Drama and Performance (Practice as Research)

Undertaking PhD study gives you the opportunity to engage with an area of drama, theatre, or performance in depth and at an advanced level. East 15 Acting School, with its growing research profile and internationally recognised research quality is an obvious home for such research.

At East 15, research degree students will undertake one of two paths of enquiry. The PhD in Drama and Performance is a conventional PhD whereby candidates are assessed via thesis and viva voce examination. For the PhD Drama and Performance (Practice as Research) course, candidates are assessed via practice as research, a thesis that contextualises and analyses the performance practice in relation to the research topic, and a viva voce examination. For guidance, areas of expected practice include: theatre directing, dramaturgy, actor training, design (scenery, sound, lighting, costume), and performance art.

As an internationally recognised drama conservatoire, East 15 promotes a variety of research methodologies including practice as research and practice-based research alongside more traditional outputs. Practice as research has a natural home within a conservatoire environment, where staff and postgraduate research benefits from engagement with industry specialists and professional practitioners.

PhD students will be based at our Southend campus or Loughton campus depending on the location of their supervisor. However, all PhD students will be able to access the available facilities at both Loughton and Southend.