ADVANCED ACTING COURSE

Applications are open for the Advanced Acting Course offering students the opportunity of working with industry professionals in Cape Town and Grahamstown.

2011 promises to be a bumper year for the Cape Town-based CityVarsity’s AAC. Negotiations are underway with prominent stage and film directors, some from as far afield as Russia and New York, who have been approached to facilitate the four major productions:

Short Film: The short film will be shot on location in HD. It will be directed by a feature film director who will facilitate the development of a screenplay to suit the talents of the individual actors. Cast members will have the opportunity to help shape their own characters and story lines, creating an ensemble work along the lines of Crash or Short Cuts. The final product will be made available for show reel purposes.

Live Theatre - National Arts Festival: Every AAC student will travel to Grahamstown to take part in a stage performance which will be performed at the National Arts Festival. An original stage play will be workshopped with the director and cast, offering the performers national exposure to the cream of the arts fraternity in South Africa. Negotiations are underway with an acclaimed Russian theatre director who has expressed an interest in heading up this production which will feature on the Main Festival.

Site Specific Physical Theatre Production: Danish theatre director Jori Snell, whose Baba Yaga Theatre is renowned throughout Holland, France, Italy and Denmark, will once again facilitate this project.

Stunt Showcase. Sensei Thulani, award-winning actor, choreographer, dancer, martial arts expert and one of the country’s leading stunt co-ordinators, will conduct an intensive four week training programme which will culminate in a stunt-based performance.

While many training institutions focus primarily on live performance, CityVarsity teaches the specific techniques required for both theatre and film and the success of graduates bears testimony to the professional level of training offered in both disciplines.

Among the CityVarsity alumni who have been making waves on local and international stages and screens recently are Marguerite Wheatley (Clint Eastwood’s Invictus); Ambrose Uren (Disney’s ‘High School Musical in Hong Kong); Anele Matoti (M-Net’s League of Glory and Mike van Graan’s Is it Because I’m Jack?); Kungeka Mose (Penguin Films’ drama series Kululeka); Richard Lothian (Amelia), and 2010 AAC student Nicole Bailey who has just landed a role in the forthcoming Judge Dredd, to be shot at the new Cape Town Film Studios.

Applicants should have completed two years of training in the performing arts or should be in possession of a diploma or degree in a related field. Exceptions may be made for candidates who have had professional experience. All applicants will be considered on their own merits.

Early birds will qualify for a 10% reduction if fees are paid before November 30.

For more information contact 021 466 6800, e-mail: Werner.marx@cityvarsity.co.za or Shirley.johnston@cityvarsity.co.za or visit www.cityvarsity.co.za