LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts)

...many areas as they wished. LIPA was born.

The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts is effectively a drama school with University status, through it's partnership with Liverpool John Moore's (although there is talk of it attempting to break away from LJMU and receive the status on its own). Offering courses in all areas of the Performing Arts, it is one of the most advanced Universities of it's kind, not only in this country, but ...
...Along with the two degrees, LIPA also offers a diploma in HE in Theatre and Performance Technology, a Certificate in HE in a course it calls Solid Foundations, for Disabled students, and also offers it's own 1-year LIPA diploma in Popular Music and Sound Technology.

However, one of the best points about LIPA is the integration between routes. Every route takes what is known as the Core Progamme, in which everyone learns the basic ... more

In 1996, a school opened with a new vision for the training and teaching of Performing Arts students. Funded by various outlets, including the Government and European Union, but most famously by Sir Paul McCartney, the school's vision was one in which students could learn by doing, and be trained in as many areas as they wished. LIPA was born.

The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts is effectively a drama school with University status, through it's partnership with Liverpool John Moore's (although there is talk of it attempting to break away from LJMU and receive the status on its own). Offering courses in all areas of the Performing Arts, it is one of the most advanced Universities of it's kind, not only in this country, but in the world. The curriculum has been specifically designed to allow all students on all routes the best possible opportunities in the world of work. This, coupled with the very close ties which the school has with prominent players in the industry both regionally and in London, enables the majority of graduates to find work in their chosen field.

There are two BA(Hons) courses offered, in Sound Technology and Performing Arts, both taking three years to complete. The Performing Arts degree is split into six specialist areas - Acting (of which I have just completed my Second Year), Dance, Music, Management, Community Arts, and Performance Design. Along with the two degrees, LIPA also offers a diploma in HE in Theatre and Performance Technology, a Certificate in HE in a course it calls Solid Foundations, for Disabled students, and also offers it's own 1-year LIPA diploma in Popular Music and Sound Technology.

However, one of the best points about LIPA is the integration between routes. Every route takes what is known as the Core Progamme, in which everyone learns the basic tools which will enable them to get on in the world of work, as well as picking up history of the Performing Arts. On top of this, each route has many lessons specific to their chosen area - for example, in the Acting route, we have recently finished a module on TV and Radio acting, as well as earlier in the year having a module on Shakespeare. The Dance route learn various styles of dance, including ballet, tap and jazz, and the Musicians are trained in every type of singing, as well as being able to continue their specialist areas, be that a particular instrument or composition. These are just a few examples of the diversity that is available at LIPA.

As well as this, students have a chance to tailor their courses to their own personal tastes, with options modules each year. The options include introductions to the various routes for those in other areas, as well as focusing on parts of each routes curriculum - for example, puppetry, directing and songwriting. It is also possible to take courses at John Moores as oppossed to a Performing Arts related option, so it is possible to carry on studies you may have done at school.

As each route consists of a maximum of 30 students, and usually less, LIPA is a very small school, and as such, the students are all very close, and there is little to no segregation across routes. Unlike in a larger university, everyone knows everyone, and so personal and work related interaction is far more widespread. This particularly manifests itself in ISB work.

The ISB is the Independent Student Board, which provides funding for independent student work throughout the year. There are many ISB projects running throughout the year, involving students from across all the routes, and these take the form of plays, shows and concerts. These are all performed, directed and chosen by students, and are a great way for students to showcase their own original work.

On top of this, there are numerous "tutor-sanctioned" productions throughout the year. In the first year, there are the CPP's (Collaborative Performance Projects), in which the students get their first large-scale performances, and work officially with students from each route. Second year brings the Major Performance Projects (MPP's) which are a larger scale production, and the first public showcase for the students talents (although often students take part in other public performances in small roles or chorus, or by volunteering in the case of technical staff and crew, in the other years' productions). Finally, Third year brings firstly LIPAFest, occuring at Christmastime, and encompassing many shows both in LIPA and in and around Liverpool, and finally the Final Production Performance's (FPP's). These are the shows to which agents are often invited to view prospective clients. Lastly, but certainly not leastly, comes the LIPA showcase. This performance, for actors and those other students who have appeared in acting productions only, is provided at the route's expense, and gives each actor the chance to show themselves to agents both in Liverpool, and at the showing at the Criterion Theatre in London. This is an invaluable tool for the actors' to get themselves professional representation, and is very successful in doing so.

Each routes shows, installations and work are very well supported by everyone else in the school, and it is very rare that a show will be less than full. It is this spirit of togetherness which makes LIPA such a special place to study, as everyone looks out for, and helps, each other. There is a strong feeling of solidarity and friendship, which allows and encourages everyone to prosper and flourish, meaning that LIPA is fast becoming recognised as the best place for young performers in the country, and, as its reputation overseas grows, in the world. 

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