Actors College

of Theatre & Television

courses
www.actt.edu.au 2011

EXPERIENCE LIFE …
Differently!
• professional Actor program
• Theatre & screen acting
• Technical Production
• stage management
• music theatre
• YoutH Program
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Includes ACCESS Summer School & Short Courses
“ACTT was the perfect place
for me to express myself
freely… friendly and
professional, nurturing as
well as challenging.”
Luke Joslin (ACTT Graduate,
2010 Greenroom Award-Winner)

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Welcome to ACTT.
Here you’ll discover a place
to play and learn, explore
and imagine, stretch your
wings and your boundaries,
develop your skills, grow your
networks and be inspired.

ACTT is a specialised actor training college and

part of a wider artistic community. We value your
individual qualities and invite you to join us for a
friendly and professional learning experience.

With us, you can transform into Professional

Theatre and Screen Actors, Music Theatre
Performers, Stage Managers and Technicians.

Our doors are open, whether you want to further

your skills, explore your creativity or just have fun
and meet like-minded people through our open
ACCESS classes for adults and young people.

To meet us, have a look inside. If you want more

information you can browse our website, call
02 9213 4500 or email info@actt.edu.au and we
can help to identify the best courses or pathway
for you.

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 The Professional Ac

First Year - Instrument Preparation

Unlike a musician, as an actor you only have one ‘instrument’ to

work with – you – learn to ‘play’ it well and it will reward you with
performances other actors could only dream of... This fundamental
understanding underlies everything you will learn if you train with us.

If you are accepted into the Professional Actor Program, your

success will rely on the investment you make in yourself, which
is why we give you a full year to develop your unique acting
personality, using the revolutionary Eric Morris system of studio-
based training (acclaimed by Johnny Depp and Jack Nicholson).

You will immerse yourself in Physicality and Movement through the

use of Meyerhold BioMechanics and Expressive Body techniques.

Your extensive training will also include Screen Acting, Voice,

Feldenkrais and ACTT’s unique ‘Actor as Artist’ module that will help
you release your creativity and artistic expression.

This ‘Instrument’ conditioning work will enable you to

deliver truthful performances full of energy, without fear or
hesitation, and provides a solid foundation upon which to build
a successful career.

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tor Program
Diploma of Performance Practice (91381NSW)
Advanced Diploma of Arts in Stage and Screen Acting
(91380NSW)

At ACTT we have developed a radically different

three-year program ‘The ACTT System’ with
training by a team of professional tutors, all
experts in their fields to deliver a learning
experience that transforms people into highly-
proficient, physically capable and emotionally
confident actors. Students come here searching
for the key to unlock their own creativity and
leave with a powerful ability to act with passion
across Film, Television and Theatre. Entry is by
audition and can be competitive. ACTT graduates
can take a 4th year at the University of New
England, to attain a ‘Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree
in Stage and Screen Acting’.

Second Year – Performance Practice

As you continue to stretch your skills through in-depth screen

training, you will also learn new and exciting ‘stagecraft’
techniques working with leading Australian and international
Guest Directors supported by expert professional tutors.

In this production-heavy year you will concentrate on live

performances to build stamina, develop physicality, strengthen
the voice and increase your flexibility to take on demanding
roles that will increase your future employment options in this
competitive industry.

You will undertake five different performance projects that will

challenge and develop you as a performer, including classic and
contemporary stage plays and a cabaret, culminating in a unique
self-devised work called ‘Shifting Points’ which uses all aspects
of the ‘ACTT System’.

By the end of second year you will have gained a broad

range of technical skills in readiness for your transition into
the Professional Practice year.

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Pathway of The Professional Actor Program

YEAR 1
Instrument Preparation YEAR 2
Performance Preparation
• Instrument Preparation
– Believable emotions
• Five live performances
– Physicality
• Stage Craft and Screen Acting
– Creativity
• Guest Directors

YEAR 3
Professional Practice

• Live public theatre performances • TV and Film industry show reel

• Work with Special Guest Directors • Exposure to Actors’ Agents
• Develop Industry Connections • Advanced Diploma of the Arts

YEAR 4
B.A. Degree

• At University of New England

(guaranteed to ACTT graduates)

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Third Year - Professional Practice

This year is the most intense, enjoyable and exciting

year of your training. It is also your transition year, when
you are given the opportunity to present yourself in the
best possible light to the industry as a Professional Actor.

As you continue your rigourous acting, voice and movement

training, work under leading Guest Directors in two major,
public stage productions and two professional Screen Acting
projects: Gaining experience on location working with a
professional crew, and in the edit suite. This creates the most
highly-praised Graduate Showreel in Australia and gives
you important exposure to Agents, Producers, Directors, the
media and other influential contacts.

By training at ACTT you will have benefited from the most

rigorous professional training available and you will be part
of a vibrant community.

