Author: Ellen McNeill

Get Into: Performing and Production Arts

Posted on by Ellen McNeill

 Get Into: 

 Performing and Production Arts 

Performance, Production, Singing and Arts with Community

For Young People 16+

Young person smiling trying on costume

Starting Autumn 2025

Would you like to Get Into: Performing and Production Arts but not sure where to begin? Our free Get Into courses could be the perfect answer. 

We’re running four separate programmes starting this Autumn:

  • Performance (acting, devising and movement)
  • Production for Stage and Screen (sound, lighting and production arts)
  • Singing Together (singing chorally in many styles and vocal leadership)
  • Arts with Community (exploring multi-artform community projects)

These free weekly part-time sessions will be a great opportunity for you to:

  • Build your confidence
  • Develop your skills in your chosen field
  • Meet others who love the same thing as you

Text: Apply Now

Please note: Fair Access will prioritise places for young people aged 16 – 19. To be eligible, you must meet one or more of the following criteria: 

  • live in an SIMD1 Postcode 
  • are care experienced or estranged from, and receive no support from, family or carers
  • live in an SIMD1 Postcode or SIMD2 Postcode and belong to one of the following groups:
    – living rurally with poor transport links
    – Black, Indigenous or People of Colour 
    – D/deaf or Hard of Hearing

Depending on available places, we will also consider college students up to the age of 25 years.

Get in touch and we can check your postcode for you. 

 Get In Touch 

If you have any questions or queries, email: fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

FREE CLPL from Fair Access at RCS in March & April 2025

Posted on by Ellen McNeill

 Recharge Your Creative   Practice: CLPL Workshops for   Expressive Arts Secondary   Teachers 

 Energise your teaching with our spring series of free workshops led by professional practitioners

Two adults sitting at a desk designing

A man and woman working together designing a prop

Tuesday 29 April 4.30 – 6.30pm
Practical Prop Making led by Merlin Currie, RCS Props Tutor 

Join us to create a handheld prop for performance, using a practical step-by-step approach. Find out how to create simple but effective props and the best materials to have in your store cupboard. 

 

 

Two people working together at a piano

 

Tuesday 6 May 4 – 6.30pm
Ways into Composition led by Tom W. Green, RCS Lecturer in Composition  

Explore a range of compositional techniques including creative strategies for composing with pupils who have limited musical literacy, using digital and non-digital aids. 

 

 

 

A young person holding drum sticks

 

Wednesday 14 May 4.30 – 6.30pm
Accessible Music Making for BGE Learners led by Stephen Henderson, Drummer, Composer, Band leader and Educator 

Develop tools to build pupils’ confidence and musicality, without them needing to read music. Explore rhythm activities, games, simple melodies and improvisation to make BGE music lessons more engaging.

 

 

Two people standing at lighting desk in a theatre

 

Monday 19 May 4.30 – 5.45pm
Get to Know Your Lighting Desk led by Paige MacGillivray, RCS Lighting Production Student 

For teachers who have the FLX S24 desk and want a better understanding of it. Led by an RCS Lighting student, who can give an insight into BA Production Technology. 

 

 

A woman pointing with her fingers

 

Tuesday 27 May 4.30 – 6.30pm
Devising Towards Performance led by Robbie Gordon, Theatre Maker and Creative Engagement Specialist

Explore the devising and writing techniques Wonder Fools use to tell authentic stories with communities. Delve into practical ways of shaping narrative and performance and leave with tools to support your pupils’ creativity. 

 

 

Book Now button

Please Note: Fair Access prioritises those facing barriers in accessing the arts. Such as those who:

  • live in an SIMD1 Postcode 
  • are care experienced 
  • are estranged and receive no support from family or carers
  • live in an SIMD1 Postcode or SIMD2 Postcode and belong to one of the following groups:
    • living rurally with poor transport links
    • Black, Indigenous or People of Colour 
    • D/deaf or Hard of Hearing

Get in touch if you have any questions or need us to check a postcode for you.

For this reason, our CLPL sessions prioritise places for teachers whose schools have a high percentage of SIMD1 postcodes within their catchment area.

