Theatre BA Honours

In year one, alongside other performing arts students in dance and music, you will discover the essential foundations of making theatre and performance, with introductory modules in performance skills and practices. You'll go on theatre trips to experience the performing arts in different forms, and you'll take part in a festival of performing arts.

Through this module you will develop a range of introductory skills, techniques and theories relevant to your discipline. Practical workshops will allow you to test and explore these tools in practice, and you will be facilitated to consider the individual ‘toolkit’ you plan to build throughout your degree programme. You will also develop your ability to describe and discuss approaches to performance (and related disciplines) using technical vocabulary.

This module introduces you to a range of collaborative approaches to creative practice in the performing arts. You will consider ways in which material might be generated and developed, and you will examine the processes by which this work takes place. You will also develop your awareness of the interdisciplinary nature of the performing arts and consider ways in which performance is supported and extended by other disciplines. 

This module examines the role of the performing arts within our wider culture and society. Through a mix of discussion, trips, screenings and critical readings, we will explore the definition and function of the performing arts as both makers and audiences, and you will be facilitated to develop your critical, analytical and reflective skills. You will develop your confidence as an independent and critical audience member and explore ways of articulating your insights.

This module puts into practice the skills and knowledge you have encountered throughout your first year through the development and realisation of a collaborative performance project. You will consolidate your understanding of practical performance-making methods and processes, gain experience of participating in a live performance in the presence of an audience and develop your ability to reflect on your individual and collective practice.

In year two, you will deepen your knowledge of theatre practice by exploring specific disciplines of acting, directing, writing and designing. You will experiment with various forms of theatre-making, including written texts and in-rehearsal devising. You will begin to encounter professional contexts, like developing ideas from a brief and working with a professional director and/or theatre company to create a large-scale production.

Training in physical and vocal techniques for acting and performance. Working with performers as a director. 

Through this module you will extend your knowledge of acting and directing in a range of contexts, including contemporary and classical texts. You will develop skills in textual analysis, characterisation, physicality, verse speaking, movement and voice, and you will engage with a range of acting and performing systems, including training of voice and body. You will also study the choices open to the director and the collaborative relationship between actor and director in a live rehearsal process, culminating in the presentation of a detailed scene study where you will have the option to specialise in acting or directing. 

Development, research and drafting of a performance text as a writer, dramaturg and theatre-maker.

In this module you will develop your understanding and skill in researching and developing textual approaches to theatre-making. You will gain a comprehension of the relationship between structure, dialogue, affect and meaning in theatre plays/scripts. You will become aware of the variety of forms and modes of theatre texts. You will explore approaches to playwriting and what is involved in the development play texts from a range of disciplines.

Devising performance from a design-perspective with a collaborative team.

This module enhances your practice as a performer, designer and theatre-maker. It introduces you to significant developments in current theatre design (scenography) through practice and experimentation. You will learn to conduct effective research into devising and design practices to generate, develop and communicate to an audience. And you will apply scenographic, dramaturgical and creative skills by devising throughout rehearsal development and realising a production.

Theatre-making in a professional context with guest director or company to make a fully realised public-facing production.

This module is an opportunity to collaborate with professional theatre makers in the creation of an original performance work. You will explore practical approaches to producing and rehearsing, and develop a range of creative, collaborative and organisational strategies. You will also examine the various roles that theatre companies, collectives and organisations play in the wider cultural ecology and consider the relevant contexts and skills for professional practice.

In year three, you will refine and advance your skills in your chosen disciplines (acting, design, directing, writing and more). You will learn advanced theatre practices, such as stand-up comedy, immersive theatre, cabaret, or verbatim theatre. The final year will prepare you to enter the industry by learning a range of employability skills, such as freelancing and marketing. Your degree culminates in a theatre festival of original graduate work to be presented in a small-scale tour of London.

Advanced skills and critical approaches to acting, design and directing.

Focusing on the interrelationship between the core disciplines of acting, design and directing, this Year 3 module will extend and refine your skills and techniques in an area of practice relevant to your specialism. You will engage in advanced practical study, developing your individual approach to studio practice and applying this to small-scale project work. You will also broaden your contextual understanding of your discipline, encountering critical theories and case studies which will help you to articulate your practice in an increasingly professional and industry-facing context.

Deeper dive into specialist theatre and performance-making practices. Will adapt to interests of cohort.

