Welcome performing arts applicants!

Guided campus tour

Get a glimpse into the facilities you will be using as a performing arts student at West Notts College.

What our students say

Melissa highlights some of her experiences at college, as well as mentioning our state-of-the-art facilities and what kind of activities she enjoyed while studying on the course. She also revises a trip to Leicester Curve Theatre and how this benefitted her future.

Meet the teachers

Get to know to know a bit more about your teachers before you join us.

Amy Leigh Nicholson

Charlene Roberts

Dale Shirtliffe

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  Kit list

  Find out what equipment and resources you'll need before you join as a West Notts student.

  Download kit list

Gallery

Animal Farm, The Kitchen and Golden Oldies performances by level 3 performing arts students 22/23. All of these shows were performed in our onsite professional theatre to public audiences.

Students enjoyed a trip to London to see a double bill of theatre shows. The Advanced Performing Arts Practice in Acting and Performance Diploma group saw A Mirror at The Trafalgar Theatre, and the long-running Lion King at The Lyceum Theatre.

Animal Farm, The Kitchen and Golden Oldies performances by level 3 performing arts students 22/23. All of these shows were performed in our onsite professional theatre to public audiences.

Performing arts curriculum put together an exciting agenda for student during their industry week including Paula Hyde who took the time to teach students a few ballroom moves.

Animal Farm, The Kitchen and Golden Oldies performances by level 3 performing arts students 22/23. All of these shows were performed in our onsite professional theatre to public audiences.

Animal Farm, The Kitchen and Golden Oldies performances by level 3 performing arts students 22/23. All of these shows were performed in our onsite professional theatre to public audiences.

I’ve learnt so much from tap and jazz routines and studied acting practitioners such as Brecht and Stanislavski and not to mention great audition monologues and songs that you can use now but also in the future – Rebecca Bustard.

I have studied a variety of skills including physical theatre, classical theatre and screen acting. Tutors have given us techniques for how to learn lines and how to relieve exam stress – Libby Corden.

One of the best opportunities I was given was access to a Q&A session with Toby Jones who voiced Dobby from Harry Potter. All of these resources and opportunities have supported my journey to becoming a performer – Lydia Allen.

This course has done an excellent job at training me equally in all three disciplines; I am now open to any industry careers that come my way.

FAQs - performing arts courses

The following information will hopefully give you a little bit more of an insight into what it will be like to be a student with us.

• Where will I study?

  Our performance courses are based at the Derby Road campus, Mansfield, in our Create facility. We have a purpose-built theatre, recording studios and performance space.

• What is it like?

  College is an adult, professional environment intended to prepare you to work in your chosen industry. We expect our students to behave in the way that they would in a job with an employer. Attendance and punctuality are very important too.

• What will I study?

  Our level 2 course provides you with opportunities to study acting. We will tailor the course to play to your strengths.

  All our courses are a mix of practical sessions and some classroom-based theory. We actively encourage our students to explore the kind of performer they want to be. This means we will encourage you to operate outside of your comfort zone and get you to try different genres and produce your own original work, as well as develop your knowledge of published plays and musicals. At level 3 students can follow either an acting route or a dance and musical theatre route.

  All students will perform regularly to live audiences.

• What about English and maths?

  If you start at college and you haven’t yet achieved your English and maths GCSEs at grade 4 or above, then you will continue to study these alongside your chosen course. At the end of your first year you will take a re-sit GCSE exam. It is important you attend your English and maths lessons alongside your chosen course.

  Take a look at our fact sheets to find out why English and maths is important within this industry.

  View English and maths fact sheets

• What will I have to wear?

  Students can wear whatever they want to come to college in, as long as it’s appropriate and isn’t offensive. We have no dress codes in terms of hair colour, jewellery etc. Performance students will need to wear ‘stage blacks’ when in studio spaces and either bare feet or appropriate footwear depending on the activity. Dance and musical theatre students will need a range of footwear for the different dance styles e.g. jazz and tap.

• Will I have to do a work placement?

  At level 2 and 3 you will be expected to complete a work placement. The central work placement team can help find you an opportunity. This is a great way to get your foot in the door and maybe even move into a job.

  All of our students will be able to also get engaged with our learning companies, which provide in-house opportunities to gain real-world experience. Performance students may be asked to play a part in videos for local employers.

Not answered your question? Then ask your teacher

Send your questions to your teachers using our simple online form.

Ask a question

• Applicant activities

  Before you start at West Notts, here are a few activites to get involved in.

  

  Watch - performing arts showreel

  Take a look at one of the performances by our own performing arts students students.

  View the video on YouTube