MFA Professional Acting

In your first year, you'll cover the core disciplines of acting, voice, movement and music in intensive classes, alongside workshop projects which may include contemporary texts, classical plays, and late 19th/ early 20th century European naturalism. These workshops will give you an opportunity to apply the skills you've learnt in class.

You'll also begin to explore how to deliver convincing screen and audio performances. and take part in a new writing project with exciting, pioneering writers, exploring the role of the actor as a collaborative artist.

Modules:

• Acting
• Movement
• Music
• Screen and Audio 1
• Voice
• Advanced Skills for Acting

The final year will prepare you to become an independent and stand-out professional within the industry. You’ll be immersed in a series of performances on stage, screen and in audio drama, including a professionally written, directed, crewed and post-produced short film. Recent LAMDA graduation films have been selected for national and international film festivals. The final element of your training will be centred on the collaborative development and performance of a small group piece of original, self-created, theatre.

You’ll also have the opportunity to share your artistry, skills and experience with younger audiences and potential theatre-makers. The annual Shakespeare in Schools programme is an opportunity for our graduating MFA actors to share a bespoke project with secondary schools and colleges, culminating in fast-paced adaptations of Shakespeare's popular works and workshops directly engaging with their younger audiences.

In your training LAMDA will offer you some opportunities for masterclasses, lectures, talks, and where possible, open auditions with industry professionals. Finally, a unique feature of this course is the chance to train as a LAMDA Exams teacher.

Modules:

• Advanced Skills for Performance
• Public Performance 1 (Shakespeare in Schools)
• Screen and Audio 2
• Public Performances 2-4
• Devised Project

What to prepare for the in-person audition

You’ll need to prepare two monologues. 

• One must be from an Elizabethan or Jacobean text [no longer than three minutes in length] 

• One must be from a contemporary text [no longer than three minutes in length]*

The monologues can be written for any gender. Your audition will last approximately 15 minutes, during which time the panel may redirect you and ask you to try your piece in a different way.

For guidance on how to choose an audition monologue please click here.

Successful applicants will be required to attend an in person recall in Los Angeles or New York following their first round audition. All information will be provided to you about the recall if you are successful at the first audition. There is no additional charge for the recall audition. 

*If you also wish to wish to be considered for the MA/MFA Musical Theatre course in this audition please also prepare an unaccompanied excerpt (16 bars) from a musical theatre song of your choice.

This MFA Professional Acting course is a two-year postgraduate programme for those who already have a BA or BFA degree, or comparable professional experience, and want to take the next steps to develop their talents further and become a successful, entrepreneurial, creative artist.

Acting Courses Equipment List

A lot of the work at LAMDA is physical/movement based you should always be dressed comfortably in clothes that do not prohibit movement.

Essential

• Basic black sweatshirt
• Basic black T-shirt
• Black sweatpants/jogging bottoms
• Yoga mat – For reasons of hygiene we recommend that students purchase their own.

Highly recommended

For rehearsal/character work

• Black trousers and/or skirt. Skirt should be floor length and loose. Skirts may also be needed for certain dance lessons.
• White shirt.
• Black shoes with a solid heel (not trainers) or character shoes
• Laptop/tablet.
• Wi-Fi

Recommended

• Black footless tights
• Trainers

Books

Your recommended reading lists will be sent out separately. Most of these books can be found in the LAMDA library therefore there is no need to purchase. These books are for reference and additional learning.

Other

It can be useful to have a recording device so that you can record accents, music etc. It is sufficient to have a phone with the facility to record sound.

Each day will be different, but you can expect the teaching to take shape in any of the following formats:

• Tutor-led class work
• Tutor-led tutorials
• Guest lectures, workshops and seminars
• Research projects
• Collaborative learning, including scene studies, workshops, rehearsals and performances
• Non-mediated student learning to encourage self-reflective practice
• Peer evaluations – a central part of actor training in an ensemble situation

You need to be a fluent English speaker. Non-native speakers do not need to provide an English language test report when they apply as we assess English at the interviews. However, you’ll need to provide a valid IELTS test report with an overall score of 6.5 if you’re offered a place. We can only accept IELTS for UKVI.

Tuition fees
For academic year 2023/24:

UK applicants: £14,453 per year
International applicants: £24,092 per year

Application fees
​​​​​£88 for US based applicant in-person audition
​​​​​£27 UCAS fee

Find out if you qualify for a fee waiver here.

Course fees confirmed in an offer letter may be increased in further years of study by an inflationary amount determined in accordance with measures set by government.