Drama (Joint Honours)

Three years full-time or flexible part-time.

Drama is an experiential practice-led discipline in which students practically explore key aspects of theatre and performance practice styles, conventions, and theories across a wide range of historical and cultural backgrounds. We seek responses to the questions: What makes theatre alive, and what is the significance of performance in the wider society? You will experience different and exciting dimensions of these questions through group-devised ensemble work and tutor-led projects in which the emphasis is to maintain the inter-relation of practice and theory.

Students will develop and increase their repertoire of physical and performance skills. They will develop physical and vocal techniques for work in different styles of performance, for improvisation and for devising. They will also acquire skills relevant for textual interpretation and critical analysis. These skills will be developed through a combination of teaching strategies including theatre visits, lecture/seminars and workshops with visiting professionals. We are looking for gifted people with some experience of performance. This practical course will appeal to people wishing to pursue careers in different areas of the theatre and performance industries and related fields; in the arts, in community work, in education and in postgraduate studies. Applicants should be able to express themselves in practice and in writing underpinned by research.

Stage one

The first stage forms what we might term 'theatre foundations' which forms the basis for study in stages two and three. This first stage concentrates on developing key skills, both practical and academic, through four compulsory modules consisting of workshop-based, practice-led investigations of selected performance theories and lecture/seminar courses.

Stage two

The second stage builds on the ensemble work of the foundation year through increased speculation in chosen areas of interest whilst extending the depth of study and scope of practical work. Students are exposed to work of greater complexity and challenges requiring more creativity and imagination most especially in the compulsory modules, Specialist Study and Theories and Movements of Performance.   

Stage three

In the final stage, students will take the compulsory module, Adaptations, and participate in a compulsory intensive tutor-led investigative course, Theatre and Performance in Context. Students will form creative relationships with professionals in the performance and creative industries.  

• Five fully equipped drama studios and a large flexible performance space where diverse staging can be explored
  
• Practice intensive approach to the study of drama, theatre, and performance
• A wide variety of work with visiting professionals in the creative and performance industries
  
• Highly experienced and dynamic staff with professional experience in and of the creative industry
  
• Friendly and supportive atmosphere
• Links with professionals in performance and creative industries and with theatres, locally and nationally
• Opportunities for placements in the theatre industry and related areas and the forming of companies to work in applied theatre contexts

• Introduction to Theatre and Performance Theories and Practices
  
• Performance Technology
• Perspective in World Theatres
• Performance Skills: Improvisation, Voice, Body and Text
• Drama Specialist Study
• Actor and Text
• Writing for Performance
• Theories and Movements of Performance (Practice)
• Adaptations
  

For all enquiries about the course, please contact one of the following by email or by telephone:

• Course Leader - Victor Ukaegbu
• Field Chair - Rachel Ewu
• Foundation Year Tutor - Patrick Duggan

This course is assessed through practice and theory and uses a variety of methods, including performances, self and peer assessment, written work and continuous assessment.

The teaching methods used on the course are based on the inter-relation of practice and theory; workshop practice, lecture seminars, theatre visits, master-classes, productions, individual tutorials, specialist supervision, and visiting guest workshops/sessions. Practical workshops, individual tutorials, theatre visits and lecture seminars are common to all modules. The types and numbers of additional methods employed depend on the nature and content of modules.

Drama provides an excellent foundation for entry into the competitive professional and academic field of Drama. Our graduates have gone into a wide cross-section of careers; as performers, directors, stage managers, dramaturges and writers, theatre journalists, community arts administrators and practitioners, as well as teachers and lecturers in the discipline. The highly valued transferable skills gained from the course have enabled our graduates to go on to work outside the arts at managerial level, whilst some have gone on to postgraduate study. Students will have highly developed performance and academic skills and transferable skills for work in different fields. They will become incisive critics and confident presenters.    

There is presently no formal framework in the course to send students abroad but periodically, Drama plays host to Erasmus and American Studies exchange students who cite the range of modules and teaching methods as significant factors in their development of confidence and skills for presentation and communication.

Will there be many opportunities for me to perform and to develop skills in other areas of performance such as directing, writing, technology, stage-management, etc?

Yes

What is the balance between practice and theory?

There is in general a 60% practice to 40% theory split, but depending on the module, practice could be anything from 40% to 70% of a module.

Other than performing or making performances, will I be expected to know or study drama, theatre and performance theories?

Yes

Are there opportunities for me to engage in extra-curricular work with local amateur and professional theatre organisations outside and inside the University?

Yes

Do your students go on theatre visits and do you invite professional theatre companies, run master-classes or invite professionals to contribute to teaching?

Yes

Do your students go on professional placements?

Yes

Do students work in small groups or large groups?

Both

Do you award a single group grade for practical work?

Yes, but the effect of a group grade is usually mitigated by the presence of other items in a module assessment framework. There is usually a tutor mark and/or self and peer assessment element that help to differentiate individual grades. There are also other individual elements in the forms of coursework continuous assessment and individual written work amounting to between 40% and 60% of the overall module grade.

Do students have a choice about their practical work?