Arts and Culture are a growth industry in North American with many theatre artists creating their own material for festivals, solo companies, industry productions and multi-disciplinary collaborations. Film, television, new media and the circus are also avenues that graduates of our program have embarked on. By offering a program that trains both actor and creator, our graduates have an exciting and varied palette with which to infuse the professional theatre industry.

This program offers training for the emerging theatre artist, as both actor and creator of theatre. Training will include course related theory and research with studio training in skills for the actor and creator of theatre to be accompanied with applied practicum to bring the process oriented courses to fruition. These practicum opportunities are as follows: stage productions, touring productions, site-specific creation projects, theatre intensives with professional guest instructors, theatre related field trips and field study placements in provincial theatre centres.

When not involved in a practicum, students are taking four days of intense classes with components of: career planning, theatre history, dramaturgy/play analysis, acting, voice, movement, creation, improvisation, writing, dance, stage fighting, lifestyle and wellbeing, interdisciplinary arts, and devising theatre. The fifth day is reserved for specialty intensives, industry related events, creation sessions and one-on-one coaching with a professional theatre artist/instructor.

Theatre programs at RDC have over a decade of experience in transferring students to university programs and preparing them for entrance into leading theatre training schools in North America (i.e. National Theatre School, Studio 58, Sheridan College, Julliard, Neighbourhood Playhouse, etc.). Students have the opportunity to accumulate University Transfer credits into year two of numerous renowned university theatre programs. RDC graduates have continued on to receive B.A. Honours in Drama, BFA in drama, education degrees and MFA degrees in theatre related forms at the University of Alberta, York University, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge. Graduates are also eligible to apply for the 3rd and 4th years of the Advanced Certificate and Applied Degree in Motion Picture Arts at RDC.

The performing arts department also offers a selection of university transfer drama courses for students in other RDC programs. These courses are taught by either professional guest instructors or faculty from Theatre Performance and Creation.

1. High School Diploma with successful completion of ELA 30-1

OR

2. Mature Student

You must be 19 years of age or older, out of high school at least one full year before the program starts, and successful completion of ELA 30-1

Note: In addition to the program admission requirements applicants, whose first language is not English, must demonstrate English language proficiency.

To be accepted to the Theatre Performance and Creation program you need to have a successful audition. Further guidelines regarding audition expectations are available at Performing Arts, Audition & Interview Requirements.

You must pass all courses and achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.

RDC Theatre Performance and Creation graduate profile: The RDC Theatre Performance and Creation diploma program produces innovative theatre artists who actively contribute to the Canadian theatre community as creators, directors, performers, educators, arts administrators and producers. The RDC grad is also provided with the training to further excel at leading education centres such as the National Theatre School in Montreal, the University of Alberta BFA program in Edmonton, Simon Fraser University in Vancouver and UBC - Okanagan, the Applied Degree in Motion Picture Arts at Red Deer College, as well as other related degrees at leading North American universities. Transfer credits and resume experience may also lead to B.Ed., B.F.A., B.A. Drama Honours, or specialty study elsewhere in the world.

Open to Theatre Performance and Creation students only

Year 1

• THTR 100 Theatre Research and Development I
• THTR 101 Theatre Research and Development II
• THTR 110 The Business of Theatre I
• THTR 111 The Business of Theatre II
• THTR 120 The Expressive Body I
• THTR 121 The Expressive Body II
• THTR 130 The Expressive Voice I
• THTR 131 The Expressive Voice II
• THTR 140 Acting I
• THTR 141 Acting II
• THTR 150 Theatre Artist Studio I
• THTR 151 Theatre Artist Studio II
• THTR 160 Devising Theatre
• ENGL 219 Language and Literature
• INTD 241 Wellness & Lifestyle Management

Year 2

• THTR 200 Theatre Research and Development III
• THTR 210 The Business of Theatre III
• THTR 220 The Expressive Body III
• THTR 230 The Expressive Voice III
• THTR 240 Acting III
• THTR 250 Theatre Artist Studio III
• THTR 251 Theatre Artist Studio IV
• THTR 260 Creative Fusion
• INTD 321 Contemporary Art in Process I
• One Approved option

Theatre Performance and Creation students should budget for both Year 1 and Year 2

• Textbooks and materials $1050.00

Each year RDC offers optional Study Tours to world theatre centres (London, New York, Toronto, etc.). Students may with to budget for $2000-$3000/trip for these optional learning opportunities.