RSAMD Entry to the Creative Industries

Entry to the Creative Industries (Production and Performance) is a collaboration between FOCUS West and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. It works with S5 and S6 pupils who have demonstrated or expressed an interest in the performing or production arts.

The tutor, Chloe Dobson-O’Sullivan, delivers workshops within the FOCUS West schools which explore careers within the creative industries and what training is available to gain entry to these industries. The pupils engage in tasks which demonstrate the variety of courses they can study at both further and higher education level and Chloe signposts options that may be viable to them:

‘The pupils are given the opportunity within the sessions to explore the options available to them within the performing and production arts and voice their specific area of interest. The students take part in role plays to put them in interview situations and to allow them to think about how they would like to present themselves both physically and verbally.’

The programme also invites pupils into the Academy to take part in open days. Five open days have been run in the past year allowing pupils to take an in depth look at the workings of a specialist higher education institute and to experience it first hand.

The first Drama and Dance Open Day of 2008/9 saw Entry to the Creative Industries pupil, Holly Boyle, engage in a day of activities and information sessions where she made the decision to apply to Coatbridge College to study HND Musical Theatre. Holly said:

‘The FOCUS West day was excellent and really inspired me to apply to college. I initially was worried about applying but Chloe helped me apply and actually followed up my application with Coatbridge College helping me secure an audition and a place. I have just completed my first full-scale musical performance and I’m so thankful to Chloe and the FOCUS West team for all their help in realising my dream!’

Holly is currently performing in ‘Christmas at the Musicals!’ at Sir John Wilson Airdrie Town Hall. She graduates in the summer of 2011 and everyone in the Entry to the Creative Industries team wishes Holly the best of luck with the rest of her studies.

If you would like more information about the project please contact Chloe on 0141 270 8319 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it