Performing Arts

BTEC Diploma in Vocational Studies , Level 1
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Available at the following campuses:

What Our Students Say

“What stood out about this course was the fact that they did loads of different types of acting – it wasn’t just natural or screen or theatre, they did every type and they also looked at script writing which is something that I’m interested in, so it covered all basis that I was interested in. What I’ve enjoyed the most is definitely the performances and being able to put together so many different pieces from so many different stimuli’s – you get to work on so many different things and so many different topics and cover literally everything in such a short amount of time.”

Rachel, Acting

“I have a huge passion for acting as it is, and before I came to college I was primarily looking at screen acting which is a lot more naturalistic, and you don’t really get to experiment much with different like types of movement and things – but coming here has allowed me to experiment with movement and sound and loads of different types of theatre, which is amazing – and when you get to show people that, you just feel so amazing, because you’ve come up with this piece that you feel so proud of and it’s just great to see on everyone’s faces that they’re really happy with your piece.””

Rachel, Acting

Did you know!

  • English and maths will be built into your course if your grades are below 4.
  • We provide full-time arts education to over 1,000 students every year, from level 1 through to BA Honours degrees. If you are successful in gaining a place on one of our specialist courses, we will work with you to develop your creative skills and prepare you for the next big step – either to university, drama school, art college or the world of work.

Course Information

Introduction

Discover your own performance practice with this introduction to the Performing Arts programme. You will participate in specialist workshops and will have the opportunity to create your own theatre, as well as showcase your work in two major productions throughout the year. You will develop practical performance skills in acting, dance and singing and will build your confidence on and off stage. You will also have the opportunity to also work backstage, focusing on prop design which complements your two performances.

Overview

Video Transcript

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LCC, CREATIVE ARTS MMaP FEATURE LENGTH A/V TRANSCRIPT

Interviewees: Ollie, student (SPEAKING) – Honey, student (SPEAKING) – Elena, student (SPEAKING) – Hannah, student (SPEAKING) – Caius, student (SPEAKING) – Benedict, student (SPEAKING)

Music – Light, pop-synths and percussion build into an upbeat rhythm with squelchy synths and bright chords.

Scenery – A film montage cuts video clips in sync with the music. A close-up of hands playing keys on a piano; a group of students facing a pianist and singing; Theatre Design students’ using a glue gun, focusing, and making feather-like, cardboard-constructed stage props; A group of theatre students delivering an on-stage group scene.

We meet student Ollie, who sits in a bustling Theatre Design & Production workshop, surrounded by staging and equipment. In the background, students are busy making a set piece. Ollie wears a black hoodie, an orange student lanyard and has short, platinum blonde hair, a septum piercing and a light, warm complexion.

Speaker: Ollie, Theatre Design & Production, Level 3 – “Hi, I’m Ollie – I’m studying Theatre Design & Production at Quarry Hill Campus. I think it’s just really beautiful to make things by hand – making it yourself. When you see it on a stage, afterwards – it’s like the best feeling in the world. It’s like… I’ve done that – I haven’t gone to a shop and bought it. It’s like… very personal to you.
The way you make it – the little trinkets that you put on it that’s-are personalised just to you are just amazing. And I just love the course – so, that’s why I chose to do it.”

Scenery – Ollie and other students carefully working on a metal set-piece frame. Cut to a close up showing the frame half-covered in delicate, feather-like pieces of layered cardboard. Cut to students smiling, laughing and talking.
We meet student Honey, who speaks in the same room as Ollie had. Honey wears all black and has long brown hair tied in a ponytail, a long fringe and a light, pink-toned complexion.

Speaker: Honey, Theatre Design and Production, Level 3 – “Well, I actually came from musical theatre. And, just doing the shows – interacting with the people on the backstage course – they said it was so fun and they had so much fun, like, interacting with us… I just wanted to see how the other half live and I’m really enjoying it!
I didn’t think that I was gonna like it, but, I genuinely did. Like, you will find something that you love whether it’s… on the more technical side or the creative side. You will find something that you will really enjoy so… just do it.”

