Cambridge OCR · RQF Level 3
Cambridge OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Performing Arts
You don’t just earn this. You learn to use it, one-to-one, on your own real work.
- LevelRQF Level 3
- Guided learning1,080 hours
- Units in this qualification33
Awarded by Cambridge OCR · on the Ofqual register
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What you’ll learn
What each unit actually teaches you to do
The Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Performing Arts is designed for learners seeking to develop their skills and knowledge in the performing arts. Learners explore topics such as working in the performing arts sector, commissioning briefs, and influential performance practice.
These are the units Cambridge OCR registers against this qualification. It is a catalogue, not a syllabus. Which of them you take depends on the combination the qualification requires, and that is set by the awarding body rather than by us. Every unit here is regulated, and every one you earn is yours to keep.
Acting techniqueReal unit · Cambridge OCR
This unit introduces learners to different acting techniques and methodologies. You'll apply these techniques in various performance contexts, analyse influential practitioners' work, develop personal skills through practice, and evaluate their own performances.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand different acting techniques and methodologies
- Apply acting techniques to a range of performance contexts
- Analyse the work of influential actors and acting practitioners
- Develop personal acting skills through practical exercises and rehearsals
- Evaluate personal performance and identify areas for improvement
Arts administrationReal unit · Cambridge OCR
This unit introduces learners to the key considerations, roles, functions, responsibilities, and processes involved in arts administration. You'll understand how funding models, legal, and ethical frameworks impact arts administration within various organisational contexts.
What you'll be able to do
- Know the key considerations involved in arts administration within different contexts.
- Know the diverse roles and functions performed by individuals working in arts administration.
- Understand the specific responsibilities associated with arts administration roles and the processes involved.
- Understand how arts administration functions in real-world settings and its impact on arts organisations.
Character design and realisationReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll study character design principles, researching and analysing characters for performance. The unit involves developing character concepts, realising characters through performance techniques, and evaluating the effectiveness of character design and portrayal.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of character design
- Research and analyse a character for a performance
- Develop a character design concept
- Realise a character through performance techniques
- Evaluate the effectiveness of character design and realisation
Classical theatre performanceReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll gain an understanding of classical theatre's historical and cultural context, key characteristics, and performance styles. The unit includes analysing texts, interpreting and performing extracts, and evaluating character development and audience impact.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the historical and cultural context of classical theatre
- Analyse the key characteristics of classical theatre texts and performance styles
- Interpret and perform extracts from classical theatre plays
- Demonstrate an understanding of character development in classical theatre
- Evaluate the effectiveness of a classical theatre performance
Combined artsReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll explore various art forms and their combinations to develop skills in multiple disciplines. The unit focuses on creating combined arts performance pieces and evaluating their effectiveness in integrating different artistic elements.
What you'll be able to do
- Explore different art forms and their combinations
- Develop skills in multiple art forms
- Create combined arts performance pieces
- Evaluate the effectiveness of combined arts performance
Create music to performReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll explore the principles of creating music for performance, including various styles and genres. The unit covers developing, arranging, and adapting musical compositions, rehearsing and refining pieces, and evaluating their suitability for performance.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of creating music for performance
- Explore different musical styles and genres suitable for performance
- Develop musical ideas and compositions for a specific performance context
- Arrange and adapt musical compositions for performance by different instruments or voices
- Rehearse and refine musical compositions in preparation for performance
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the created music in a performance setting
Current issues in performing artsReal unit · Cambridge OCR
It teaches you to identify and research current issues affecting the performing arts industry, analysing their impact on organisations. You'll evaluate potential solutions and consider the performer's role in addressing social, economic, and political challenges.
What you'll be able to do
- Identify current issues affecting the performing arts industry
- Research the impact of current issues on performing arts organisations
- Analyse potential solutions to current issues in performing arts
- Evaluate the role of the performer in addressing current issues
Dance appreciationReal unit · Cambridge OCR
This unit develops learners' critical appreciation of dance by examining its historical and cultural contexts. You'll analyse various dance styles and genres, evaluate artistic merit, and recognise elements of dance composition and choreography.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the historical and cultural context of dance
- Analyse and interpret different dance styles and genres
- Evaluate the artistic merit of dance performances
- Recognise the elements of dance composition and choreography
- Develop a critical appreciation of dance as an art form
Dance choreographyReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll explore the principles of dance choreography, developing original sequences and applying choreographic techniques to create expressive movement. The unit covers structuring dance compositions effectively and communicating choreographic ideas to dancers and performers.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of dance choreography
- Develop original dance sequences and routines
- Apply choreographic techniques to create expressive movement
- Structure and organise dance compositions effectively
- Communicate choreographic ideas to dancers and performers
Dance performanceReal unit · Cambridge OCR
It teaches you to perform dance routines with confidence and artistry, interpreting choreographic intentions through movement. You'll demonstrate stage presence, engage audiences, collabourate with performers, and maintain focus throughout dance performances.