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions about these activities please get in touch with us at: fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

Reflections in Film: Filmmaking Project for Young People

Posted on by Ellen McNeill

 Reflections in Film: Telling Your Story 

A chance to explore your identity through the media of film

 What is the project? 

Reflections in Film is a project run by Mal Fraser that invites young people to creatively express themselves by experimenting with different filmmaking techniques to capture their unique perspective on who they are and how they see the world.

Over 12 weeks, you’ll dive into various aspects of filmmaking, from storytelling and camera work to editing and sound design. Each week offers a new opportunity to develop your skills and explore a different creative process in a way that feels authentic to you. By the end of the project, you’ll have the chance to create your own short film.

This project is about discovering new ways to tell your story and gaining filmmaking skills along the way. If you’re ready to get started, sign up and join a group of like-minded young creators ready to explore their voices through film.

Check out Mal’s work here:

 Where will this take place? 

This is an online project therefore all you’ll need is a device that can access Microsoft Teams and an internet connection – therefore you can attend from anywhere in Scotland.

If you require any support in accessing a device with internet connection, then let us know when you sign up and we’ll do are best to support you and navigate this barrier.

Where: Online
Times: Tuesdays at 7pm – 9pm
When: 
  • 25 March
  • 1 April
  • 22 April
  • 29 April
  • 6 May
  • 13 May
  • 20 May
  • 27 May
  • 3 June
  • 10 June
  • 24 June
Whilst we do expect participants to try and commit to all these dates, we also appearciate that things like school commitments, exams and life in general make not make that possible. We just ask that you let us know when you can’t attend!

A button that takes you to a form

 *Booking Deadline Extended*

New Deadline: Wednesday 19 March 4pm
Spaces are limited. Completing the booking form doesn’t automatically guarantee your place.
We will notify successful candidates.

 Who is it for? 

Young people aged 16+ with an interest in visual expression, film, sound, storytelling, writing and getting to meet likeminded people.

Participants must meet one or more of the following criteria:

Get in touch and we can check your postcode for you. 

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions or queries or would like to know how to get involved with WACI, please email: waci@rcs.ac.uk

Discover Fair Access Creative Pathways at RCS: Upcoming Events & Information Sessions

Posted on by Ellen McNeill

 Discover Creative Pathways at   RCS 

A young person sitting smiling at table with friends

Are you aged 16+ and interested in performing or production arts?

Come along to one of our upcoming events or information sessions to find out more about our programmes: Get Into: Performing and Production Arts (16+) and brand new credit-rated Access Courses (17+). Explore your next steps towards a creative career, meet staff and students from RCS and get advice about applying. 

Online Information Sessions

Join us from the comfort of your own home to find out more about the courses, what they involve and how to apply. These sessions run from 5.30 – 6.15pm on:

  • Thursday 6 March
  • Monday 10 March
  • Thursday 13 March

Book Now buttonIn-Person Events

Join us at RCS or The Beacon Arts Centre for a fun, practical session where you get to work with our tutors to explore performing and production arts in action. These in-person events run from 4.30 – 6.30pm on:

Book Now button

Online Artform Information Sessions

Join us to delve deeper into what each of our creative pathways is all about. Meet staff and students from RCS who will let you know what to expect on the Get Into and Access Courses. These online sessions run from 5.30 – 6.30pm on: 

  • Monday 31 March (Find Out More: Production)
  • Wednesday 2 April (Find Out More: Music Education)
  • Thursday 3 April (Find Out More: Arts with Community)

Book Now button

 Who Can Apply 

Our Access Courses are fully funded and specifically aimed at people who:

  • live in an SIMD1 Postcode 
  • are care experienced 
  • are estranged and receive no support from family or carers
  • live in an SIMD1 Postcode or SIMD2 Postcode and belong to one of the following groups:
    • living rurally with poor transport links
    • Black, Indigenous or People of Colour 
    • D/deaf or Hard of Hearing

Get in touch if you have any questions or need us to check a postcode for you.

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions about these activities please get in touch with us at: fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

RCS Summer School Scholarships 2025

Posted on by Ellen McNeill

 RCS Summer School   Scholarships 

Now Open for Applications

RCS Summer Schools have something for everyone! Whether you’re a beginner wanting a first taste or more experienced and wanting to develop your practice. There are a whole variety of summer schools to choose from in Dance, Drama, Music, Film and Production. 

