Masterclass for Schools: Directing

 Masterclass for Schools: 

 Directing 

Wednesday 11 October, 9:30am – 1pm

Two young men sitting on a studio floor, holding paper to read from

Do you teach pupils who have been chosen to be assessed as Directors for Higher or Advanced Higher Drama? Then our Masterclass for Schools: Directing is for you.

This workshop aims to help your young people achieve as highly as possible in their practical directing, in relation to the SQA Marking Criteria. Your pupils will be supported to get up on their feet and share ways to bring text to life. 

Come along with your Directing candidates and let’s pool our resources to give them the best opportunities for success. 

When: Wednesday 11 October, 9:30am – 1pm
Where: RCS, 100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G2 3DB
Who is it for: Teachers of Drama and their pupils

 Book Your Place Here On Our Form 

This workshop will be led by Linda Duncan McLaughlin (Director) and Neil Millar (Education Scotland) and is in partnership with Glasgow CREATE.

‘This was such an enjoyable and insightful session in how I might approach directing.’

‘It was valuable to see the process that a director goes through in the rehearsal room and processes you can take an actor through.’

Note: Fair Access is funded to support young people who face the greatest barriers in accessing the arts. Teachers are welcome to book up to four of your directing students onto this session who meet the following criteria:

  • living in a SIMD20 postcode and/or
  • care experienced or estranged and/or
  • identifying as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Colour (living at a SIMD20 or 40 postcode).

You can check your postcode here or the team can check it for you.

 Contact Us 

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

Get Into: Performing and Production Arts

 Get Into: Performing and Production Arts 

Musical Theatre, Filmmaking, Production, Singing or Guitar

For ages 15+ Starting Autumn 2023

Young woman making stage props and words 'Get Into Performing and Production Arts'

Would you like to Get Into: Musical Theatre, Filmmaking, Guitar, Singing or Production Arts & Technology? Not sure where to begin? Our free ‘Get Into’ courses could be the perfect answer. 

We’re running five separate programmes in these artforms starting Autumn 2023.

These free weekly sessions will be a great opportunity to:

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

Bring your energy, enthusiasm and commitment! 

Ticket like button for registering

Please note: Fair Access will prioritise those facing barriers to accessing the arts such as those:

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

 Get In Touch 

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

Performance Making Taster Workshops

 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.

Get Into: Production (Inverness)

 Get Into: Production (Inverness) 

RCS & Fair Access at Eden Court Theatre

Man with long hair standing on a stage in an empty theatre 
‘Get Into: Production’ at Eden Court recently saw 30 young people try their hand at Lighting, Sound and Set and Costume Design. Working in performance spaces all over the theatre, led by RCS Production staff and the brilliant technical staff from Eden Court, those attending found out about careers they never knew existed and how Fair Access can create training pathways towards these careers. This is a great partnership with Eden Court which we hope to develop to reach more young people in the Highlands and Islands. 


‘Thanks for putting on such a fantastic workshop. My pupils absolutely loved it and we really hope that you come back!’ Catriona Rutherford Inverness Royal Academy 
 


‘A really super day for all and a nice variety of interests and favourite workshops. A real success!’ Morag Russell, Engagement Programme Coordinator Eden Court 
 

 Apply Now 

If you are interested in getting involved in production, register now for WACI, to gain access to a host of free workshops, short courses, performance trips and help in applying to FE/HE courses or apply for Transitions if you are intersted in studying Production at RCS and gain access to a suite of learning and support in getting you ready. What are you waiting for?

 Contact Us 

If you’d like to learn more about our ‘Get Into’ series’, contact: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

So You Want To Be A Music Teacher?

 So You Want To Be A Music Teacher? 

Open Evening for Young People and Info Sessions for Teachers

Young woman pointing to sheet music next to a student saying 'So you want to be a music teachers'?

