Discover our amazing music and performing arts facilities

At HCA we encourage the exploration of traditional practices alongside innovative techniques. This core value is echoed by the variety and accessibility of our theatres, studios, media suites, and extensive resources, college-wide.
No matter what course you’re on, all our students have access to all HCA resources. So whether you’re a musician, actor, or artist you’ll find yourselves in a range of facilities while studying with us.
Technical Demonstrators
Whether you are rehearsing for a performance, recording sound, editing a film, animating, making jewellery or many of the other processes possible at HCA; our technical demonstrators are on hand to help and guide you.
They are all experts in their fields and play a crucial role in your practical learning at HCA. All of our technical demonstrators are active designers, makers or performers in their own right. Sharing their passion for their disciplines with our students, and are equally passionate about passing on their knowledge and expertise.
With their help, you will be introduced to new processes and skills giving you the confidence to use a range of specialist tools, techniques, and practices in order to make your ideas come to life. Find out more about our dedicated team by exploring our staff pages.
I love those magic moments when you see a student realising I’ve got this.”
– Ian Berrill, Senior Technical Demonstrator
The technical staff are amazing, nothing is ever too much trouble, they are always patient, knowledgeable and friendly”
– Quote from internal HCA Survey
Dance Studio
Our large, purpose-built, fully equipped dance studio has sprung wooden floors, air conditioning and features full-length mirrors for analysing posture and movement. This contemporary space is a comfortable place for exercise, choreography, and rehearsal, guided by our specialist tutors and guest lectures.
The double mirrored walls and ballet barres along with access to visual and audio prompt facilities give you a perfect platform to enhance your dance and movement skills for live and recorded performances.
Take a look at the space here.
Theatres
With a theatre at each of our campuses, these versatile performance spaces allow you to create diverse and challenging work in a range of performance styles whilst using industry-standard technologies. Featuring modular staging, a full lighting rig and a PA system, plus cinema-quality digital projection. With optional raked seating for nearly 100 people, they can be arranged in a variety of different audience configurations making them ideal for gigs, performances, lectures, film, theatre, dance and screenings.
These venues host student productions throughout the year and are also used by a range of regional theatre companies and performers for bespoke work with our students as well as public performances.
Take a look at the Folly Lane theatre here.
Recording Studio
Our Professional level recording studio runs the latest Apple Mac Pro and Logic Pro Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and allows our students to record high-quality tracks, utilising a connected sound booth and control room. The mix of both digital, and analogue music mixing and processing technologies, will enable you to create a range of desired sounds. Whether you’re a musician or producer this recourse allows you to learn the tools of the trade and build your skills.
Take a look here.
Live Music Room
This sound-proofed space is fully kitted out with a DW drum kit, top quality Zildjian cymbals, Fender, Marshal and Black Star amps, Korg RD800 stage keyboard together with a quality PA system, and LED lighting rig. The Live music room is also large enough to fit a 10-piece band and audience members for ‘live lounge’ style performances.
Sound Editing Suite
This highly specialised workspace allows you to explore a range of equipment for creating and editing sound. You can make your own music using Sibelius, Foley sound effects, or various sound manipulation tools using Logic Pro. Our team of experienced technical demonstrators will assist you in the production of professional-quality music and sound.
Media Store
No matter which branch of the creative industry you are part of at HCA it’s essential to get hands-on experience with the professional kit required for each project. Alongside the computers and hardware found in our workshops and Digital Arts Center, we allow you to borrow a range of cameras, drawing tablets, music equipment, and more, to get the most out of our course.
- A large choice of guitars, keyboards, decks, drums and electronic instruments.
- Laptops, audio interfaces, midi controllers, hard drives andaccessories.
- SLR/DSLR cameras 35mm cameras, tripods and lenses.
- Blackmagic cine camera and HD video cameras.
- Location recording equipment (including track, dolly etc).
- Projectors, video mixers, Super 8.
Rehearsal Spaces
Sing, play and collaborate in the range of rehearsal spaces that can be found across our campuses. From the large open Cathedral space to intimate practice rooms there is a space to suit all needs.
With the majority of these spaces being open-access, students can gather and practice throughout the term, managing their own timetables around scheduled lectures and tutorials.