Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA), a world-class performing arts powerhouse, offers students enriching and immersive learning experiences whilst studying at the academy. The teachers and faculty members behind their BA Acting diploma shared an overview of what makes them so passionate about the programme, how they inspire students, their role and more.
Aiham Hasan, one of the acting tutors at SPAA and an actor and director in the UAE, shared thoughts on what he hopes for his students in making them well-rounded, experienced acting professionals. Hasan goes on to share that he feels as though the best method for producing highly skilled students is through presenting them with real-world acting scenarios and that he truly wishes for each student that following their graduation they hit the industry ground-running and get stuck into the epic world of acting. Further, Aiham goes on to share details of activities and tutorials which he exercises with his students, from practising TV acting in front of a teleprompter, to improv workshops and much more, as he states there is no singular way of teaching the arts. He then explains that Sharjah is the cultural and academic centre of the UAE and this is part of what makes SPAA so special.
The academy offers students the opportunity to access hands-on acting experiences across theatre, film, television and audio
Alan Mandel, lead tutor of recorded and digital media at SPAA, as well as an actor, teacher and director in the field who has worked all the way from Hollywood films to audio dramas, shares his insight into the acting diploma programmes and how SPAA is looking to shape talented individuals to be the future of the performing arts industry. He details that the academy offers students the opportunity to access hands-on acting experiences across theatre, film, television and audio. He shares that the experiences offered in the programme allow them to develop their creativity, as well as their confidence, equipping them with the skills they need to enter the intense world of performing arts. Mandel believes acting training to be a holistic experience, which allows students to better know themselves as well as hone actor training techniques. He says that SPAA offers students an overview of acting practitioners and philosophies.
Students are trained for over 30 hours a week, elevating the experience beyond regular university training and positioning it more as an apprenticeship
Benedict Ayrton, programme leader and performing artist trainer, stage director and television writer, shares that he hopes the programme truly prepares students for the world of performing arts following the four-year programme, particularly in the digital space. Benedict highlights that SPAA is so special for a number of reasons, one of which is its location, Sharjah, which he dubs ‘the cultural capital of the Islamic world’. He denotes that the programme offers students a seamless transition to the professional world of acting, particularly preparing them for the challenges and difficulties that they may face. Ayrton says that the students are trained for over 30 hours a week, elevating the experience beyond regular university training and positioning it more as an apprenticeship, readily preparing them for life after their studies. He then details that the programme truly shapes individuals into hard-working, passionate and entrepreneurial professionals, providing them with an experience like no other.
For more information, or to be the first to know about the open days, auditions, workshops and masterclasses at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy taking place throughout January 2023, please email [email protected]
To learn more about the BA Undergraduate degrees, Diplomas and programmes on offer, please visit: www.spaa.ae