This module broadens your creative practice by introducing you to a range of specialist forms and practices in writing, performance and design-related fields, e.g. monologues and sketches, solo and comic performance, puppetry, multi-media, immersive, interactive etc. You will engage in a Research Development project, applying skills taught in the workshop strand to an independent project and examining the purpose and function of R and D as part of your wider creative practice. The module culminates in a scratch showcase, where work-in-progress will be presented to a public audience.

Employability skills and contexts, including placement with an arts organisation or a professional case study.

This module prepares you for a career in the theatre and wider creative industries by enabling you to develop skills and practices at an appropriate professional level for the workplace. It prepares you for possible future career paths in such fields as acting, performing, writing, designing, producing, stage managing, technical theatre, directing, teaching and many more. 

It aims to develop your knowledge of professional skills and theories around areas such as producing, fundraising, artistic policies and audience development as well as refining and diversifying methodologies, attitudes and competencies for seeking and undertaking work in a professional context(s) that you identify in agreement with your supervisor. 

You will be encouraged to establish professional links and enhance onward employability potential through a practice-led understanding of your chosen professional context(s) and contextualise your own creative practice/identity within a wider industry context.

Collaborative theatre project for an external festival/touring context.

You will produce the Theatre Festival as an outward-facing public showcase, encouraging you to consider your work in a professional context and apply the practical making skills taught in other modules, alongside the producing skills taught in this module. You will synthesise and apply professional production processes throughout the programme with emphasis on your autonomy and responsibility for the work created. 

The module aims to consolidate your knowledge and skills as performance makers and critical thinkers, enabling you to embed reflection and critical enquiry within your own practice, personal development and career pathways.  

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team who have a wide range of expertise and professional experience. The team includes academics, professional practitioners, and technical staff.  

Your learning experience will be enriched through practical workshops, rehearsals, seminars and various engagements with the professional theatre sector. All modules are structured around small practice and seminar groups of 12–15 students, where you'll develop a comprehensive skill set in various aspects of theatre, such as acting, design, writing, and production management. 

The practical workshops and rehearsals foreground the development of skills that are key to the art of performing and theatre-making in the wider sense. Engaging sessions and seminars support your development as a theatre practitioner by offering contextual knowledge and developing your critical skills.  

Throughout your course, you'll also have access to resources to support your learning, including a fully equipped 'black box' theatre and four studio theatres, rehearsal rooms, costume, lighting, sound, and projection facilities, design and construction workshops, recording and TV studios, as well as support from dedicated technical staff. 

For one-to-one support, you will meet with either your personal tutor or module leader. We will also share our library of online resources. 

You will be studying at our north London campus in Hendon.

During your first year, your weekly timetable will typically consist of:

• 8 hours of practical workshops/rehearsals
• 4 hours of performance/technical skills classes or 4 hours of seminars
• 2-4 hours of independent rehearsals/project work.

Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study. Through most of the term, you will only need to be on-campus for classes 3 days per week but as you get closer to assessments, you will put in more time for rehearsals and performances. 
 

We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through self-study which will involve independent rehearsals, reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments. 

Here is an indication of how you will split your time:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Our excellent teaching and support teams will help you develop the skills relevant to your degree from research and practical skills to critical thinking. Our Sheppard Library is open 24 hours a day during term time. And we offer free 24-hour laptop loans with full desktop software, free printing and Wi-Fi to use on or off campus, even over the weekend.

BA Theatre is 100% coursework assessed, made up of a combination of live performance and production work, portfolios, reflective and academic writing, presentations and interviews.  

Coursework usually breaks down to roughly 75% practice and 25% documentation. 

You'll be observed in classes, rehearsals and performances, as well as through your documentation, written submissions and discussions. This is a two-way discussion, between you and your tutor(s) and in some modules an interview/discussion may form part of the assessment task or activity. 

We'll test your understanding and progress with informal and formal assessment methods.

You’ll undergo formative assessments at least once in each module, where you’ll get valuable feedback from your tutor, either verbally or in writing. These assessments, designed to enhance your learning, may involve tasks such as production and rehearsal activities, workshop presentations, and various writing assignments, including workbooks, practice journals, blogs, essay drafts, and reflective research papers.
 
Each module will have summative assessments, usually conducted towards at the end, which contribute to your final module marks. These evaluations are primarily practice-based and may consist of performances, production tasks, written academic work (such as playscripts, critical analyses, and reflective portfolios), as well as reflective spoken interviews or discussions. 

To help you achieve the best results, we will provide regular feedback.