WACI x RCS Summer Schools 2025

Visit the RCS Summer Schools website here to see the selection of courses you can choose from. Some of the courses are very popular and spaces fill up quickly. The scholarships are selected at random and based on the availability of places on each course. A WACI scholarship will cover the full cost of your chosen course.

Alongside the Summer School Scholarships, WACI are able to offer some financial support, to assist with travel and accommodation costs, for those with a WACI Summer School Scholarship who live in rural areas of Scotland. Please follow the link to the booking form to find out more!

DISCLAIMER: Signing up does not automatically guarantee you a scholarship or bursary, we have a limited number of spaces and we will award based eligibility and strength of application.

How to apply

Fill out the application form to let us know:

  • a little bit about you
  • why you would like to do the course you have chosen

If it would be easier, you can provide a voice recording or video statement in support of your application.

Text: Apply Now

Deadline: Friday 4 April 2025

Please Note

WACI will prioritise those facing barriers to accessing the arts such as those:

Get in touch and we can check your postcode for you. 

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions about this activity, please email: waci@rcs.ac.u

Brand New Access Courses

Posted on by Ellen McNeill

 New Access Courses 

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland launches brand new Access Courses for people ages 17+ starting July 2025

A man sitting while a young girl laughs holding a microphone

This eight-month accredited programme will help you discover your creative potential and take your artistic skills to the next level. It is fully funded for those who meet our Fair Access eligibility and is designed for people who are serious about studying BA Arts with Community, Music Education, or Production at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

The programme is split into three areas of study and offers 40 credits at SCQF Level 6 on completion:

  • Access to Arts with Community
  • Access to Production
  • Access to Music Education

Throughout the course you will deepen your understanding and increase experience in your chosen artform. You will work collaboratively with other students to create performances and receive expert guidance on how to apply for degree programmes and prepare for auditions/interviews.

Find out more about these exciting new courses running from July 2025 – March 2026 here: Access Courses at RCS

 

Text: Apply Now

Deadline to apply: 14 March 2025

 Who Can Apply 

Our Access Courses are fully funded and specifically aimed at people who:

  • live in an SIMD1 Postcode 
  • are care experienced or estranged from, and receive no support from, family or carers
  • live in an SIMD1 Postcode or SIMD2 Postcode and belong to one of the following groups:
    • living rurally with poor transport links
    • Black, Indigenous or People of Colour 
    • D/deaf or Hard of Hearing

Get in touch if you have any questions or need us to check a postcode for you.

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions about these activities please get in touch with us at: fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

Performance Trip: War Horse

Posted on by Ellen McNeill

 Performance Trip 

Join us for the second in our series WACI performance trips to see the award winning, National Theatre tour of Michael Morpurgo’s ‘War Horse’.

A life size puppet horse and a man holding it's face

War Horse is an unforgettable theatrical experience which takes audiences on an extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of First World War France. Based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo, this powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and songs, is a show of phenomenal inventiveness. At its heart are astonishing life-sized horses by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage.

This performance trip is the perfect opportunity to see award winning theatre that combines puppetry, movement, emotive story telling and innovative sound and lighting design. It is open to those aged 16+ with an interest in drama, performance, sound and lighting technology. 

Please note that signing up does not automatically mean you will receive a place on the trip. After the signup date we will prioritise applications who meet our eligibility and contact you to let you know if you have been successful.

DISCLAIMER: This show uses strobe lighting. It also deals with themes that some people may find upsetting including war, and depictions of violence and death. This trip will be supervised by Livi from the WACI Team, who will be in attendance. Please make any reasonable adjustments/accessibility requirements known

When: 31 March
Time: 7.30pm
Where: Theatre Royal, Glasgow

Book Now button

Spaces are limited. Completing the booking form doesn’t automatically guarantee your place.
We will notify successful candidates.

Booking Deadline: Monday 24 March

Please note: WACI prioritise those facing barriers in accessing the arts such as those who are:

Get in touch and we can check your postcode for you. 

 How to Contact Us 

If you have an queries or questions about this activity, you can contact the team at: 📧waci@rcs.ac.uk

Performance Trip: Cory Wong

Posted on by Ellen McNeill

 Performance Trip 

Join us for the first WACI performance trip of the year to see guitarist and composer Cory Wong.

