Course summary

Studying Drama, Theatre and Performance at Lancaster gives you the opportunity to learn about innovative twentieth and twenty-first century theatre and performance through an exciting and varied mix of practical and academic approaches. You will gain critical and creative skills that open up possibilities for working in theatre, while making you highly attractive to a wide range of other employers. You will be taught by theatre practitioners and scholars and will benefit from performance facilities and the access to professional practice provided by our close relationship with Lancaster Arts and with other leading organisations in the creative and cultural industries. Throughout your degree you will be given the opportunity to gain knowledge of different modes of acting and theatre production from Shakespeare to cutting edge contemporary theatre. You will be given the option to choose modules on British Theatre (1945-20), Post-war European Playwrights, Modern Dance, The Popular, The Political and the Avant-Garde, Writing for Performance, Contemporary European Postdramatic Theatre, Media and Performance, New Scenographies in Performance, Theatre for Social Change and Contemporary Dance and the Visual Arts. You will have a number of opportunities to complete solo and group performance projects. The interdisciplinary environment supported by the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts gives you the opportunity to either focus solely on Theatre or choose to take some modules in Art, Design, Film, or Sound. You will have the opportunity to gain ‘real world’ experience in the creative arts with our Creative Enterprise module, working on a live project to deliver a creative arts initiative in the community. To prepare students for their work placement year, our Careers and Placements Team will provide advice and guidance on: the skills required to create effective CVs, cover letters and applications; tips and techniques on how to make an impact at interviews and assessment centres; how to create a relevant digital profile; and how to research employers and career sectors of interest. In addition, there is great emphasis placed upon developing self-awareness and on how to present yourself in a professional manner to employers. This optional provision will be delivered via a blend of traditional and digital methods including face-to-face workshops, online webinars, e-courses and 1:1 appointments. The University will use all reasonable effort to support you to find a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation that is directly related to your academic studies or career aspirations, all placement roles offer valuable experience of working at a graduate level and gaining a range of professional skills. If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement for your third year, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year.