Scenery – Film snippets include a close-up of students fanning large blue and black feather fans; a close-up of trainers practicing footwork; students spinning and spreading their arms above their heads. Cut to a large group of theatre students in a dark, orange-lit room acting out an energetic scene that includes talking over each other.
We meet student Elena, who sits in a white room that’s softly lit by natural light from slim windows. Elena has a light, gold-toned complexion and long hair with light blonde highlights. Elena wears a long sleeved, black top and simple gold pendant necklace.

Speaker: Elena, Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice (Dance), Level 3 – “I dance because it’s something that I’m really passionate about. It’s something that I really enjoy and it’s something that I’d be able to make into a career.
I think that without it in my life, I’d… kinda be a bit lost. Cos it’s an outlet for a lot of things such as, like, emotion. Summat that I’d just do whenever I’m in any mood.”

Scenery – Film clips include students cabaret-style dancing with feather fans; Elena dancing in a professionally lit studio with a cane; students energetically dancing and locking their bodies into different positions.

We meet student Isobella, who sits in the same position and room as Elena was. Isobella has a warm, light complexion and long, light-brown hair pushed back with a black headband. Elena wears a black off-shoulder top with a red vest strap visible.

Speaker: Isobella, Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice (Dance), Level 3 – “I didn’t want to study anything else as much as I wanted to study dance. And I’ve not had a passion for anything, as much as I have for dance… so, that’s why I study it.
A little overview of what we’ve been studying at the moment is: based on the film Mowgli. A little bit of a mix of – Mowgli and the original Jungle Book but we’ve put our own spin on it because… with it being a complete dance piece, we have to find ways around… not speaking. And I think it‘s different because, we’re not… we’re not acting as pedestrians – we’re not acting as, just, normal people. So you really have to take yourself out of that, when you’re dancing, and really, play the character that you’re supposed to be convincing the audience of.

Scenery – The film montage includes Elena in a professionally lit studio, slowly lowering a prop from overhead; students moving from tiered seating to floor positions in a large studio; students huddled around and puppetting a paper figure.

Speaker: Elena – “I think… that my tutor is really helpful, cos I think she really, shows what it’s like to work within the industry. She’s got the same pressures as when you’re going into a job, but I think, also… you’ve got that relationship where- sh, you can really trust her. And you really know that you can go to her whenever you need anything.”

Scenery – A tutor excitedly speaks, demonstrating and observing dance-moves while nodding to music. Cut to a tutor handing out paper sheets, then guiding a large group with a sweeping-motion dance move.
More film clips include a student speaking with a megaphone; a large group of students moving animatedly and circling around two others; a tutor guiding a small group of theatre students; close-ups of students acting-out emotional scenes with distressed expressions.

We meet student Hannah, who sits next to a piano in a softly lit white room. Hannah wears a black T-shirt and has a light, olive complexion and long, middle-parted black hair.

Speaker: Hannah, Performing Arts (Acting), Level 3 – “Hi, I’m Hannah and I study Level 3 Acting at Quarry Hill Campus. I’ve played piano for years, but I never played in front of people generally. Uh, I have really bad performance anxiety over it, but-so, this production has given me the opportunity to… play piano in front of people, and I’ll be doing it on stage. And, I think it’s really good to… push yourself out of our comfort zone. Um, and it gives us the opportunity to grow as performers and individuals.”

Scenery – Hannah concentrates while playing the piano. There’s a close-up of hands and piano keys. Cut to a student holding a script while speaking with an expression of intense disdain.
We meet student Caius, who sits on a tiered seat in a dark theatre. Caius has a light, peach-toned complexion and brown hair with a goatee. He wears a blue checked suit with an orange tie and glasses.

Speaker: Caius, Performing Arts (Acting), Level 2 – “I think Quarry Hill Campus… inspires creativity, because the teachers don’t set you up… to fail. If you stick to what you’re good at, I’ve-while still experimenting, you can do a lot of amazing things.”

