What is it like studying in the Academy of Music and Theatre Arts?

This article was written by Acting BA(Hons) student Zoe.

Before you begin your studies at your chosen university, it can be hard to picture what it might be like. In this blog, I aim to paint a picture of what life in AMATA (The Academy of Music and Theatre Arts) is like! I am now a third year BA Acting student and I personally have loved studying in AMATA.

The overall vibe of the building is so creative and inspiring, with lots of very different spaces to use for both rehearsal and down time. The best way I can describe AMATA on a uni day is to tell you to imagine walking in to find music students strumming on guitars, walk past practice rooms of singers and walk down into the café where actors are running lines, friends are chatting and dancers are stretching. The whole atmosphere is always buzzing with creativity and everyone is in their own little world.

The facilities in AMATA are incredible and were a huge pull for me when I was deciding where to study. We have industry standard sound & lighting equipment and rigging options, meaning almost all rehearsal spaces can be used for full scale performances. We also have lots of standard size studio spaces and 3 large studios, 2 with large seating rigs for theatre and dance performances! Alongside the studio space we have, there are also 5 smaller practice rooms perfect for singing or smaller instrument rehearsals and 5 larger rooms perfect for band rehearsals or even small group projects from other courses. AMATA also has incredible recording facilities for voice over work and music production! Another great facility exclusive to AMATA is that we are the only department on-campus with our own cafe! This makes for a great place to hang out between classes, buy food or drink and it generally adds to the environment of the building. Not only is AMATA buzzing during the day, but it is also very exciting at night, as it is a professional venue used for live theatre, comedy nights, scratch performances of new work, workshops and much more!

Another thing I have loved during my time at Falmouth is the dedication from staff. I have always felt that I could talk to them and they are all so lovely to work with. I have never had to wait long for an email reply and they really are always willing to help. Studying at Falmouth, I have found that you get the opportunity to be taught by many different members of staff and visiting lecturers, so you get to try lots of styles and opinions of work. I have loved the experience of working with a variety of different people, as it has allowed me to shape my own work to combine everything that has worked for me and emerge as an individual, rather than trying to fit into a mould.