On this degree you will study what theatre has been, explore what it is, and imagine all that it can be. Through an innovative combination of theory and practice, you will develop your skills as a theatre-maker and creative thinker and prepare yourself for work in the creative industries and beyond. The integrated year in professional practice will enable you to gain hands-on experience in a professional setting whilst at the same time develop some key contacts in preparation for your time after graduation.
Theatre asks questions and opens up experimental spaces for things to unfold and happen, all in the excitement of shared time. Supported by internationally-recognised staff with a wide range of expertise, on this degree you will experiment with texts, practices and production work and encounter a wide range of historic and contemporary theatre forms, from scripted drama to site-specific performance and from Shakespeare to experiments in new media.
Student Satisfaction and Employability Results
90% overall student satisfaction for the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies (NSS 2020).
98% of our graduates were in work or further study within 6 months, 4% more than Creative Arts and Design graduates nationally (HESA 2018*)
Overview
Why study Drama and Theatre (with integrated year in professional practice) at Aberystwyth?
You will be taught and mentored by staff who possess a wealth of expertise in re-search and/or professional theatre-making.
You will take part in two performance or production projects each year.
You will be part of a vibrant and exciting department where drama, theatre, film, media, scenography and theatre design collide
You will benefit from our connections with key industry partners, such as National Theatre Wales, Music Theatre Wales, Quarantine Theatre Company, and Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru.
You will have access to superb facilities and resources for practical work: three rehearsal studios, each with flexible technical facilities; 2 large profes-sionally-equipped studios with digital lighting rigs controlled via ETC Congo and Strand Lighting consoles, Yamaha and Soundcraft PAs, Sanyo AV systems and Strand lighting and two NXAMP; and costume and wardrobe facilities.
We have close links with Aberystwyth Arts Centre, one of the largest arts centres in Wales, which regularly presents national and international theatre and dance work.
Our Staff
All academic staff at the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies are research active and/or involved in Knowledge Transfer projects and have either relevant academic qualifications at doctoral level or equivalent professional experience and expertise.
Modules
Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.
* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh
Employability
What can I do with a Drama and Theatre degree?
Many of our students have been successful in obtaining employment in these fields:
acting and performing
directing
designing
script writing
teaching and education
arts administration
marketing
management
public Relations.
What skills do I gain from this degree?
Students in Drama and Theatre gain the following valuable skills that are sought after by employers. These include the ability to:
work effectively in group settings to develop, rehearse and produce live events
apply creative, imaginative and problem-solving skills in a variety of situations
research, evaluate and organise information
structure and communicate ideas effectively in a variety of situations and using a variety of means
work independently and with others
effectively organise your time and deploy your skills
listen to and make use of critical advice
be self-motivated and self-disciplined
use a range of information technology skills and resources
be entrepreneurial in developing cultural projects.
Learning & Teaching
What will I learn?
The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the three year degree scheme.
In your first year you will discover:
contemporary approaches to studio-based and site-based theatre-making
key historical moments, practices and methods in drama and theatre
The analysis of drama, theatre and performance.
In your second year, you will explore:
contemporary theatre-making through practical, historical and theoretical approaches
full-scale theatre production
acting techniques for stage and screen
directors' theatre and modern European drama
Shakespeare in performance
theatre and contemporary society
new media performance.
In the third year you will undertake your year in professional practice.
In your final year, you will have the opportunity to:
create independent creative work
undertake a major research project and engage in advanced theoretical study
extend your skills in ensemble and solo production projects
develop your entrepreneurial skills in producing and curating cultural events
write your own play script
study specialist modules that may address: space, place and landscape, performance and philosophy, performance, politics and protest, theatre, gender and sexuality, performance and architecture, new music theatre, and contemporary British and Irish drama.
How will I be taught?
You will be taught through practical workshops, small-group seminars, lectures, production projects and group based project work.
Our teaching is frequently mixed-mode, interrogating theory through practical investigation and practice through the lens of various theoretical perspectives.
You will be assessed through formal and performed essays, written and practical examinations, critical and creative portfolios, practical productions, seminar presentations and group activities.
You will be assigned a personal tutor throughout your degree scheme, who will help you with any problems or queries, whether these are academic-related or personal issues. You are free to contact them at any time for help and advice.
Student Views
Drama and Theatre at Aberystwyth University is dynamic, challenging, engaging and exciting. It offers students a broad range of practical modules which take place in a controlled and encouraging environment. The facilities of the Parry Williams building are second to none and offer a chance to perform a range of theatrical concepts. The course offers theoretical modules which are also engaging and offer a deeper insight into the world around us and society's relationship with the arts. The most rewarding aspect of the academic modules is that you can transfer the skills learned from study to practical work. The theory work often enhances the skills on a practical level. Working together between practical and theoretical modules the course offers students many useful skills.
Daniel Andrew Radbourne
The wide range of module choices paired with the wide variety of drama societies means we can easily be prepared for any area of drama and theatre practice. The academic and practical elements are brilliant, allowing us to either focus on one or the other and/or ground ourselves in the theory in order to better our practical exploration. The staff are always friendly and enthusiastic, always encouraging us to do more and explore further.