Fair Access is excited to announce two new sessions for those looking for more information about the training that is available to those interested in music teaching:

BEd (Music) Online Open Evening for Young People

Where: Online
When: Tue 28 March
Time: 5:00pm – 6:30pm

Want to find out what it would be like to study music teaching? This online open evening is a great opportunity to:

  • find out about our BEd (Music) programme from the people who teach it
  • interact with other young people interested in music
  • meet some of the current students and ask them all your questions
  • find out how Fair Access can support you in applying and studying at RCS

BEd (Music) In-Person Information Session for Music teachers

Where: City Halls, Glasgow
When: Mon 22 May
Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm

Join us as Mairi Warren, Music teacher and lecturer on the BEd programme, talks about how RCS and Fair Access build the music teachers of tomorrow! In this session you can hear about:

  • what your pupils can be doing now to get ready to apply
  • how Fair Access can support eligible pupils via our free Bridging Programme
  • hear from current students on the BEd

 Get In Touch 

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

48-Hour Visual Storytelling Challenge

 48-Hour Visual Storytelling Challenge 

Fair Access x Beacon Arts Centre x Megahertz Theatre Company

Two people in darkened room with light behind them creating large shadows on a wall

We were delighted to partner with the Beacon Arts Centre for the 48-Hour Visual Storytelling project, delivered by RCS and Megahertz Theatre Company

The weekend was aimed at young people from across Inverclyde. The group of young people who joined us were imaginative, creative and very brave. What they achieved in a short time was impressive and a testament to their artistic ability as well as the skills of Megahertz who worked with them.

Young woman wearing a costume

Megahertz brings a unique skill set, vision and creative process, which is the sum of the many parts of the company. The company is comprised of artists with different specialisms, and this meant the learning experience for participating young people was particularly rich. So, over the weekend we improvised, devised, explored lighting and shadow work, built incredible costumes and characters and created images suitable for a movie poster, which were then shot using the Beacon as a set. Themes included sci fi, gothic, alien life, horror and post apolcalyptic scenarios! Here are some comments showing what people enjoyed:

“I enjoyed creating our own character for the photoshoot. It was so unique, personalised and interesting!”

“I learned how to world-build with single images/movements”

“I enjoyed developing a costume and character together – this wasn’t like normal drama where you get given a character and then decide what they wear. It was interesting to develop a character around costume”

“I liked meeting new people and doing stuff I never thought I’d be comfortable doing.”

We loved working at the Beacon, which was really inspiring and exciting! The staff were great and helped Megahertz to shoot photographs in a range of atmospheric locations not accessible to the public. This included basement corridors, control rooms full of switches and by the huge loading dock doors.

Get In Touch!

If you’d like to find out more about how Fair Access can help you, get in touch by our email at: fairaccesshello@rca.ac.uk

Fair Access Goes North!

 Fair Access Go North! 

Dingwall Academy and Eden Court

Fair Access enjoyed a road trip to the Highlands, with Mark Stevenson and Ramesh Meyyappan from the BA Performance and graduate of that course Benedetta Zanetti. Our mission? We had several!

Thow pupils with a singing tutor in a gym hall

Just before the winter holidays, we were delighted to work at Dingwall Academy with ten pupils, most of whom are deaf and others who are hearing but learning British Sign Language which is taught in the school. The group were almost all new to Drama but threw themselves into games and creating characters and scenes. We had a great morning and Ramesh told the group, ‘We really enjoyed working with you, it was really lovely. You’re really creative and playful and fun.’ Mark added, ‘Drama’s about being brave, standing up and trying something and I’m really impressed with what you did. For that kind of bravery, I want to commend all of you and during the morning I saw some beautiful moments.’

Whilst at Dingwall Academy we also spread the word about Fair Access to teachers including Art + Design, Woodwork, Technology, Dance, Music, Guidance and the senior management team.

We also visited Eden Court, leading deaf awareness training for fifteen staff members including Engagement, front-of-house and audience managers, restaurant and bar, box office, freelance arts facilitators, and National 5 Drama BSL interpreter. This session explored a range of topics including the best terminology to use when speaking about users of BSL or deaf people, BSL signed and captioned performances at Eden Court, how to attract deaf audiences and the value of programming work by deaf artists. Everyone signed their name and learned key phrases in BSL relevant to their job area, such as, ‘do you know where your seats are?’ It was a great way to spend a Friday afternoon with a lot of laughter as well as learning.

