Preparing for the Profession
Mountview has always recognised the importance of preparing its students for the world of work and of ensuring that they have the skills and resources to cope with what is a highly competitive and demanding career.
Productions
Students have an excellent range of opportunities to gain production experience throughout their training. Productions for public audiences are an indispensable aspect of training, offering students a variety of experiences in modern plays, the classics and musical theatre. Mountview produces over twenty new theatrical productions each year and in addition, students are given the opportunity to work in recorded media.
Career Development
All students undertake an intensive programme of career development. For technical students, career development sessions include advice about CVs, job applications and lectures from leading professionals in a variety of fields. For performance students, this also includes advice from leading professionals on CVs, photographs, audition technique and many other aspects of the profession.
Touring
Mountview students may have the opportunity to embark on short tours within the production programme.
Professional Showcase
All performance courses culminate in a Professional Showcase attended by Agents, Casting Directors and other prominent members of the industry. In preparation for the Showcase, Mountview’s Marketing Department produces a graduation booklet which includes a photograph and detailed information about each graduating student. This is distributed to approximately 2000 contacts within the industry.
Directors’ Showcase Productions
In the final term, students direct a full-length play, employing professional actors and presented as a public performance.
Graduation
Students who successfully complete their course and attain the required standard in their work are awarded a BA (Hons) Degree, MA Degree or Mountview Diploma at a ceremony in the presence of family, friends, the Principal and a guest of honour. Previous guests of honour have included John Caird, Jim Carter, Brian Daniels, Ayub Khan Din, Adrian Dunbar, Tim Dutton, Shirley Anne Field, Don Gilet, David Harewood, Douglas Henshall, David Hersey, Helen Hobson, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Amanda Holden, Noah Huntley, Mike Leigh, Sir John Mills, Nick Moran, John Nettles, Alison Pargeter, Kenneth Richardson, Sharon Small, David Soul, Imelda Staunton, Chris Walker, Julia Watson, Paula Wilcox and Barbara Windsor.
British Actors Equity Association
Courses accredited by the National Council for Drama Training are an assurance to both the student and his/her future employer that the training is of an appropriate professional standard. This also means that British and EU graduating students automatically qualify for membership of the main performing arts trade union, Equity. Mountview students are eligible to join Equity as Student Members for a fee of £15.50 per year, which includes registering their professional stage name (if available). Please note that Equity Student Membership does not automatically lead to full membership of the union.
Masterclasses
Students are provided with opportunities to attend masterclasses with a senior figure from theatre, television or film. In the past, masterclasses have been given by Richard E Grant, Mike Leigh, Kevin Spacey, Bazil Meade, Lynn Redgrave, Vanessa Redgrave, Antony Sher, Anne Skates, Jim Broadbent, Gillian Anderson, Patrick Stewart, Phillip Quast, Brian Cox, Jack Dee, Rufus Sewell and Elaine Paige.
Marketing Department
Mountview’s Marketing Department supports students in developing their careers while at Mountview and after graduation.
Aftercare
Mountview prides itself on giving graduates total support months and even years after graduation. Mountview’s staff are committed to the best for their students and graduates are actively encouraged to keep in touch.
MV Management
Established in 2000, MV Management (formerly Mountview Management) is a co-operative agency, managed by the Marketing Department, for Mountview performance graduates who wish to join. This provides a tremendous support for graduates when they complete their course and is proving to be very successful.
