IES Abroad’s mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences. That is why we partnered with the the Gaiety School of Acting-The National Theatre School of Ireland.

The National Theatre School of Ireland-Gaiety School of Acting
www.gaietyschool.com
By attending NTSI-GSA, you are in good acting company: famous supporters of the school include Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Stuart Townsend, Rosaleen Linehan, Milo O’Shea, and Brenda Fricker.

Watch a short clip of IES Abroad Dublin students sharing what they love about attending NTSI-GSA.

The National Theatre School of Ireland-Gaiety School of Acting (NTSI-GSA) is Dublin’s premier acting school. The policy of NTSI-GSA is to train you for the theatre, film, and television industries by providing you with conservatory-like professional training taught by local acting instructors.

Joseph Dowling, the internationally recognized theatre director, founded the school in 1986. In addition to earning 3 credits through the required IES Abroad course, you earn an additional 12-16 credits by completing a set curriculum at NTSI-GSA, where you may participate in other courses with Irish and international students.

Courses
The Fall semester is a fully-integrated program, and students participate with local students. It begins with a three-week intensive IES Abroad theatre course (TH352 Soundings from the Fringes - 3 credits, see "Courses" below) that combines performance workshops with the critical study of plays. This course, which takes place before NTSI-GSA courses begin, integrates your classroom work with Dublin’s annual Fringe Festival in September. You attend several performances at the festival and participate as a volunteer. Courses at the NTSI-GSA then being when the IES Abroad course ends in early October. The NTSI-GSA courses conclude in mid-December.

The Spring semester is a partially-integrated program. Some modules are shared with local students and others are not integrated and tailored to to IES Abroad students. It begins in early January with courses at the NTSI-GSA, and an IES Abroad theatre course (TH362 Northern Exposure - 3 credits, see "Courses" below) that focuses on the theatre of Northern Ireland, running consecutively. NTSI-GSA coursework ends in late March. The IES Abroad course then continues on until mid-April, culminating in a performance project.

The academic experience at the NTSI-GSA is unique because you follow a set curriculum, which all first-year students at the school complete. However, as the standard program at the NTSI-GSA is comprised of only two years, the courses in the first-year track are equivalent to intermediate courses. A variety of topics are explored in each discipline.

You enroll in the following courses at NTSI-GSA:
Voice for the Stage (Fall - 4 credits; Spring - 2 credits) - (voice, singing)
Concentrate on boosting awareness of habits that are hampering the free and full expression of your voice.

Acting (Fall & Spring - 4 credits) - (acting, improvisation, manifesto)
Performance techniques are developed both as an individual and as part of an ensemble through the exploration of characterization and text, utilizing the emotions, imagination, and physical skills of the student.

Movement for the Stage (Fall - 4 credits; Spring - 2 credits) - (movement, stage combat, tai chi, dance, mime, tap)
This course introduces core training in physical movement skills, enabling you to gain flexibility, strength, and coordination.

Theatre History, Text Analysis, Stagecraft, and Theatre Visits (Fall - 4 credits; Spring - 5 credits)

Please see the brief module descriptions for the spring term for more details. - NTSI-GSA - Spring Term Module Descriptions

NTSI-GSA Faculty Profiles 
You are taught by dedicated GSA Faculty who hold impressive credentials.

Location & Commute Time
The NTSI-GSA operates out of the newly renovated 17th century Smock Alley Theater. Classes are held at Smock Alley, which is on the site of the oldest theatre in Dublin. The theatre is located in the heart of Temple Bar, the city’s arts and entertainment district. The area’s rejuvenation in the 1980s preserved the narrow cobbled streets and historic storefronts for galleries, small theatres, and centers for applied arts, photography, and film.