BA (Hons) Drama and Performance
Overview
The world is your stage
Whether you are working with professional directors as a member of our renowned Student Theatre Company; taking part in one of our many international, collaborative performance projects or visiting our local theatres such as the Royal National Theatre, The Old Vic or Shakespeare’s Globe, we offer you the chance to develop advanced performance skills and a unique creative outlook in a highly supportive, practice based environment.
By working with academic practitioners and industry professionals, such as the internationally renowned Frantic Assembly, you will get to explore your interests in acting, performing and theatre-making while gaining knowledge and experience in key areas of theatre such as multimedia practice, site-specific performance, movement for actors and theatre productions.
This learning will develop your own professional practice or arts based career. Having the opportunity to attend industry events and talks; to stage performances with our Student Theatre Company; and to gain professional acting experience through LSBU’s creative agency, the South Bank Collective, will help you prepare for the arts career you really want.
Check out our 3rd year students collaboration with TAI in Madrid on a production of Blood Wedding.
Join us at Open Day for the premiere performance of a new work created by BA Drama and Performance students in collaboration with Frantic Assembly. The performance will take place in the Edric Theatre and be followed by a Q&A with the cast.
Why study Drama and Performance at LSBU?
- Top 20 in the UK for graduate prospects in Drama, Dance and Cinematics (Sunday Times League Table 2020).
- LSBU Student Theatre Company: You’ll take part in a full season of theatre working exclusively with theatre professionals including directors, performers and theatre companies.
- Creative partnership with Frantic Assembly: Known for their high-octane, physical theatre productions Frantic Assembly will deliver workshops and residencies, and share their expertise with you.
- The Edric Theatre is a dedicated performance and rehearsal space with a 90-seat capacity, plus a 30-seat studio and backstage facilities.
- Take full advantage of the proximity to London’s theatres by attending professional workshops, gaining temporary employment and answering casting calls.
- Ranked 1st for satisfaction with teaching in London (Guardian League Tables 2020).
Modules
On this practical performance course you’ll become a member of the renowned LSBU Student Theatre Company and take part in international performance projects, intensive workshops and residencies with major theatre companies such as Shakespeare’s Globe, Frantic Assembly and Complicite. You’ll perform at the Edric Theatre, our on-campus contemporary performance space.
First, we’ll develop your skills and techniques in acting, directing and writing through workshops with theatre professionals and lecturers. Then you’ll develop your professional CV by taking part in a Student Theatre Company production. By the final year you’ll begin to articulate your own practice as a theatre artist, developing a large scale independent performance project focused on your strengths and interests.
The course is 45% assessed by coursework and 55% assessed through practical exam.
Year 1
You’ll develop skills and techniques in acting, directing and writing through workshops with theatre professionals and lecturers. You’ll write and perform a monologue, participate in an actor’s scene study and ensemble devised performances. You’ll also collaborate on a workshop production with fellow students.
Practical learning is supplemented with critical thinking, analysis and reading on performance history, context and theory.
- Theatre workshop
- Performance histories
- Acting a role
- Performance lab
- 20th century practice
Plus one option from:
- Acting the text
- Movement for actors
Year 2
You’ll develop your professional CV by taking part in a Student Theatre Company production. You’ll work with a professional theatre team including director, production manager and designer. You’ll take on all aspects of the performance and production including: performing, lighting, design, marketing, publicity, event management and box office.
You’ll also focus on innovative modes of contemporary performance during modules on multi-media technologies in performance, contemporary theatre adaptation and experimental theatre practice. Taking part in an intensive artistic residency, with physical theatre company, Frantic Assembly, will further develop your movement and technical skills.
- Critical frameworks
- Company in residence – delivered by Frantic Assembly
- Collaborative Production
- Theatre and audience
- Practices of adaptation
Plus one option from
- Multimedia performance
- Site specific performance
And one option from:
- Body and performance
- Text and performance
Year 3
You’ll begin to articulate your own practice as a theatre artist, developing a large scale independent performance project focused on your strengths and interests. You’ll also take part in professional workshops on composition for performance preparing you to enter the working world as a creative practitioner.
- Research project
- Creative strategies
And either
One option from:
- Professional toolkit
- Classical acting
And one option from
- Digital performance technologies
- Acting for screen
Or
- Applied theatre
Plus one option from
- Independent performance project
- Independent practice as research
- Dissertation
Entry requirements
- A Level BBC including at least one specialist subject such as Drama, Theatre or Performing Arts or;
- BTEC National Diploma DMM in a specialist performing arts subject or;
- Access to HE qualifications with 15 Distinctions 30 Merits in a specialist performing arts subject or;
- Equivalent Level 3 qualifications in a relevant subject such as Drama, Theatre or Performing Arts worth 112 UCAS points
- Applicants must hold 5 GCSEs A-C including Maths and English or equivalent (reformed GCSEs grade 4 or above)
- We welcome qualifications from around the world. English language qualifications for international students: IELTS score of 6.0 or Cambridge Proficiency or Advanced Grade C.
All students must also complete a successful audition to be considered for this course.
Advanced entry
If you have already completed some studies at another university, we may be able to consider you for advanced entry. Please see our advanced entry page for more information.