Drama and Performance BA (Hons)

University of Portsmouth

Overview Do you love drama and creating experiences for live audiences? Are you fascinated by how performances are created and how they relate to what's happening in society?

On this BA (Hons) Drama and Performance degree course, you'll study all forms of drama. You'll write, direct and perform physical theatre, fringe productions and promenade performances. And you'll examine drama's impact on society and culture, today and in the past.

In year 2, you'll choose modules that match your interests and career aspirations. Specialist areas you can study include puppetry and musical theatre. You can also learn how to form a theatre company and create performances for younger audiences.

You'll get plenty of chances to apply your writing, acting, directing and production skills in public performances and opportunities to use your skills in the industry on short-term placements and an optional year-long sandwich year.

Come to Portsmouth to study the subject you love, and gain the practical skills you need to turn your degree into a career.

What you'll experience On this Drama and Performance degree course, you'll:

• Study the history of theatre and drama, and apply what you learn to productions of your own

• Hone your acting skills, with workshops and projects to help you develop your performances

• Learn about technical theatre, including lights, sound, scenography, set, direction, and stage management

• Practise your skills in a black box theatre and modern facilities, kitted out with studios, lighting rigs, video and music suites and scene shop (for constructing set pieces)

• Take part in a variety of productions, including physical theatre, fringe theatre, applied theatre and promenade performance

• Be taught and inspired by internationally recognised teaching staff and benefit from their expertise and experience in the industry

• Have the chance to take part in teaching staff professional projects – students have previously performed in productions at the Brighton Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe and Portsmouth Guildhall

• Get valuable input from local theatre professionals as you create your own theatre company

• Have insight from guest speakers about their experiences in the world of theatre production

• Learn transferable skills you can apply to all parts of your life and career in areas such as event planning, public speaking, proposal writing and critical thinking

Careers and opportunities The skills and experience you gain on this course will set you up for a career in all areas of the drama and performing arts industry, whether you want to be on stage or behind the scenes. And because the art of performing is embedded in daily life – from business negotiations to people's behaviour in the workplace to marketing communications – you can also apply the skills you learn in roles in other industries. Previous graduates have secured roles at prestigious theatre companies including the Barbican, Chichester Festival Theatre and Marlowe Theatre and performed at events including the Edinburgh Fringe and Brighton Fringe. Typical roles graduates go onto after the course include:

• Actor

• Director

• Playwright

• Stage manager

• Theatre manager

• Arts administrator

• Producer

• Drama teacher (with further training)

• Event manager

Previous graduates have also used the entrepreneurial skills they've developed to form their own event companies.