The BA (Hons) Drama degree provides students with an understanding of the histories, practices, contexts and theories of drama, theatre and performance. This is balanced and supported by practical explorations, the acquisition of a range of performance techniques and the creation of live performance events. An engagement with the processes and practices of theatre making features as an important and integral part of our curriculum, and develops students as confident, versatile and exciting practitioners.
To support this, we offer an exciting and stimulating environment for drama students. Our outstanding facilities include two dedicated Drama Centres, complete with a flexible black-box performance space, and the Mumford Theatre, a full-size receiving house for professional touring companies. Plus there are countless opportunities to engage in performance locally.
The Department regularly stages theatrical works, involving students in both on- and off-stage roles. In recent years these have included staging works by a wide range of playwrights, from William Shakespeare, to Caryl Churchill, Howard Barker and Sarah Kane. Students engage with devising performance works and these have been staged at The Junction in Cambridge, a professional performance venue. You can also get involved in the Anglia Theatre Society, a student-led theatre group that regularly stages plays in and around Cambridge. Recently, students have directed, produced and performed in plays by Oscar Wilde, Terry Pratchett and Philip Ridley. Drama students also take part in Cambridge University?s theatre productions, utilising the city?s ADC Theatre, and have successfully auditioned to participate in professional theatre pieces at The Junction.
The chance to develop your creative skills in a professional, yet friendly, atmosphere is sure to make this a challenging and hugely rewarding experience.
When you graduate you will be able to:
display a thorough understanding of the key components of performance and how it is created
display significant skills in the areas of production, design and rehearsal
demonstrate an understanding of performance techniques, structures and working methods.
This course provides an excellent opportunity not just to explore the practice and theory of performance, but also to get close to the realities of performance and its creation in the twenty-first century. Extensive use of the outstanding facilities means that when you graduate you are sure to have many of the skills valued by employers within the industry.
Module guide
Course content will vary depending on the choice of available options. As a guide, modules might include:
Year one
Approaches to Contemporary Theatre
Introduction to Performance
Technical Theatre
Performance Study (Drama)
Studio Performance
Performance Analysis
Year two
Dramatic Performance
Text and Performance
Drama in Theory and Practice
Gender and Performance
Performance Laboratory
20th Century Directors and Directing
Live Art and Performance
Shakespeare and his Contemporaries
TV Drama Production
Writing Drama
Year three
Major Project
Devising Performance
Enterprise in the Creative Arts
Contemporary Drama
Art, Music and Performance
Special Subject
Reviewing New Drama
Arts Administration
Principles of Dramatherapy
200 - 240 at A Level or equivalent. Required subject(s): A Level Drama, Theatre Studies or cognate subject area at grade B For an explanation of qualifications, have a look at our IAG page on this site www.creativeway.org.uk/quals.
A Progression Agreement is a formal arrangement between two or more
education providers. It spells out what a learner needs to do to be
considered for a place on a named programme of study. Progression Agreements
may vary in the conditions they specify but they all aim to give guaranteed
pathways into higher education.
Advice on courses and careers:-
The Creative Way IAG team provides a specialist service for anyone
interested in finding out about courses and careers in the creative and
cultural industries. We can provide information direct to Students,
Parents/ Carers, Tutors and Careers Advisers via email, phone or organised
workshops and 1 to 1 sessions.
To find out more, visit our IAG page on this site on
http://www.creativeway.org.uk/IAG Or contact one of our career advisers: Matt Ball 07889 001764
m.ball@uel.ac.uk or Sarah
Comerford 07515 051509
s.comerford@uel.ac.uk