cans
©RCS-Robbie McFadzean

Are you aged 15+ and interested in Film and/or Production Arts or Technology as a career? Do you teach or support someone who is interested in what happens behind the scenes? Then the Fair Access EXPO is for you!

This Fair Access EXPO is an exciting all-day event designed to get you up close behind the scenes of a performance with experts on hand to help you try out a range of skills. The day ends with a performance that you will have helped put together.

During the day, you will have a chance to:

  • Make and paint a set
  • Design and operate light and sound
  • Work with filmmakers and multimedia artists
  • Choose costumes for performers
  • Meet a range of creative professionals
  • Find out about opportunities in Film and Production that might be available
  • And much, much, more including a free breakfast and lunch!

Come and have a go, meet other young people who like the same things you do, and be part of our creative team.

Places are strictly limited so sign up today!

A group of young people trying out a filming camera in a classroom A young person with headphones round his neck and wearing a traffic cone on his head Three young people trying out a filming camera in a hallway

Please note: Fair Access will prioritise those facing barriers to accessing the arts such as those living in an SIMD20 postcode (you can check this on our website), are estranged or care experienced, or identifying as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Colour (living in an SIMD20 or SIMD40 postcode).

Please let us know the eligibility criteria which best describes you or the group you are booking for when you apply. If none of these criteria apply to you, please feel free to register and a member of staff will get in touch.

 How to get in touch 

If you would like to find out more or have a query or questions, get in touch with the team at: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk 

Term Two Performance Trips

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 PERFORMANCE TRIPS 

Running from 2 March until 15 April

Transitions are excited to announce a new programme of performance trips for Term Two.

Level 2 Students

Level 2 Transitions Students are required to attend one of the following performance trips taking place at RCS:

  • 02.03 | Little Women
  • 08.03 | RCS Big Band
  • 22.03 | The Tamin
  • 23.03 | Piano and Dance Festival
  • 24.03 | Russian Opera Double Bill
  • 30.03 | Colin Currie with RCS Percussion
  • 31.03 | Catch the Rhythmic Orkney Tide and Ride

Level 3 and Year of Application Students

Year of Application and Level 3 Transitions Students can now book to attend one of the following performance trips:

  • 03.03 | Tramway | Scottish Ensemble and Andersson Dance
  • 11.03 | Tramway | A Wee Journey
  • 30.03 | GFT | Life of Pi
  • 08.04 | Theatre Royal | Kidnapped
  • 15.04 | Theatre Royal | A Streetcar Named Desire

Optional extra tickets are available that you can sign up to attend, all taking place at RCS:

  • 02.03 | Little Women
  • 08.03 | RCS Big Band
  • 22.03 | The Taming
  • 23.03 | Piano and Dance Festival
  • 24.03 | Russian Opera Double Bill
  • 30.03 | Colin Currie with RCS Percussion
  • 31.03 | Catch the Rhythmic Orkney Tide and Ride

📧 Check your emails on how to sign up!