Course summary

Are you passionate about live theatre performance, but equally interested in literature? This BA Theatre and English at Birkbeck puts you at the heart of central London’s vibrant cultural scene. You can investigate theatre as live event, as dramatic text, and in its historical contexts alongside a deep focus on the written word. Your in-depth exploration of theatre histories and theories will complement and expand your study of literatures in English. You will analyse techniques and practices of storytelling on the stage and on the page, garnering a detailed knowledge of dramatic and literary works from the medieval period to the present. Option modules allow you to focus on authors, genres, periods and practices from Shakespeare to science fiction, and to create theatre as an artist and writer if you wish. Throughout your degree, you will visit the world’s most exciting theatre institutions and analyse live and digital performances. Your final full-length dissertation project examines a topic of your choosing under the guidance of our world-leading academics. BA Theatre and English at Birkbeck brings you the best of both worlds of theatre and literature. If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. Highlights

• Birkbeck was ranked 2nd in the UK for its English Language and Literature research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

• You could be studying in a building that was once home to Virginia Woolf and frequented by members of the Bloomsbury Group. The building houses our own creative hub which includes the Peltz Gallery, the Gordon Square Cinema and a theatre and performance space.

• Based at the heart of one of the world's most exciting cities, we combine lectures, seminars and workshops with visits to theatres and other cultural and artistic institutions, and we frequently collaborate with leading arts, cultural, theatre and dance and performing arts organisations, allowing you to ground your studies in real-world practice. You will be able to attend events and seminars hosted by the Birkbeck Centre for Contemporary Theatre, enabling you to hear about and experience the latest research and practice from leading scholars and practitioners in the field.

• journalist

• arts administrator

• charity officer

• community arts worker

• theatre director.