Then the next day, we returned to Eden Court, which was buzzing with audiences and shoppers enjoying a Christmas craft market that spread over several floors of this lovely building. Instead of browsing, we were welcomed to a National 5 Drama class, comprised of pupils from several secondary schools in the Highlands, which don’t teach the subject. In the group were two talented pupils from Dingwall Academy, one deaf and both BSL users. Ramesh taught visual storytelling techniques and Mark shared ways to physicalise text. The aim was to provide new creative tools for devising and performing, and the group produced some very beautiful work. Fair Access is very excited to be working in the Highlands and developing such great partnerships with Eden Court Theatre and Dingwall Academy.

A huge thank you to everyone who got involved and made us feel very welcome. We can’t wait to return to see you all again.

 Visit the Fair Access Website 

If you would like to know more about the work Fair Access do, head over to our website at: rcs.ac.uk/fair-access

CPP Open Workshop (Glasgow)

 Contemporary Performance Practice Open Workshop 

Sunday 5 March, 2-4pm at The Workroom

Ages 15+

Two people sitting on individual fitness trampolines

Want to find out more about Contemporary Performance Practice (CPP) at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland? Join us at The Workroom in Glasgow for a creative, playful workshop to get a taste of CPP in action! If you’re interested in drama, performance, movement, dance, choreography or community arts, this session is for you.

At RCS, CPP brings together performance-makers, educators, advocates and active citizens who challenge norms, break down barriers and aspire to transform the world around them. It’s a programme for the curious and creative, who want to become collaborative and socially engaged artists.

Event Details

When: Sunday 5 March
Time: 2 – 4pm
Where: The Workroom, Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, Glasgow G41 2PE

This workshop is open to everyone aged 15 and above. However, we will prioritise places for those who face the greatest barriers to accessing the arts.

Get in Touch

If you have any questions or queries about this event, please get in touch with the team at: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Filmmaking Open Morning for Schools

 Filmmaking Open Morning for Schools 

Thursday 23 February, 9:30-12:30pm at RCS

A group of people trying out filming in a classroom
📸 Brian Hartley

Fair Access and WACI are thrilled to announce a Filmmaking Open Morning for Schools. You can sign up, and add up to five of your pupils, for a morning focused on finding out more about studying filmmaking. It 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

Event Details

When: Thursday 23 February
Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm
Where: The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Renfrew Street Building

Please note:

The Filmmaking Open Morning is for all young people with an interest in studying filmmaking. However, Fair Access will prioritise places for those who fall into our eligibility criteria of:

Get in Touch

If you have any questions or queries about this event, please get in touch with the team at: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Stories and Spaces, Mull

 Stories and Spaces, Mull 

Fair Access x SYT x Mull Youth Theatre

Stories and Songs Mull with Fair Access x Scottish Youth Theatre

Last weekend Fair Access at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland worked with 20 young people from Mull Youth Theatre and Scottish Youth Theatre on a collaborative performance project.

We used storytelling, photography, lighting & sound design and contemporary performance to create a beautiful installation together at An Tobar. 50 people visited our installation on the first day. An Tobar were so impressed with our collaborative work they invited us to leave it up in the space for others to see.

We feel so lucky to have worked with young people on Mull. The spirit of the place was very present – we were made so welcome, the young people were mightily generous and we went on amazing creative adventures in such a short space of time.

In the words of the participants:

“It has been nice learning new things and meeting people that love doing their job. I have enjoyed this because we don’t get this opportunity a lot”.

“I enjoyed meeting new and experienced people. I enjoyed learning new skills, especially on the tech side of things”.

Thank you to Mull Youth Theatre for being brilliant hosts – we sincerely hope to visit and make something exciting together again soon.

You can view more photos from the weekend on our Flickr.