Course | Pre-vocational Summer School
Ages | 12 - 18 years
Location | Italia Conti, 2 Henry Plaza, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6BU
Course Length | One Week, 9am - 5pm
Dates | 29th July - 2nd August 2024
Coming for Summer 2024: Italia Conti presents our Pre-vocational Summer School. Entry to this new, intensive course is open to all, pushing you to achieve your creative best and preparing students for full-time training in Performing Arts. Once you have selected a stream – Acting, Dance or Musical Theatre, you will experience expert tuition in your chosen field from our experienced staff and industry experts. This course will take place at our brand-new, purpose-built facilities in Woking, Surrey.
Students may select which specialist strand they wish to study, choosing from Acting, Musical Theatre or Dance. To apply, complete the online application form, payment details will be sent via email. Further information below.
All participants will receive a free Italia Conti T-shirt. Please note that lunch and accommodation are not included.
Book now:
The Summer School runs for one week during the summer holidays – 29th July – 2nd August 2024.
Students will be divided into groups according to age and discipline i.e. Acting, Musical Theatre or Dance. There will be a short sharing performance on the final day for each discipline – one acting performance, one dance performance and one musical theatre performance (times of sharings to be confirmed nearer the time).
We hope to welcome family members to the performances on the Friday afternoon (subject to Government Guidelines at the time of Summer School). Ticket numbers will be limited, further details will be released nearer the time.
Age groups TBC
Acting Scenes Exploring scenes and breaking down text to find character and relationships. Working with scene partners to bring text off the page onto the stage. We’ll be encouraging textual analysis, listening and responding, and stagecraft.
Acting Skills Exploring different acting techniques and practitioners through a variety of practice-based exercises. We’ll be working on developing tools that can be used in Acting Scenes, Devising, Improvisation, and Camera.
Camera Exploring acting for camera in both solo and partner work. Working both in front of and behind the camera to build an understanding of how this medium works and what makes it so captivating. We’ll be encouraging focus, teamwork, and self-assurance.
Devising Exploring story-creation and storytelling. Working in groups to develop ideas from a stimulus to create a coherent piece of theatre. We’ll be encouraging ensemble-working, listening and responding, leadership skills, and creative thinking.
Improvisation Exploring multiple characters, situations, and relationships in a non-text-based environment. Working on creating simple truthful performances, and balancing comedy and drama. We’ll be encouraging playfulness, spontaneity, confidence, and listening and responding.
Radio Exploring acting for radio with a variety of audio drama and voice over pieces within a professional recording studio environment. Working on microphone to develop technique and sensitivity to communicate with listeners effectively. We’ll be encouraging focus, vocal-quality play, and creative thinking.
Acting Through Song Exploring storytelling and character work through singing. We’ll be emphasising the importance of the acting work alongside the musical elements of a song.
Voice Exploring vocal ease, support, and clarity of speech through text and non-text-based activities. We’ll be encouraging alignment, release, and vocal play.
Acting Playful and creative classes which will develop self-confidence and communication skills through the exploration of theatricality, performance techniques, stage and screen craft. Students will work with a variety of material and performance techniques, including contemporary and classical texts, devising, improvisation, camera, and physical theatre.
Ballet Classes that teach work ethic and class etiquette, perseverance, dedication, motivation, stamina, flexibility and strength. Ballet helps dancers grow and become disciplined. It gives students an understanding of good posture, developing technique which they will use to support all other forms of dance.
Musical Theatre Working on the combined elements of dancing, singing and acting to create exciting and believable, ‘triple threat’ performances. Musical Theatre is unique to Italia Conti due to training in performance-based classes. Students build a lot of confidence in these classes by combining acting, singing and dance skills in production numbers from West End, Broadway Musicals and films. Teachers encourage pupils to develop and use their personalities as learning is developed across all 3 performance skills.
Singing Group ensemble singing classes with exciting and varied repertoire from Musical Theatre, Pop and Rock. As confidence and ability grow in our safe, friendly and supportive classes, students will enjoy the opportunity to sing solo if they desire.
Acting through Song Group classes exploring the storytelling and performance aspect of Musical Theatre song. Classes will explore how to research the background to a song, physicalisation of character, studying the text, absorbing musicality into performance, and much more. As confidence and ability grow in our safe, friendly and supportive classes, students will enjoy the opportunity to sing solo if they desire and no pressure is applied if they don’t
Tap Tap classes will develop their rhythm, theatricality, timing, and how to express emotion and feeling with the music. These classes will explore technique, stagecraft, teamwork, and artistry. Different styles of tap will be touched upon, with a strong element of fun. One of the main aims is to grow their self-confidence over time to perform in front of others with ease.
Street Street dance is the umbrella that holds the 5 dance styles we know as:-
This is a chance for students of all dancing abilities to learn the latest street dance styles.
Contemporary This genre of dance requires strength, agility and acrobatic skills, all of which students achieve through innovative coaching.
Progressing Ballet Technique Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is an innovative body-conditioning and strengthening program that has been designed to enhance students’ technique by focussing on training the muscle memory required in each exercise in all forms of dance. It is a unique training system using ballet-technique specific exercises to train skill acquisition in a graded and progressive manner from junior through to advanced levels. PBT helps teachers around the world prepare their students to receive the strength they need to achieve their personal best.
Tuition Fees | £420 Deposit | £75 (non-refundable)
Please complete the application form below for the Pre-Vocational Summer School.
On receipt of the application form, you will automatically receive an acknowledgement email by return, advising you of payment details for Pre-Vocational Summer School.
Full payment must be made in full prior to the course commencing.
Applications from students from Italia Conti Associate Schools will be eligible to a 20% discount on the Pre-Vocational Summer School fee
AGES Students are only accepted between the ages of 12 – 18 years.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS No audition is required for this course, as we wish to encourage participation in the arts for all.
ACCOMMODATION Italia Conti regrets it does not offer boarding facilities to Summer School students. Italia Conti is a ‘day’ school and students accepted on the summer course are responsible for finding their own accommodation.
WELFARE Students will be in the care of experienced house staff during class hours and student safety is of the utmost importance.
TERMS & CONDITIONS For full details of the terms and conditions of the Pre-Vocational Italia Conti Summer School please click here.
Application to the Pre-vocational Summer School can be made using the online application form.
Applicants must complete the form. Upon receiving your application we will contact you with further information. On receipt of the application form, you will automatically receive an acknowledgement email by return, advising you of payment details for Pre-Vocational Summer School. Full payment must be made in full prior to the course commencing.
Deposit fees are non-refundable (see Cancellations, Terms & Conditions). These fees act as both an administration fee for processing your application and holding your place on the course.
In line with our admissions policy, Italia Conti reserves the right to alter or withdraw offers at any point.
Closing date for applications: Friday 28th July (subject to availability)