What you'll be able to do
- Perform dance routines with confidence and artistry
- Interpret and communicate the choreographer's intention through movement
- Demonstrate stage presence and engage with the audience
- Collaborate effectively with other dancers and performers
- Maintain physical and mental focus during dance performance
Dance techniqueReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll develop proficiency in fundamental dance techniques, focusing on correct posture, alignment, and body awareness. The unit covers executing complex sequences with precision, adapting techniques across styles, and enhancing physical strength, flexibility, and stamina for dance performance.
What you'll be able to do
- Demonstrate proficiency in fundamental dance techniques
- Apply correct posture, alignment, and body awareness in dance
- Execute complex dance sequences with precision and control
- Adapt dance technique to different styles and genres
- Develop physical strength, flexibility, and stamina for dance performance
Deliver dance and movement workshopsReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll learn to plan, prepare, and deliver dance and movement workshops tailored to specific groups. The unit emphasises inclusivity, accessibility, safety, and effective evaluation of workshop delivery and participant engagement.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of delivering dance and movement workshops
- Plan a dance and movement workshop suitable for a specific group
- Prepare resources required for a dance and movement workshop
- Deliver a dance and movement workshop safely and effectively
- Evaluate the effectiveness of a delivered dance and movement workshop
Health and fitness for performanceReal unit · Cambridge OCR
This unit provides learners with knowledge of the importance of health and fitness for performers. You'll analyse physical demands across disciplines, develop personal health and fitness plans, and apply principles to maintain performance readiness and wellbeing.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of health and fitness for performers
- Analyse the physical demands of different performance disciplines
- Develop a personal health and fitness plan for performance
- Apply health and fitness principles to maintain performance readiness
ImprovisationReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll understand the principles of improvisation and develop practical skills in a chosen art form. The unit covers applying improvisation techniques to create spontaneous performances and evaluating their effectiveness in enhancing artistic expression.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of improvisation in performance
- Develop improvisation skills in a chosen art form
- Apply improvisation techniques to create spontaneous performances
- Evaluate the effectiveness of improvisation in performance
Influential performance practiceReal unit · Cambridge OCR
It teaches you to analyse influential performance practices within a chosen art form and evaluate their impact. You'll apply these techniques to their own work and reflect on their effectiveness in enhancing performance.
What you'll be able to do
- Analyse influential performance practices within a chosen art form
- Evaluate the impact of influential practitioners on performance
- Apply influential performance techniques to own performance work
- Reflect on the effectiveness of applying influential performance techniques
Instrumental music techniqueReal unit · Cambridge OCR
This unit develops learners' instrumental music techniques, focusing on posture, breathing, fingering, and control of tone, intonation, and rhythm. You'll apply these techniques to perform a range of musical pieces and refine their skills through practice.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental techniques required for instrumental music performance
- Develop proficiency in instrumental music techniques, including posture, breathing, and fingering
- Apply instrumental music techniques to perform a range of musical pieces
- Demonstrate control over tone, intonation, and rhythm in instrumental performance
- Interpret musical scores and instructions accurately
- Evaluate and refine instrumental music technique through practice and feedback
Music performanceReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll study principles of effective music performance, developing skills in stage presence, communication, and audience engagement. The unit includes preparation, rehearsal, and performance of musical pieces with accuracy and musicality, alongside self-evaluation.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of effective music performance
- Develop performance skills, including stage presence, communication, and audience engagement
- Prepare musical pieces for performance, considering interpretation and expression
- Perform musical pieces with accuracy, confidence, and musicality
- Respond to feedback and adapt performance accordingly
- Evaluate personal music performance and identify areas for improvement
MusicianshipReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll develop musicianship skills through understanding music theory, aural recognition of musical elements, rhythmic accuracy, sight-reading, and score analysis. The unit emphasises application of theory and aural skills to support performance and composition analysis.
What you'll be able to do
- Demonstrate an understanding of music theory concepts
- Apply aural skills to recognise musical elements
- Demonstrate rhythmic accuracy and control
- Sight-read musical notation accurately
- Analyse musical scores to understand compositional techniques
Original performanceReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll explore a performance stimulus to develop and apply relevant skills and techniques in creating an original performance. The unit also covers the evaluation of the performance process and outcome to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
What you'll be able to do
- Explore a given performance stimulus to generate ideas and concepts for an original performance.
