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 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 includes advice from leading professionals on CVs, photographs, audition technique and many other aspects of the profession.

Touring
There may be the opportunity to tour productions in this country and abroad. Touring arrangements rely to a large extent on the

funding and opportunities afforded by the host theatre, festival or country. Although the Academy generally covers the cost of travel and accommodation, students may be required to make a contribution. Former students continue to tour local and national schools with Bodgitt! Commissioned by Haringey Education Business Partnership, this acclaimed production introduces secondary school pupils to awareness of Health and Safety in the workplace. Bodgitt! was devised by the original Mountview cast in 1997.

Technical Theatre Exhibition
The Technical Theatre course culminates in a central London Exhibition where students display examples of their work. The Exhibition is attended by prospective employers: Producers, Production Managers and a wide range of Industry Specialists representing various Technical fields. Mountview’s Development Department produces a graduation booklet giving detailed information about each graduating student, and these are distributed to contacts within the industry.

West End Showcase
With the exception of the MA in Classical Acting, all performance courses culminate in a West End Showcase attended by Agents, Casting Directors and prospective employers in the industry. In preparation for the Showcase, Mountview’s Development Department produces a graduation booklet, which includes a photograph and detailed information about each graduating student, which is distributed to approximately 2000 contacts within the industry.

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, Ayub Khan Din, Adrian Dunbar, Tim Dutton, Shirley Anne Field, David Hersey, Helen Hobson, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Amanda Holden, Mike Leigh, Sir John Mills, Nick Moran, John Nettles, Kenneth Richardson, David Soul, Imelda Staunton and Paula Wilcox.

Director’s Showcase Productions
In the final term students direct a full-length play using professional actors, and presented as a public performance.

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.