Drama and Theatre Studies degree

BA Drama and Theatre Studies degree - (W400) 3 years

In studying the Drama and Theatre Studies Degree you'll engage with key industry partners that include BBC, S4C, Avid, The Arts Council for wales amongst others.

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A Drama Degree student's opinion

Video Transcript

The Drama & Theatre Studies degree has been carefully designed to ensure a balance of academic and practical experience and a steady development of intellectual, performative and technical skills for our students. In the first year of your Drama and Theatre Studies degree, you study a number of introductory modules, combining textual analysis and theatre history, as well as the skills of practical work - design, technical aspects and performance, taught in collaboration with the Scenography and Theatre Design degree scheme. Graduates of this Drama and Theatre Studies degree gain broad experience of different aspect of Drama and Theatre and have moved on to exciting areas of engagement in both professional and amateur theatre.

Your second year of the Drama and Theatre Studies degree takes a closer look at the theatrical event, starting with a core of analytical modules combining textual and performance analysis, such as Theatre in Society and European Drama. You then select from a series of modules which explore theatre design and production, including acting, directing, lighting, sound, set and costume design.

The third year of the Drama and Theatre Studies degree begins with an intensive semester of practical work, where analytical and practical skills are brought together and tested creatively through full-scale production work. This experience informs and greatly enhances your approach to specialist optional modules, such as Theatre in Education, Shakespeare for Schools, Creative Writing for the Stage, Contemporary British and Irish Drama, Theatre and Gender, Asian Theatre, etc.

Detailed Course Structure

Drama and Theatre Studies degree Facilities

We offer excellent facilities for practical work, including four well-equipped theatre spaces, seating approximately 100 people each. We also present major performances at Aberystwyth Arts Centre. There are several rehearsal rooms in constant use, and the University's lecture theatres provide sophisticated audio-visual and aural resources for performance-related modules, including video and computer graphics projection.

Drama and Theatre Studies degree Teaching Methods

From the first year of the Drama and Theatre Studies degree you are introduced to a complementary set of teaching and learning methods and approaches. These range from formal lectures to technical demonstrations, from writing workshops to group-devised project work. This diversity of activity is an essential part of the Department's philosophy, and creates a uniquely exciting and productive learning environment.

The overall aim of our Drama and Theatre Studies degree is to integrate practical and academic work, allowing one form of study to stimulate and enrich the other. This combination provides ample opportunities for you to develop a dynamic approach to theatre and performance, and articulate your understanding of the medium physically, intellectually and experientially. A number of modules are taught in conjunction with guest professional theatre practitioners. The Department also benefits from co-operating with professional directors and designers working at the main University theatre and from our links with the Aberystwyth-based Centre for Performance Research, which hosts practitioners and academics of international repute. As a student you also have the opportunity to take part in the University's scheme for study abroad or to take a year in employment.

Drama and Theatre Studies degree Assessment

Life as a Drama and Theatre Studies degree student is busy. All students participate in major public performances, as well as in smaller projects, and the requirements of these activities, combined with the demands of academic work, are considerable. However, studying in the Department will give you plenty of experience in combining creative and critical academic work. As a student of Theatre Studies, you are assessed through group projects, seminar presentations and creative notebooks as well as through formal essays, examinations and productions.

Drama and Theatre Studies degree Career Opportunities 

Over 400 past students now hold full Equity cards and work in theatre, television or both. Through our system of pastoral care, we are committed to providing you with an informative and challenging view of your career development and to encouraging you to recognize the diversity of skills that you can present to a potential employer. The Department seeks to ensure that you acquire many useful interpersonal and transferable skills which are vital in today's fluid job market. Many of our students also go on to follow careers in teaching, public relations, personnel, management and community work.

Drama and Theatre Studies is available with:
BA
Education - WX43
English Literature - QW34
Film & Television Studies - WW64
Film & Television Studies - WWP4*
French - RW14
German - RW24
History - WV41
History - WVK1*
Information & Library Studies - PW14
Irish - QW5L
Irish - QWM4*
Mathematics - GW14
Politics - LWFK
Scenographic Studies - W432
Spanish - RW44
Welsh History - VW24*
Welsh History - VWF4
Welsh/Cymraeg - QW54*
* = Welsh Medium Courses

Ann-Marie Clancy BA Drama
County Wexford, Ireland

“I chose to study at Aberystwyth as the opportunities for studying Drama as a single subject are better than the universities and colleges in Ireland. It was very easy to settle in here, and there is plenty of help available here if and when you need it. I like Aberystwyth because it's small and has an intimate community. It's a lovely town to live in. I came here on an Open Day a few months before I started here, I had already received my place in the University but the weekend I spent here before starting my studies really helped as it introduced me to the town and campus. The Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies here is very good and it provides some great opportunities. If you don't want to concentrate on just drama, there are many routes to take in the way of radio and television too. The libraries, computers, lecture theatres and general academic facilities here are excellent. What I like best about studying at Aberystwyth is the great choice of courses and modules that are available here, and the students and staff are friendly. The social life here is very good, there's great night life and it's cheap! I have already recommended to others that they come here to study, and I will keep on doing so!