BA Single Honours Drama/BA Combined Honours Drama & Theatre Studies
Why engage in Drama & Theatre Studies at Hope?
- The Cornerstone has outstanding drama facilities, including two new highly equipped theatres which are used for teaching and student performances.
- The Creative Campus h as fine Drama facilities, including three well-equipped studio theatres, which are used for teaching and student performances.
- Theatre visits are an important part of the programme.• Opportunities are available to work with Visiting Professor John Godber, and Writer-in-Residence, Lizzie Nunnery.
- We have a tradition of involvement with the local, national and international drama and cultural scene.
- Participation in the annual Cornerstone Festival – this celebration of the performing arts includes performances from established practitioners as well as showcasing Hope students’ work.
- Participation in a range of community theatre activities.
What will I study?
Please note that these programmes are undergoing review, and that the information below refers to current provision. Your programme of study will be broadly similar to that outlined here, but the Department is committed to updating and improving its courses, and some changes in structure and content may be made.
Level 1
The core course, Explorations in Theatre, introduces students to Drama through four key topics: What is Theatre?; Making Meaning; From the Page to the Stage; and Production Processes. Single Honours students also take Practice in Drama, a course that focuses on practical skills in workshop leading, physical theatre, technical theatre and text-based performance.
Level 2
All Level 2 students take the core course, Theatre Praxis, which deepens knowledge and critical understanding of key practitioners and genres which have influenced 20th and 21st century theatre. Combined Honours students will also choose one of the following courses:
- Performance Skills
- Devising Theatre
- Technical Theatre
- Community and Applied Theatre
Single Honours students take two compulsory courses. In Theatre Production students work under tutor direction to create a major public performance and in Research in Drama & Theatre engage with research and academic writing. Single Honours students also select one optional course.
Level 3
Combined Honours students have no compulsory courses at Level 3. Depending on whether you are studying Drama & Theatre Studies as a Dual, Major or Single subject, you will select up to 120 credits.
How will I study?
Drama at Hope incorporates theory and practice, and all modules have practical and written components, their weighting depending on whether they are more practicebased (such as Technical Theatre) or traditional (such as Theatre History). Teaching methods include lectures, seminars and workshops, as well as rehearsals which will be minuted for your tutor’s reference.
- Directing*
- Advanced Technical Theatre
- Documentary Theatre
- Independent Professional Practice
- Popular and Mainstream Contemporary British Theatre
- Shakespeare Practically
- Advanced Community and Applied Theatre
- Solo Performance Practice*
- Contemporary Irish Theatre
- Dissertation
Admission to courses marked* is subject to high achievement at Levels 1 and 2, and an interview.
Single Honours students take two compulsory courses, Independent Practice in Drama, in which students develop their own form of drama practice, and Dissertation. Two optional courses complete the programme at this level.
How will I study? Drama at Hope incorporates theory and practice, and all courses have practical and written components, their weighting depending on whether the content is more practice-based (such as Technical Theatre) or traditional Theatre Studies (such as Theatre History). Teaching methods include lectures, seminars and workshops, as well as rehearsals which are minuted for your tutor’s reference. Strong support is given to your study needs. As well as close liaison with your tutors, Hope has a wide variety of resources including The Sheppard-Worlock Library and Hope’s Virtual Learning Environment.
How will I be assessed?
We use a variety of methods to assess your learning, depending on whether the course is practical or text-based. Forms of assessment include essays, reports, performances and practical work, vivas and presentations. Some courses include seen class tests.
Specialist resources The Cornerstone has fine Drama spaces technically equipped to a high professional standard, alongside studios for Dance, Music (including Music Technology) and Art. TV, radio, video, film and digital photography facilities are also available at at Hope Park. What do our graduates do?
Hope’s Drama students have an exceptionally high rate of employment following graduation. Some, such as playwright Willy Russell, have illustrious careers in the theatre and many remain directly within the arts, working as actors or directors in their own companies, or as administrators. Teaching is a popular career for Drama graduates. There are opportunities for students to continue with their studies, including Hope’s MA by Creative Practice, and our new MA in Contemporary Popular Theatres.
