Drama and Theatre Studies

BA (Hons) Single

We want you to understand and appreciate the diverse nature of drama and theatre studies, from theatre and studio-based work to site specific performance, live art and installation.

Campus Chester
Course BA (Hons) Single
Length 3 Years Full-time
Start date September 2012

We encourage you to develop a skill base to integrate live performance and technology, to work collaboratively and to deadline. This is a course that challenges your perceptions of what might be considered performance.

In order to achieve this you will have to engage with the work of theorists and practitioners from around the world, and learn lessons from the past to make your own career future. We want you to become a confident and professional practitioner.

At Chester we stress the value of practical work; we give students the time to explore practically the terms and concepts that they will be hearing about in more formal classes. Our degree will allow you to engage in the practice of drama and theorise about what it is you are doing, which promotes a broader understanding of performance.

We encourage students to look beyond the confines of 'conventional theatre' and extend their study to an examination of the 'human performance'.


Features:

All the Drama and Theatre Studies lecturers at Chester continue to practise either as professional performers in a variety of contexts, or as scholars and researchers. Some do both!

Our resident graduate companies, 2engage and the newly formed Performing Pathways, enhance the student experience by working alongside us, and providing expertise in performance management, educational and applied drama.

We have overseas links with theatre departments in Finland and Japan, links with SOS Children's Villages in Malawi and a tradition of field trips to eastern Europe (Educational Drama Association of Romania, the Pedagogical Drama Association of Hungary).

Drama and Theatre Studies share an arts-based site with Dance, Popular Music, Fine Art, Photography, Graphic Design and Journalism. This provides a unique opportunity for working with others across the arts.

Drama and Theatre Studies is taught in four large and well equipped performance spaces. We also boast video and sound editing suites with 25 iMACs per lab.

Next: Modules

Programme Structure:

 

Level 4 (Year 1)

Work is concerned with establishing a basic theoretical vocabulary and practical skills in the areas of creating and re-creating theatre and new media technologies, as well as computer aided design.

Students take the following modules:

  • Introduction to Drama and Theatre Studies (core)
  • Introduction to Digital Performance (core)
  • Performance Histories (core)
  • Devised Performance (core)

 

 

Level 5 (Year 2)

The prevailing focus is the idea of theory into practice and professional practice. Projects in the past have included Prison Theatre, Educational Drama, Performance Art and Installations. Towards the end of the second year students may engage in a production or engage with work based learning.

Students can take the following modules:

  • Theoretical Study (core)
  • Practical Study (core)
  • Applied Practices (option)
  • Interpretation: performing through text (option)
  • Unfamiliar Territories: site responsive practice (option)
  • Interactive Digital Performance (option)
  • Performance Practice (option)

 

Level 6 (Year 3)

Final year students are given the opportunity to take greater responsibility for the direction and style of their learning. Combined honours students may choose the weighting between their two subjects and construct their own programme reflecting their individual interests from the following modules:

  • Advanced Theoretical Study (core)
  • Dissertation (option)
  • Developing Professional Practice (option)
  • Production (option)
  • Negotiated Study (option)
  • Advanced Practical Study (option)
  • Liquid Space: the intermedia ensemble (option)
Next: Assessment

Assessment combines both practical presentations and performances, and associated oral assessments in which students are invited to discuss their work with the examiners.

Written assessment takes the form of traditional academic essays rather than unseen examinations, assessment also includes report writing and reflective journals.

Next: Careers

Graduates have gone onto work as event managers, theatre in education workers, performers, teachers, lecturers, youth arts administrators, directors and workshop leaders.

Our communications work is valued in a range of professions and we have had students go on to join the Police and other services. Several students every year opt for postgraduate study ranging from MA to PhD.

Next: Entry requirements

Drama and Theatre Studies (Single Honours)

 

UCAS points: A minimum of 260 - 300 UCAS points from GCE A Levels, including a grade C in one of the subjects recommended by the department
GCE A Level: The department recommends one of the following subjects:
Drama, Drama & Theatre Studies, Performing Arts, Performance Studies, Theatre Studies
BTEC: BTEC National Diploma/Certificate (Performing Arts): merit/distinction profile
Irish/Scottish Highers: B in 4 subjects
International Baccalaureate: 28 points, including 4 in Theatre Arts
QAA: QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma, Open College Units or Open University Credits
OCR: OCR National Extended/Diploma: merit profile plus one of the GCE A level subjects listed above
Extra Information:

 

The Advanced Diploma: acceptable in combination with one of the GCE A Level subjects listed above

Welsh Baccalaureate (core) will be recognised in our tariff offer 

(Some applicants may be required to attend an audition, before an offer of a place can be made)

 

 

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Beginning: Overview

Useful links

Who to contact

  • For admission enquiries

    Undergraduate Admissions

    University of Chester

    Parkgate Road

    Chester

    CH1 4BJ

    T:
    01244 512175
    enquiries@chester.ac.uk

  • For enquiries about course content

    Ms Jane Loudon, Programme Leader
    T:
    01244 515733
    j.loudon@chester.ac.uk