Contemporary and Popular Performance

This course gives you the physical, critical and authorship skills to create performances that are relevant to our time.

While studying Contemporary and Popular Performance, students become versatile performers who can make their own work and own their own stage, training in skills and exploring techniques from physical theatre, live art, experimental performance, cabaret, clowning, stand-up comedy, circus skills, immersive theatre, drag, spoken word, burlesque, stage magic and festivals.

Students benefit from the opportunity to undertake industry placements with partners who may include organisations such as Glastonbury Festival, Duckie and Punchdrunk. You’ll also network with professional practitioners and learn a wide range of practical skills that will serve you in your practice, such as performing skills, event management, producing, fundraising and collaboration.

As well as benefitting from our world-leading facilities at our Sidcup campus, students will be based at Tramshed, a comedy and theatre venue and community arts hub based in Woolwich, immersing you in the industry in the heart of London while you train.

Graduates will be ready to go on to write, perform, produce or manage within the growing performance, experimental theatre, new cabaret, contemporary circus, festival, immersive and live event culture in the UK. You may also explore a career in broadcast media and live culture; from radio, online, film or television.

If you love a variety of genres circus, theatre, cabaret, comedy and solo work - Contemporary and Popular Performance will allow you to explore it all.

“Contemporary and Popular Performance One of the reasons I choose the course was because of how well connected to the performance industry it is. I’ve been able to see and meet so many amazing companies and artists, even during my first year! I feel very confident that I will find my place in the industry when I’ve graduated.” Gabrielle, Contemporary and Popular Performance student

You may also be interested in: European Theatre Arts BA (Hons) Theatre and Social Change BA (Hons)