Drama Foundation Course

[dabdab]

Hello all
No luck for daughter in auditions for Drama School 3 year courses but wondered if anyone had any advice/experience of foundation courses (thinking Lamda, Central and Guildford). she is 17 and I think the full-time courses are (possibly) looking for slightly older students but I don't know if it would be best to take a year out and just do workshops etc. She has got quite a lot of MT experience but certainly not a huge amount of 'straight drama' stuff. She has had foundation recalls but awaiting offers. Would a foundation course equip her with the right training to get in to full-time school as it's too expensive to consider otherwise!
Thanks

[oscar]

I think the foundation course quality varies hugely. I could recommend the Mt foundation at gsa it's excellent and students get lots of support in all areas and Hv huge success at auditions. I believe that some of the straight drama courses haven't had such positive outcomes as far as gaining places. Days are long the usual is 8-8 but very worthwhile in my opinion. They do plenty of drama within that . These courses also Hv a lot of applicants , but she sounds so commited. Good luck to her x

[Hecouldshine]

We are looking into the GSA foundation course as well dabdab. Thanks for that info oscar as very helpful. If you get a chance to reply, could you say whether the students live in regular uni accomodation and study alongside the degree students?

[oscar]

Yes, they can live in halls and may be eligible for housing benefit . Feel free to pm me for further info c

[Hecouldshine]

Yes, they can live in halls and may be eligible for housing benefit . Feel free to pm me for further info c

Thanks oscar that's very helpful. Will probably have loads of questions once ds gets his AS levels out of the way and we have time to think about it. We've booked to go to surrey uni open day early July.

[dabdab]

Thanks for the info. MT is not really what she wants and this is the problem because I have heard good things about the MT foundation courses in a few places but I really don't know whether drama foundations with give her a strong chance of getting onto a full-time course next time. I don't mind if it will lead somewhere and I realise it depends on how good she is but the thought of all that money!!! If it's london places they are not linked to a uni and we would have to find the accomodation too-it all feels like a huge risk but I would take it if I felt the training was good enough, that's why I was hoping to find someone who knows more than me!
Thanks all

[jaybeeyellow]

Hi there,
Does anybody have any opinions on the Foundation Course at East 15? Daughter has a place, but like everybody else wondering about the quality, although I do know that the source is taught by the same staff that teach the BA course.
This is a minefield, isn"t it?

[pg]

I'm sure students gain a lot of enjoyment and useful experience from foundation courses - but they are so expensive!

If money is no object, I'd say go for it. Otherwise I think there are ways to spend a gap year that are just as valuable /useful and well regarded that don't cost as much and which give a student the opportunity to earn some money as well.

Drama training is so full time that it's difficult for students to supplement their income during term time, so a bit of a stash before you go is likely to come in very handy!

[Hecouldshine]

In our case ds is uncertain what he wants to study at uni and whether he wants to do MT afterwards. He really needs a gap year but would find it very difficult to get the training he needs living and working at home, not least because there is a limit to the dance classes he can access locally, and he is taking his Adv 1 ballet within the next few months so has no ballet classes locally he can progress onto. It would probably be as cheap for him to do intensive training on a foundation course, and he could try out university life and get his singing and drama up to the standard of his dance. It would be better, in my eyes than making a mistake with his university choices and using up a year of his student loan. I have just retired (early!) have the dregs of my pension lump sum that could fund it, so we are lucky. Whether he would be good enough to get on a course is another matter!

[Barb]

I don't know about Drama Foundation courses but my DD has been on the foundation course at Evolution in Colchester this year and it has been brilliant for her.
I was sceptical about this type of course and whether it would actually be worth it, also that Evolution was so new but after this year I consider it money well spent. She auditioned last year without success but has had good offers this year, like the other students of both sexes, and is awaiting results from various recalls and funding auditions.
The days are busy from the moment they get there to the end of the day and are a combination of group classes and 1:1 sessions.
She has improved in all three disciplines as has her confidence and stamina.
She also knows that she could not have been any better prepared for those all important auditions. It has also confirmed that this is exactly what it is she wants to pursue as a career and she knows what to expected and what is expected from her.
We really liked the fact that the college is not attached to any other so didn't feel she was on a year long audition and was advised which colleges would be best for her to apply to.
As a parent I also liked the good family atmosphere of the college and that they really know the students well.
So for us the foundation year has been a good one and one that we would recommend.

edited for spelling

[Hecouldshine]

Hi Barb. That's really interesting to hear. Thanks. And pg I meant to say thanks to you for your lovely helpful balanced post, as always!