Scenery – Students walk in the campus gardens with the Leeds Playhouse building visible in the background. Cut to Caius animatedly delivering an on-stage monologue while a peer, who wears over-ear headphones and looks uninterested, sits in the scene.

Scenery – In a brightly-lit theatre suite, a small group of students act-out scenarios in pairs including shaking hands in greeting, sweeping and moving heavy objects. Cut to acting students on a professional stage and in rehearsal. Cut to dance students practicing a high-energy, intricate routine.
We meet Benedict, who sits in a bright studio and smiles while speaking. Benedict wears a red sweater, black glasses and has a deep, warm-toned complexion and short black, tightly coiled hair.

Speaker: Benedict, Performing Arts (Acting), Level 3 – “Quarry Hill is a place where you go to… change yourself into something more different – something more abstract. When I came in I was very…I would like to say black and white? I had a very straight idea of what I wanted to do but as soon as I came to this college, it changed my mindset on a lot of things. I want to explore new things… and it really broadens your mindset on what you can do and accomplish.”

Scenery – A student rides and grinds a skateboard alongside a stone path edge. Cut to slow motion clips of students dancing energetically. Cut to Caius speaking and shouting on stage.

Music – The bright, pop music fades to silence.

Scenery – White text on a bright orange background with the Leeds City College Logo appears. Text reads:
SCHOOL OF CREATIVE ARTS
LEEDS CITY COLLEGE
Courses available in Music, Media and Performance

Who is this course for?

Aimed at those interested in starting out their studies in Performing Arts. The course gives you the opportunity to explore creative skills through practical projects and specialist workshops. Alongside your new practical skills, you will develop your organisational, communication and written skills in areas that interest you. It’s ideal for progression on to Level 2 programmes in acting, dance, musical theatre or theatre production.

Please check your current/predicted grades against the Entry Requirements below. If you are mostly getting grade 3's and 4's at GCSE you probably should be applying for our Level 2 programme. If you are getting grades 4 and above at GCSE you should be looking at the Level 3 programmes.

Benefits and skills

  • Perform to professional standard at two major productions
  • Utilise practical performance skills to act, sing, or dance on stage
  • Work as part of a team to deliver a captivating performance.
  • Gain confidence in your ability as a performer.

The department of Music and Performance Production has some of the best facilities in the region for our specialist courses. With support from industry partners we boast 2 recording studios, 5 dance studios, 6 ensemble rooms and 3 Music Production suites. At the heart of the department is the Chroma-Q theatre, a 180 seat venue that caters to shows, gigs and events from across the curriculum.

We chose Quarry Hill as the location for the new campus partly because of its proximity to so many creative partners. Situated next to Leeds Playhouse a short walk will also take you to Northern Ballet, Phoenix Dance, Leeds Grand Theatre, Yorkshire Dance, Leeds Conservatoire, The Wardrobe, City Varieties Music Hall, Dance Studio Leeds, The Key Club, East Street Arts and Leeds Arena. And to make travelling easier we are across the road from the Bus Station.

In addition to the practical classes we offer a range of enrichment sessions that are open to learners on any programme. They include Explosive urban dance crew, Essence contemporary dance group, Encore singing group and EnAct performance company. We also support the college Drag society and student union fitness sessions.

Entry requirements

Two GCSEs at grade 2, however, if you are unsure if you can meet these requirements we’d still love to hear from you.

For all performance based courses your offer will be based on academic grades and a practical audition. The structure of the audition differs depending on your area of study. You will be given plenty of notice of the audition requirements when you book a date and will be supported throughout by our team.

Available apprenticeships and progression options

Progression may include a level 2 qualification, an apprenticeship, or relevant employment.

Course details

Duration: 1 year
Start Date: 15/09/2025
Fees (16-18): No fee
Study Type: Full time
Course Code: 79500-01
Fees (Adult): £1,987

Employment Statistics

  • Artists

    Average Salary
    £35,880
  • Arts officers, producers and directors

    Average Salary
    £50,440
  • Managers and directors in the creative industries

    Average Salary
    £42,120

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