By completing this course you will have gained the

skills, contacts and opportunities you need to gain
representation and sustain yourself throughout a
long and rewarding acting career. You will also be
awarded the ‘Advanced Diploma of Arts in Stage and
Screen Acting’.

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 Certificate III in Theatre & Screen Performance
The CORE acting course
(91361NSW)

The CORE caters to all kinds of people wanting

to develop better acting and communication
skills in a fun-packed and nurturing
environment. Experience the energy of
passionate colleagues and enthusiastic
trainers where every session is an adventure.
Part-time and Full-time options are available.
Even the audition process is a positive and
rewarding experience.

Unlike a series of short courses, the CORE develops

integrated skills across a broad range of performance
and technical areas for an all-round experience. You will
be taught by a team of Australia’s most dedicated and
qualified industry professionals as you enjoy learning
about stage acting, screen acting (TV & film), voice
and movement techniques along with a small amount
of ensemble singing and dance (to help release your
creativity) and also learn about technology and the
business of acting. As you progress through the modules
you will be supported by your course supervisor as you
learn new and exciting performance skills and build
confidence. This culminates in staging and performing the
‘Small Theatre Company Production’.

Five Months Full-Time: Intensive training

If you are seriously about to embark in a performing arts

career there is no better place to start than The CORE Full-
Time. Fully accredited and suitable for Austudy, this is a
great option for anyone leaving school or taking a career
break and it’s also open to talented international students.

One Year Part-Time: Evenings and weekends

If you have work, family or study commitments we have

a learning option specially designed for you. Popular with
people of all ages and backgrounds, The CORE Part-Time
is a place for you to escape, as you explore your creativity
with other, highly-motivated people and gain skills across
all areas of your life and career.

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 “I chose ACTT because
it covered stage and
screen, voice, singing and
movement to ensure an
overall acting approach.”
CHLOE SCHWANK (ACTT Graduate and Professional Actor)

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 Certificate IV in Music Theatre
(91362NSW)

This unique, high-energy course prepares

Music Theatre Performer (Triple Threat)

students for the three essential demands of the

music theatre business – the ‘triple threat’ of
Acting, Singing and Dancing.

If you are an Actor wanting to break into musicals or a Singer/

Dancer who needs to develop a strong acting style, this one-
year, full-time course will expand the range of roles for which
you can successfully audition. You will undertake elements of
ACTT’s studio-based actor training to develop your physical,
emotional and vocal ‘Instrument’ as you explore the ‘sung-text’
as you integrate your ‘whole body’ in your performance. You will
also learn how to create an emotional connection throughout
your performances.

Some of Australia’s most experienced Music Theatre tutors,

who are recognised as leading professionals in their fields,
will train you in acting, singing, dancing, voice and the music
theatre industry. As you progress through the modules you will
be supported by your course supervisor and develop audition
and performance techniques. This course culminates in a
music theatre production showcasing your combined Triple
Threat skills.

“This was the best year of my

life. I absolutely loved it, I felt so
nurtured by fantastic tutors who
still mentor me today.”
KATE WALDER (ACTT Graduate And Music Theatre Performer)

(Note: This course is also available on the Gold Coast)

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Technical Production at ACTT
Technical Production courses at ACTT are for
people who love the arts but would prefer to
be behind the scenes rather than on-stage.
The college runs courses for anyone interested
in Lighting and Sound Operations, or advanced
Stage Management.

Certificate III and IV in Live Production,

Theatre & Events [Technical Production]
(CUE30202/CUE40303)

Also known as ‘Technical Theatre Operations’

these two courses will give you practical theatre
environment experience working in all aspects of
preparing and operating a show, from making props and basic
staging, prop-making and set construction, to setting up the
show’s staging, lights and sound equipment and operating
the show. After completing this practical course you will have
the skills and work-experience to start working professionally
in many aspects of the entertainment industry or go on to
further, more specialised training.

Advanced Diploma of Stage Management

(CUE60303)

Are you an excellent communicator with both artistic and

technical stagecraft skills? This course provides the background
knowledge and the practical training you need to co-ordinate
and run main-stage and small-scale theatre productions. The
course also provides opportunities for you to go on industry
secondments with some of Sydney’s professional Theatre and
Event venues and production companies.

