new june intake – re-designed two year diploma in acting (atcl)

Applications are now open for the June intake of ACT’s re-designed Two Year Diploma in Acting (ATCL). This updated programme reflects the realities of today’s acting industry, offering vocational, in-person training that prepares actors for professional work across stage, screen and recorded media.

professional actor training for the contemporary industry

The Two Year Diploma in Acting is designed to train actors to work as professionals in a modern, industry-relevant environment. Students develop strong technical skills in acting, voice and movement, alongside the ability to create believable, fully realised characters for stage and screen.

The course places equal emphasis on artistic development, technical rigour and professional discipline, enabling graduates to meet the demands of an evolving performance industry.

a re-designed curriculum for a changing industry

Advances in technology and shifts in casting practice have transformed how actors work. Self-taped auditions, digital casting platforms, voiceover recording, gaming and streamed content are now central to the profession.

ACT’s re-designed Diploma responds directly to these changes. The curriculum balances traditional stage training with screen and recorded arts, ensuring students graduate with practical experience, professional materials and the skills needed to engage with both established and emerging opportunities.

professional outcomes

Spotlight Membership on graduation
Equity Membership on graduation
NUS student card
Level 4 ATCL acting diploma (Trinity Guildhall)
Digital showcase including a showreel and voiceover reel for industry launch
Professional Studies including CVs, biographies and headshots
Brighton Showcase

course structure (two years / 1000 hours)

The Diploma comprises 1000 hours of tutor-led, in-person training. All classes are delivered in the studio — no online lectures or Zoom classes.

year one

Skills & Techniques – Stage
Acting technique, voice, movement and singing
Rehearsal & Production
Public productions, theatre studies, rehearsal and production processes
Brighton Fringe Festival Production

year two

Skills & Techniques – Recorded Arts
Screen acting, voiceover and audio acting
Shakespeare & advanced performance training
Professional Practice
Digital showreel film shoot, audio/voiceover reel, professional headshots, professional studies and ATCL exam preparation
Graduation Showcase presented as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival

training environment

ACT offers an inspiring, nurturing and supportive training environment. The school is committed to helping each student discover and develop their individual strengths, artistic voice and professional potential.

ACT aims to produce actors who are dynamic, thoughtful and engaging — artists capable of drawing on their own lived experience to create truthful, compelling work.

attendance

Monday–Wednesday evenings: 6.45pm–10.00pm
(extends to Thursday in some terms)
Sunday daytime sessions (times vary)

Additional rehearsals and production commitments are required at certain points during the course.

fees

The Diploma operates on a subscription model:
£500 per month for 24 months, covering the full 1000 hours of training.

On successful completion of the course and all required assessments, students are awarded a Trinity Guildhall Speech and Drama Diploma (ATCL).
This qualification is a Level 4 award on the National Qualifications Framework, equivalent to a Certificate in Higher Education, and is accredited in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is also formally recognised in a number of other countries.
During the sixth term, students complete a 45-minute practical examination assessing work in dramatic text, improvisation, verse and prose. The examination also requires students to articulate and discuss their creative process.
Graduates receive both an ACT Diploma Certificate and a Trinity Guildhall Diploma Certificate. Holders of the ATCL are entitled to wear an academic gown.
The Two Year Diploma in Acting is open to students aged 18 and over, with no upper age limit.
This is a demanding and intensive professional training course. Applicants should demonstrate talent, commitment and motivation, alongside self-discipline, resilience and a generosity of spirit.
Students must be willing to take responsibility for their own development, manage their time effectively and have a clear understanding of both the challenges and rewards of a professional acting career.
Entry to the Diploma is by assessment and audition.
To ensure a fair and comprehensive assessment process, applicants are normally asked to attend one of ACT’s Two Week Intensive Workshops in Acting. This allows both the applicant and the school to assess suitability for professional training.
Throughout the workshop, tutors submit written evaluations of each student’s work. Applicants then attend an individual feedback session and interview with the Principal. Successful candidates receive a provisional offer and are invited to attend an audition.
Applicants who are unable to attend the Two Week Intensive Workshop may apply via the direct audition route.
Auditionees are required to prepare two strongly contrasting pieces. Full audition requirements will be provided in an audition information pack.
Applicants based overseas, or those unable to travel to Brighton, may audition via Zoom.
Audition fee: £25
Auditions can be booked and paid for online via the Audition page.
Diploma graduates are eligible to join Spotlight and students may apply for Equity Student Membership and an NUS student card. The course includes a digital showcase, comprising a showreel and voiceover reel, alongside Professional Studies covering CVs, biographies and headshots. Students complete the Trinity Guildhall ATCL examination, a Level 4 qualification, with which we have a 100% pass rate.