UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing & Production Arts
This unique full-time course is aimed at students who have a passion for the performing arts. Giving students the knowledge and skills needed to progress to degree level study or employment in the industry. The King Alfred School is an approved centre for UAL Awarding Body Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing & Production Arts.
This course rewards young people’s creativity and passion for the arts and is shaped to get the maximum out of its students. We welcome students with a wide range of skills and backgrounds. The key qualities we look for are: enthusiasm, passion for the arts, and a ‘can-do’ attitude.
Why UAL?
University of the Arts London (UAL) is a university solely focused on the creative arts. Working with UAL allows us to offer our students a bespoke pre-university course.
At the end of this two-year course you will achieve a UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing and Production Arts, which is equivalent to three A levels.
What will you study?
Throughout this course you will explore a wide range of performing arts work and develop both as an artist and as a person. The course is designed to grow your knowledge and skills across all three disciplines: acting, song and dance. A variety of performance opportunities will allow you to put your skills and technique into practice. Such projects include: clowning and comedy, musical theatre, contemporary theatre practice & devising.
Past productions have included: Les Misérables, Legally Blonde and Let the Right One in; all of these produced to the highest technical standard at King Alfred’s very own Phoenix Theatre.
As well as technical ability, the course will help you develop skills such as resilience, responsibility, organisation, critical & creative thinking, teamwork and professionalism, which are highly transferable to a wide range of careers.
Masterclasses and workshops
The course will be enriched with masterclasses and workshops with industry specialists. We also make the most of our close ties with industry professionals by arranging exclusive work experience opportunities for UAL students, offering them unique insight into the working world of the performing arts. Past work experience placements have included: Sonia Friedman Productions, The Really Useful Group and Les Misérables Concert production.
“It was so great to meet the students. I was blown away by their talent, passion and commitment.” – Matt Lucas
“The production was beyond my expectations, great story telling, from the heart, raw and honest, beautifully staged with amazing singing.” – Maria Friedman on Les Mis
Where you’ll study
The facilities at the King Alfred School are second to none and students will have the opportunity to work with state of the art lighting and sound equipment in our newly refurbished 120 seat Phoenix Theatre. We regularly work with design programmes to help transfer the conceptual into the real and this is enhanced by our fully stocked costume store. Rehearsals are carried out in our two studio spaces and all of this is set in the vibrant and supportive environment that is the King Alfred School.
How will you be assessed?
Our approach to assessments allows you to hone your skills, technique and knowledge over a period of time. Practical assessments are carried out through a series of projects based on real industry scenarios; projects have included music composition for Grimm Tales and set design for Back to the 80’s.
You can see examples of UAL students extended essays here.
Where next?
At the end of this course you’ll be equipped with the practical skills to join the professional world of performing arts or to continue with your education and training elsewhere. Past UAL graduates have gone on to study at some of the top performing artistic institutions in the country, including:
- Royal Birmingham Conservatoire of Music
- The Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester (RNCM)
- Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
- Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA)
- Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
- Central School of Speech and Drama
- Arts Educational School
Case studies
Our UAL alumni have gone on to careers within and beyond the performing arts. Some of our recent graduates have got in touch to share how the skills they gained throughout the course have helped them in their careers. Read their stories below.
Sophie
I completed my UAL course in 2020 and then did a part-time foundation course at ArtsEducational London. Since then I have done a skin care advert with SOLV, a national theatre connections play- YOLO by Mathew Bulugo at theatre Clapham, and various extra work most recently working on the new Bong Joon-Ho film. My debut play just be normal was on at The King Alfred School, produced by Akimbo productions, and is moving on to be at the Vaults in March 2023 which I am really looking forward too.
Being part of the UAL at KAS set me up to go straight in the industry. Their outstanding personalised teaching gave me the confidence and the tools to go out and make my own work. I could not recommend the UAL course more. The dramadept will nourish you in any aspect of the industry you choose with their professional standard productions, masterclasses with working professionals, and exceptional teaching. I feel immensely grateful to have been taught by the department.
Harriet
I studied UAL at King Alfred’s, which allowed me to discover many skills. My main focus was acting, however throughout the two years I had the opportunity to try out directing, writing, and producing. After having these experiences, I realised I was also very passionate and fascinated about what goes on behind the scenes.
Currently, I am on a gap year and heading to The University of Bristol next year to study Theatre and Performance. I’ve so far done an internship at the TV production company Curve Media, working with producers in a creative environment and worked on a Netflix TV show as a runner and shadowed the AD department.
Frankie
The years I spent studying drama at King Alfred’s were honestly some of the happiest times in my life, I loved every minute of it and miss the teachers, classes, and performances so much. I’ve been told multiple times since leaving school that I have impeccable people skills which is so important in my kind of work. I can probably credit that to all the years of performing on stage which gave me the confidence to believe in myself and my personality. I don’t know where I would be without those happy memories, the KAS drama department are the best!
After studying hairdressing for two years, this September I started working in a high-end hair salon in Chelsea called Limoz Logli. Although I’m still a junior there I’ve learnt so much and hope to eventually get promoted to stylist! I love what I’m doing and am glad to have explored a few different options before landing on the thing I am truly passionate about.
Ethan
I was in the first UAL Cohort starting in 2018. I am now studying in Manchester at the Royal Northern College of music in my 3rd year.
The UAL course introduced me to the importance of being a well-rounded artist and performer as the course is not primarily for actors. This was helped by the vast number of professional connections that the drama and UAL department have access to. They include the likes of Sam Spiro, Matt Lucas, James Cleverton and many more. This allowed us to get up-to-date professional advice on all areas of the performing arts industry and prepared us for the next steps of our education and careers.
Amy
I graduated from the Mountview Academy of Arts in 2021 having completed a foundation in Acting for Stage and Screen. I then applied to other drama schools to study for a BA, but unfortunately had to take a year and a half break from performing due to issues with my vocal health. During this time I worked as a part-time drama teaching assistant and in the hospitality industry. Since my recovery I have performed in an immersive performance piece and have been taking regular acting and singing classes in preparation for my upcoming drama school auditions.
KAS and the UAL gave me an incredible insight into the professional world of performance and acting. The course gave me immense confidence in myself and in my abilities, which all enabled me to believe that I could make a career out of my passion. The UAL qualification taught me how to work within a team, bringing people with different ideas and performative styles together. It also gave me an incredible opportunity to expand my skill set into directing, set design, costume design, playwriting and much much more… I couldn’t recommend the KAS Drama Department enough.
