Drama, Applied Theatre and Performance BA (Hons)

Course summary

Our BA (Hons.) Drama, Applied Theatre and Performance is an innovative degree programme that combines a commitment to socially-engaged performance practice with contemporary theatre as well as the processes of making performance for and with specific audiences. We offer exceptional opportunities for work-based learning through our network of leading industry partners. Our practice-based curriculum enables our students to thrive as creative performance-makers and applied theatre practitioners.

On our programme you will gain high level skills in facilitation, devising, performance and production enabling you to act across disciplinary fields of cultural work. You also develop strong academic foundations that equip you to question, analyse and understand the cultural and ethical contexts you work in. We are passionate about your creativity and imaginative potential of our students and their ability to transform the cultural landscape of the future.

‘Applied Theatre’ uses drama and performance to connect with communities that may have been marginalised. It devises theatre with, for and by its audience enabling participation and opening up the arts to the entire communities. Examples of practice include theatre in prisons, in schools, and in hospitals, as well as with specific groups such as the homeless, older people, or disabled people. Right from the outset of the degree you will be making performances and workshops in real social contexts touring your work to reach new audiences and build your facilitation skills.

Some of our industry partners include the Royal Court Theatre, Young Vic Theatre, Gideon Reeling, Creative Access, Kingsford Community School, School 21, Duckie, Access All Areas, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Stratford Circus, Clean Break, Brolly Prods, ZU UK, Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, Outside Edge Theatre, London Bubble, Unicorn Theatre, Hackney Pirates, M-SET and Magic Me.

We have a thriving Study Abroad programme whereby students apply to spend a term in their second year at Columbia College, Chicago. The University’s Going Global programme funds shorter trips abroad for students to take part in training, undertake research participate in workshops, or visit theatre projects world-wide.

How you'll learn

Connecting with the local community is at the heart of our course. Enriched by our position in the cultural hub of East London, you’ll have opportunities to be involved in a range of work-related projects.

You will take up a work placement in a community, arts or educational setting and benefit from our links with professional partners such as the Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, Creative Access, Stratford Circus, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Clean Break, Unicorn Theatre for Children.

Career

Graduates who have studied on our BA (Hons) Drama, Applied Theatre and Performance here at UEL have gained jobs in a wide variety of areas as teachers, actors and performance artists, arts administrators, theatre practitioners and facilitators, directors and also those students who use their performing arts skills in applied settings, such as hospitals and prisons. We also have a number of students each year who go onto postgraduate studies. We always keep in touch with our graduates and support them as they develop their next step and careers. Many students here have discovered that this is a course that gives you the ambition and confidence to successfully manage your career. Some examples of our graduate’s careers reflect the breadth and depth of the degree: Produced Playwrights, Artistic Director of Jigsaw Performing Arts, Drama Facilitator for London Bubble and LIFT, Associate of Playback Theatre Company, Drama and Special Educational Needs Teachers, Creative Workers at a Children’s Hospice,