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ACTT Alumni
You might recognise some
faces of our alumni on this
page but many more are
establishing successful
careers.
FIRASS DIRANI
Firass is best known for his
role of John Ibrahim in the hit
Australian TV series ‘Underbelly:
The Golden Mile’. He is a
graduate of ACTT’s Professional
Actor Program and has recently
completed filming “The Killer
Elite” alongside Robert De Niro,
Clive Owen and Jason Stratham.
LEEANNA WALSMANN
Leeanna Walsman is best known
for her role as Zam Wesell in
Star Wars Episode II: Attack
of the Clones and for playing
Carly Bishop in the Australian
film Looking For Alibrandi. Her
numerous theatre credits include
Othello for the Bell Shakespeare
Company and feature films roles
including The Pacific.
GEORGE HOUVARDAS
George Houvardas is a graduate of
The CORE and is best known for his
role as Nick ‘Carbo’ Karandonis in
the television series Packed to the
Rafters: his first acting role and his
first audition.
MATTHEW HOLMES
Matt graduated with an Advanced
Diploma and has been one of the
main characters in Sea Patrol’s
2007 – 2010 seasons. His character
is Petty Officer Chris Blake, the
Coxswain of a Royal Australian
Navy Patrol Boat.
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Firass Dirani as John Ibrahim in
‘Underbelly: The Golden Mile’.
LUKE JOSLIN
Luke Joslin completed The CORE
and went on to win a coveted
Greenroom Award in 2010 for Best
Featured Actor in a Musical for the
role of Nicky/Trekkie Monster in
the hit Musical ‘Avenue Q’, which
is still touring.
SOCRATIS OTTO
Socratis gained a Cert III at ACTT
in Stage and Screen Acting (now
the Professional Actor Program)
and has credits that include
Wolverine, The Matrix Re-loaded
and he recently played the lead
in the mini-series Darwin’s Brave
New World.
MATT BUTCHER
Matt graduated from the
Professional Actor Program
and has appeared in several
Shakespeare plays and feature
films. He has been directed by
the late Heath Ledger and played
alongside Derek Jacobi.
KATE WALDER
After completing the Cert IV in
Music Theatre Kate went on to
WAAPA. Kate has written and
performed her one-woman show
‘Coffee with Kate: the Cabaret’
and will be touring in 2011.
ACTT Youth Program
ACTT has a wide range of courses available
to teenagers, from holiday workshops to
weekend courses during school terms and our
year-long ACTTivate youth training program.
The range of youth courses offered at ACTT
varies throughout the year and groups are
split into 12–14 and 15–18 age groups.

ACTTivate: 1-Year
(on school weekends)

This course has been re-invigorated for 2011. With ACTT

you will develop better performance skills in acting, voice
and movement that will support your creative pursuits and
acting ability. Tutors on the program also teach the higher
level acting courses at ACTT and are dedicated to helping
you to develop your skills. This course combines filmmaking
with theatre using professional acting techniques adapted
to suit young actors, and it also develops improvisation and
play-building skills that gives HSC drama students the edge.

ACCESS Short Courses

Youth Acting/Filmmaking: Get involved with the process

of making short video pieces from concept to screen. Learn
about genre, collaboration, storyboards, scripting, camera
angles, shooting, and editing.

HSC Play Devising: Want to learn how to create a play or

piece of performance from nothing? You will learn how to use
all kinds of ideas and objects as possible source material for a
very unique piece of theatre.

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ACCESS Program
Short Courses and Summer School
Our ACCESS program is open to anyone to book in
themselves online. It includes an exciting Summer
School with intensive short courses from Beginner
to Advanced Level that are the perfect way to
bring in the New Year. Then, throughout the year
we have an ever-changing range of short courses
to choose from. Because our expert and attentive
teaching team work across all levels, even a short
course at ACTT achieves extraordinary results.

Browse courses and enrol online: actt.edu.au

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 For teenagers Youth Acting & Filmmaking: Short films for the web
aged 12–18 HSC Play Devising: Expand on school drama

For the time-poor Acting Essentials 1: Fun for the complete beginner
and the beginner Acting Essentials 2: Explore script and character
Screen Acting 1: Acting for the camera with script
Screen Acting 2: New scenes and camera set-ups

For music lovers Music Theatre Intensive: Voice singing and acting

For developing Advanced Improvisation: Challenge your spontaneity

actors Voice & Accents: Standard American & US Dialects

For more These demanding one-day workshops by senior ACTT

advanced actors Tutors are a great taster or refresher of ACTT’s 2 key
disciplines:
Morris System Intensive: External approach
with Kate Hankin
Meyerhold/Le Coq: Physicality & Movement
with Fiona Malone

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 EXPERIENCE LIFE …
Differently!
Where we are:
Both the ‘ACTT Main Campus’ building and the ‘Cleveland Street
Theatre’ complex are next to Central Station in Sydney, making us
easily accessible by public transport from the entire Sydney region.

Main Campus:
505 Pitt St
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
P +61 2 9213 4500 ABN 28 806 988 948
F +61 2 9281 3964

Theatre Campus:
199 Cleveland St
Redfern NSW 2016
Australia

info@actt.edu.au

Follow us on National RTO Code 90168

CRICOS Provider ID 01544D

www.actt.edu.au