- Develop relevant skills and techniques necessary for creating and delivering an original performance.
- Apply developed skills and techniques effectively in the creation and execution of an original performance.
- Evaluate the entire performance process, from initial stimulus to final outcome, identifying strengths and areas for improvement.
Performing repertoireReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll develop and demonstrate techniques for performing repertoire, including interpretation and preparation. The unit includes evaluating personal performance, applying appropriate vocal or instrumental skills, and demonstrating stage presence and communication.
What you'll be able to do
- Demonstrate techniques for performing repertoire
- Interpret repertoire for performance
- Prepare repertoire for performance
- Evaluate own performance of repertoire
Prepare to work in the performing arts sectorReal unit · Cambridge OCR
This unit introduces learners to the structure of the performing arts sector, including organisational types, funding bodies, and career pathways. You'll understand roles, responsibilities, required skills, and health and safety considerations within the sector.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the structure of the performing arts sector
- Understand the roles and responsibilities within the performing arts sector
- Understand the skills and qualities required to work in the performing arts sector
- Understand health and safety requirements in the performing arts sector
- Understand how to prepare for work in the performing arts sector
Produce music using technologyReal unit · Cambridge OCR
This unit provides learners with knowledge of music production principles using technology. You'll use digital audio workstations to record and edit audio, apply mixing and effects processing, master tracks, and evaluate the production process for distribution.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of music production using technology
- Use digital audio workstations (DAWs) to record and edit audio
- Apply mixing techniques to create a balanced sound
- Use effects processing to enhance audio
- Master music tracks for distribution
Production and stage management processReal unit · Cambridge OCR
This unit provides learners with knowledge of production and stage management roles throughout production phases. You'll create and utilise production documentation, evaluate safe working practices, and manage productions effectively.
What you'll be able to do
- Know the responsibilities of a production manager during production processes
- Know the responsibilities of a stage manager during production processes
- Create appropriate production documentation
- Use appropriate production documentation
- Create appropriate performance documentation
- Use appropriate performance documentation
- Evaluate safe working practices for a production
- Produce a production
- Stage manage a production
Proposal for a commissioning briefReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll understand the purpose and components of commissioning briefs in the creative industries. The unit develops skills to create, present, and evaluate proposals that respond effectively to commissioning briefs, addressing objectives, target audiences, and budgets.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the purpose of a commissioning brief
- Understand the components of a commissioning brief
- Develop a proposal in response to a commissioning brief
- Present a proposal for a commissioning brief
- Understand how to evaluate a proposal for a commissioning brief
Script writingReal unit · Cambridge OCR
This unit equips learners with the skills to write scripts for different media by understanding key elements such as plot, characters, and dialogue. You'll structure scripts to create dramatic tension, revise work based on feedback, and adapt writing for various genres and formats.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of script writing for different media
- Develop a script outline, including plot, characters, and setting
- Write dialogue that is appropriate for the characters and the story
- Structure a script to create dramatic tension and engage the audience
- Revise and edit a script based on feedback and self-evaluation
Set design and realisationReal unit · Cambridge OCR
This unit introduces learners to set design principles within performance contexts. You'll investigate design approaches, develop and plan set designs considering resources and constraints, implement designs, and evaluate their effectiveness.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of set design within a performance context
- Investigate different approaches to set design and realisation
- Develop set design ideas that meet the needs of a specific performance
- Plan the realisation of a set design, considering resources and constraints
- Implement set design plans, using appropriate techniques and materials
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the set design in relation to the overall performance
Singing performanceReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll learn to prepare and perform singing across multiple musical styles. The unit covers vocal techniques, performance preparation considering venue and audience, delivering professional-standard performances, self-evaluation, and safe vocal practices.
