Applied and Contemporary Theatre

Why choose this course
Our BA (Hons) Applied and Contemporary Theatre course is designed to train theatre makers of the future, who aspire to use theatre to build communities and influence social change. Applied theatre utilises drama to discover, learn and share the issues and themes that concern communities and spotlight social inequalities. This course engages with contemporary politics and not only asks how can we make theatre but also why we make theatre and what is it that we want to say through performance.

We are ranked 3rd in the UK for dance, drama and cinematics in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024, and 5th in the UK for drama and dance in the Guardian University Guide 2024. We were shortlisted for University of the Year in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.

What you will study
On our BA (Hons) Applied and Contemporary Theatre course, you will be taught by industry-leading professionals and will join a vibrant community of talented performers, theatre makers, creative practitioners, stage managers and technicians. Students embark on a journey that will equip them to devise, produce and direct theatre, work creatively in a range of settings such as prisons, youth centres and care homes, build industry contacts and become the next generation of performance artists/activists and creative entrepreneurs. As well as studying core

skills in performing disciplines (voice, singing, movement, theatre making and music), course content includes but isn’t limited to:

Theatre for Social Change

Political Theatre

Contemporary Performance

Devised Theatre

Community Theatre

Theatre in education

Education and outreach programmes

Health and wellbeing organisations

Disability arts

Creative Ageing

Theatre studies

Collaborative large-scale ensemble performance in a traditional theatre setting

Professional development

Alongside their core studies, students are also offered opportunities to engage with the wider theatre sector. Field trips and visits from guest artists have previously included the Royal Albert Hall, London Bubble Theatre Company and theatre practitioner Indy Lee.

In Year Two, students undertake work placements where they gain professional experience within several innovative theatre/arts organisations. There is also a further optional Professional Training year between the second and final year of study. Work placement hosts have included but are not limited to Chickenshed, Peer Productions, Burnt Orange Theatre, Guildford Shakespeare Company, Boundless Theatre, New Victoria Theatre and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.