Man holding an electric guitar

WACI are offering the opportunity to see Cory Wong perform at the Barrowlands in Glasgow.

Cory Wong is an American guitarist and composer known for his distinctive blend of funk, jazz, and electronic music. He gained prominence as a member of the Grammy-nominated band Vulfpeck, but has also established a successful solo career, releasing a series of albums showcasing his virtuosic guitar work and dynamic production style.

His style draws influences from a wide range of genres, including funk icons like Prince and James Brown, jazz pioneers such as Herbie Hancock and John Coltrane, and contemporary artists like Thundercat and Snarky Puppy. Known for his energetic performances, Cory Wong has developed a reputation as a modern ambassador for groove-driven, genre-blurring music.

This performance trip is the perfect opportunity to see a high-energy live music performance. It’s open anyone with an interest in music, performance, sound and lighting technology.

Please note that signing up does not automatically mean you will receive a place on the trip. After the signup date we will prioritise applications from the following list and contact you to let you know if you have been successful.

When: 17 February
Time: 7pm
Where: Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow

Book Now button

Spaces are limited. Completing the booking form doesn’t automatically guarantee your place.
We will notify successful candidates.

Booking Deadline: Friday 14 February

Please note: WACI prioritise those facing barriers in accessing the arts such as those who are:

Get in touch and we can check your postcode for you. 

 How to Contact Us 

If you have an queries or questions about this activity, you can contact the team at: 📧waci@rcs.ac.uk

School Info Sessions: New Access Courses and Get Into

Posted on by Ellen McNeill

 School Info Sessions 

New Access Courses and Get Into at RCS

A young person holding a theatre light

Are your pupils curious about creative careers? Do they want to know how to get into training and what jobs this could lead to in the world of work?

Book an in-school information session for your S5/6 pupils to find out about two exciting Fair Access courses that could be their next step.

Our staff will come and lead an interactive session about the following fully funded pathways and answer any questions that you and your pupils have:

  • Get Into: Performing and Production is for people 16+. This programme builds skills, confidence and insider knowledge. Ten weeks of practical workshops gets pupils started on their creative journey in Performance, Production for Stage and Screen, Singing Together or Arts with Community.
     
  • Our brand new Access Courses are for people 17+. This eight-month programme awards 40 Credits at SCQF Level 6. The courses are for people who are serious about studying BA Theatre Production, Bachelor of Education (Music) or BA Arts with Community at RCS. Pupils hone their skills and receive expert guidance on applying for BA programmes and preparing for auditions/interviews.

Pave your pupils’ way to employable careers in the creative industries.

Information sessions last one hour – morning or afternoon slots available. Choose from our menu of dates on application form. Spaces are limited so please sign up as soon as possible.

 

Book Now button

Deadline: 31 January

 Who Can Apply 

Our Get Into programme and Access Courses are fully funded and specifically aimed at people who:

Get in touch if you have any questions or need us to check a postcode for you.

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions about these activities please get in touch with us at: fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

Filmmaking Taster Morning

Posted on by Ellen McNeill

 Filmmaking Taster Morning 

Thursday 6 February, 9:30am – 12.45pm

A young person holding a camera

Are your pupils interested in studying Filmmaking at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland? Sign up now for you and up to three of your pupils to attend our taster morning.

Taking place here at RCS, it will focus on providing information for the BA Filmmaking Programme.

This morning will be a great opportunity to:

  • Find out about our BA Filmmaking Programme from the people who teach it.
  • Try your hand at screenwriting.
  • Hear what it’s like to study filmmaking from current students.
  • See inside RCS, and get a feel for what it could be like to study here.
  • Get up close with filmmaking equipment.
  • Meet the Fair Access Team and learn what support we can offer you and your pupils.

* Applications Closed *

Sign Up Deadline: 30 January

Fair Access is funded to support young people who face barriers in accessing the arts. You are welcome to book up to three of your pupils on this session who meet the following criteria:

Get in touch if you have any questions or need us to check a postcode for you.

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions or have any issues with filling out the form, please get in touch at: waci@rcs.ac.uk