What you'll be able to do
- Demonstrate vocal techniques appropriate for a range of musical styles
- Prepare for a singing performance, considering factors such as venue and audience
- Perform a selection of songs to a professional standard
- Evaluate own singing performance, identifying areas for improvement
- Apply safe vocal practices to maintain vocal health
Singing techniqueReal unit · Cambridge OCR
It teaches you to understand and develop fundamental singing techniques, including breathing, posture, and vocal projection. You'll apply these techniques to perform various musical pieces, demonstrating control over pitch, tone, and rhythm.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental techniques required for singing
- Develop vocal techniques, including breathing, posture, and vocal projection
- Apply singing techniques to perform a range of musical pieces
- Demonstrate control over pitch, tone, and rhythm in singing
- Interpret musical scores and lyrics accurately
- Evaluate and refine singing technique through practice and feedback
SongwritingReal unit · Cambridge OCR
This unit covers the fundamental principles of songwriting, including melody, lyrics, structure, harmony, and rhythm. You'll develop melodic ideas, create lyrical content, structure songs using common forms, and evaluate their songwriting for improvement.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental principles of songwriting
- Develop melodic ideas for songs
- Create lyrical content that effectively communicates ideas and emotions
- Structure songs using common song forms
- Evaluate own songwriting, identifying areas for improvement
Stage lighting design and operationReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll understand stage lighting design principles and develop lighting plans for performances. The unit covers preparation, operation of lighting equipment, and evaluation of lighting effectiveness in enhancing visibility, mood, and focus.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of stage lighting design
- Design a stage lighting plan for a performance
- Prepare stage lighting equipment for a performance
- Operate stage lighting equipment during a performance
- Evaluate the effectiveness of stage lighting design and operation
Stage sound design and operationReal unit · Cambridge OCR
This unit covers the principles of stage sound design, including acoustics and sound reinforcement. You'll design sound plans, prepare and operate sound equipment, and evaluate the effectiveness of sound design during performances.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of stage sound design
- Design a stage sound plan for a performance
- Prepare stage sound equipment for a performance
- Operate stage sound equipment during a performance
- Evaluate the effectiveness of stage sound design and operation
Technical managementReal unit · Cambridge OCR
You'll understand technical management principles in performance contexts, including planning technical requirements and managing equipment and resources. The unit covers supervising technical staff, ensuring safety, and evaluating technical aspects to identify areas for improvement.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of technical management in a performance context
- Plan technical requirements for a performance
- Manage technical equipment and resources effectively
- Supervise technical staff during a performance
- Evaluate the technical aspects of a performance, identifying areas for improvement
Theatre directingReal unit · Cambridge OCR
This unit introduces learners to the role and responsibilities of a theatre director, including legal and ethical considerations. You'll analyse various directing styles, apply directing techniques in production, and evaluate directing choices, emphasising the collabourative nature of theatre directing.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the role and responsibilities of a theatre director
- Analyse different directing styles and approaches
- Apply directing techniques to a theatrical production
- Evaluate the effectiveness of directing choices in a performance
- Understand the collaborative nature of theatre directing
The honest bit
You’ve started things before
Most courses were built for a room full of people who aren’t you. A cohort moves on whether or not your week allowed it, and by the third week the thing you’re behind on becomes the reason you stop opening it.
There’s no cohort here, and no timetable to fall behind. Before anything starts, Zavmo asks when you’re sharpest and how long you can realistically sit down for, then builds the sessions around those answers. A bad fortnight changes your pace. It doesn’t put you behind.
And you only pay once you start learning. Searching and planning are free, and you can cancel any time — so the cost of finding out is an afternoon, not a year.
Your passport
Every credit is a stamp you keep
Level 3 credits are regulated. They don’t vanish when a subscription ends or a website closes. They travel to any employer, and Zavmo keeps the map of what you’ve earned and what’s next.
Acting techniqueArts administrationCharacter design and realisationClassical theatre performanceCombined artsCreate music to performCurrent issues in performing artsDance appreciation
Each stamp is a real unit registered against this qualification.
Who’d teach you this
The Evidence Evaluator
Assessor
Helps you show what you can actually do, gathering the evidence that proves it as you learn.
Meet all twelve tutorsWhere this connects
Where these credits take you
A qualification is never a dead end here. See the jobs its credits open, the national occupational standards its units map to, and the future skills they quietly build.
Cambridge OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Performing Arts
- Communicate how you carry out creative and compositional skills appropriate to your target market
- Create scripts
- Deliver Scripts for Non-Scripted Productions
- Develop early set designs for live productions
- Develop lighting designs for live productions
- Identify and select supporting artistes and contributors for productions
- Keep knowledge and skills for production design, art direction or set dressing up to date
- Manage commissions for craft
Where this can lead
Production Assistant
Your journey starts here, learning the foundations. The events industry is dynamic, challenging, and incredibly rewarding. With dedication and a willingness to learn, you can build a truly exciting career creating unforgettable experiences.
See the whole journey →Opens the roleProduction AssistantOne of the jobs this qualification is a route intoSee the role →Opens the roleEvent Production DirectorOne of the jobs this qualification is a route into · 1 near-identical record folded inSee the role →Opens the roleAssociate ProducerOne of the jobs this qualification is a route intoSee the role →Opens the roleProduction CoordinatorOne of the jobs this qualification is a route intoSee the role →Opens the roleProducer / Production ManagerOne of the jobs this qualification is a route intoSee the role →Opens the roleSenior Event Production ManagerOne of the jobs this qualification is a route intoSee the role →Future FluencyAll ten future skillsSee how every unit is contextualised by the tenExplore →
Showing 6 roles, drawn from 21 job records mapped to this qualification.
Skills it covers
What the job actually needs. These are the standards the units are built against, in the words employers and awarding bodies already use for the work itself.
Communicate how you carry out creative and compositional skills appropriate to your target marketCreate scriptsDeliver Scripts for Non-Scripted ProductionsDevelop early set designs for live productionsDevelop lighting designs for live productionsIdentify and select supporting artistes and contributors for productionsKeep knowledge and skills for production design, art direction or set dressing up to dateManage commissions for craftManage ongoing live productionsManage the expectation of individuals, groups and stakeholders involved in an arts programmeManage the production processManage the selection and negotiation of contracts for the production team, crew, suppliers and othersStructure Dance for Engagement of Participants and Groups
How you’ll actually learn this
One-to-one, on your own real work
A qualification is usually something done to you: sit the class, sit the exam, hope it sticks. Here it’s the opposite. You learn it one-to-one with a companion, on your own real work, and you keep going until you can use it, not just recall it.
One-to-one, on your real workNo lectures, no past-papers. Every unit is practised on the actual tasks your job throws at you, a tutor beside you, not a video in front of you.
Taught to the top, not the testMost courses stop at remembering. Your companion keeps climbing: analysing, judging, creating. That’s the part a machine can’t do for you.
Credits you keep, a map that continuesEvery unit is regulated and yours for good. The day you finish, Zavmo already knows the next role your new credits open.
Applied to your work in any of these jobs
Which job do you mean?
This unit introduces learners to different acting techniques and methodologies. Learners will apply these techniques in various performance contexts, analyse influential practitioners' work, develop personal skills through practice, and evaluate their own performances.
How the thinking builds
- Remember
- Understand
- Apply
- Analyse
- Evaluate
- Create
Built for Cambridge OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Performing Arts
33 units in this credential, in the order it lists them, awarded by Cambridge OCR.
- Acting technique
- Arts administration
- Character design and realisation
- Classical theatre performance
- Combined arts
- Create music to perform
and 27 more in the full unit list below.
One to one, not one to many
No two people run this the same way
A course is written once and handed to everyone. This is assembled around you, and keeps changing as it learns you. Five things it reads, and what each one changes.
- Your actual work Every unit is taught against a live piece of your own work, not a worked example from a textbook.
- What you already know The first conversation finds your starting point, so you skip what you can already do and spend the time on what you cannot.
- The conditions you learn under Not a learning-styles quiz. The evidence does not support those. The dimensions the research does back, read once and used to shape the plan.
- How far you got last time It picks up mid-thought. The tutor knows what you said, what you struggled with, and what it asked you to try.
- Which tutor suits the moment Twelve of them, each for a different kind of thinking. The one who walks you through a first idea is not the one who stress-tests it.
See how you learn, free. Eight questions, no sign-up. A directional taster; the diagnostic inside Zavmo goes deeper and keeps adapting.
Why it sticks
Most courses stop at remembering
There’s a well-known ladder of how deeply you learn something, called Bloom’s Taxonomy. Most courses get you up the first two rungs: you remember some facts, you pass a test, you forget it. Real skill lives at the top. Judging, deciding, creating. And this isn’t a generic ladder: every rung has a named Zavmo tutor who walks you up it.
- 6CreateThe Creative Catalyst
- 5EvaluateThe Evidence Evaluator
- 4AnalyseThe Analyst
- 3ApplyThe Coach
- 2UnderstandThe Connector
- 1RememberThe Builder
Where most courses leave you Where Zavmo takes you
Why this matters: AI can already remember and understand for you. What it can’t do is
take your real problem and judge the right call. So the only learning worth paying
for is the learning that takes you to the top. That’s exactly what a tutor doing it with
you, on your real work, is for.
The value
Why the companion is worth £70 a month
You’re not paying for the units. They’re regulated, and the same wherever you earn them. You’re paying for the one thing that decides whether you actually get there: a companion that makes them stick, on your real work.
That is one-to-one on this qualification, every day, on the work you already do, for £70 a month. Your first module is free, so you can see the teaching before you pay for any of it. Billed monthly, cancel any time and billing stops.
Earned on your own work, taught to the top.
Everything you just read, learned one-to-one on the job you already do. Your first module is free, so you can see the teaching before you pay for any of it.
Build my plan, freeNo card. See how this qualification maps onto your role and meet the tutors who’d teach it, free. The learning begins when you subscribe. It’s £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.