London South Bank University

Course Details

BA (Hons) Drama and Performance

Course Description

This course will help you explore new ways of thinking about yourself as a creative performer and practitioner. Over three years you’ll study various practical and theoretical approaches to Drama and Performance. There are three strands to the course that focus on excellence, innovation and future employability. These areas are: Performance skills and techniques Creative and innovative theatre making Critical analysis and understanding In the first year 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. In the second year you’ll develop your professional CV by taking part in a Student Theatre Company production. You will work with a professional theatre team including director, production manager and designer. The student company will 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. You'll develop your movement and technical skills with an intensive artistic residency with physical theatre company, Frantic Assembly. In the third 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. You'll also take part in professional workshops on composition for performance preparing you to enter the working world as a creative practitioner. Throughout your degree you’ll be encouraged to develop an awareness of academic thinking and critical theory behind performance practices, becoming a confident critic and commentator. You will explore a variety of approaches to practice including improvisation, live art, political theatre, physical theatre and site-specific performance. Taught by experienced practitioners, academics and industry professionals, this course offers a broad range of creative approaches to the subject of drama and performance. This will prepare you equally for entry into theatre and performance professions or into alternative career paths such as teaching, arts and events management or a range of creative employment opportunities. Located in the heart of London’s cultural quarter, LSBU is the ideal place for you to study and grow as a creative practitioner with access to London's many theatres within a 20 minute walk. You can take advantage of this proximity by attending professional workshops, gaining temporary employment and answering casting calls to the Drama and Performance course. In addition to a vibrant curriculum you can engage in numerous enrichment activities which include visits to theatres, galleries and places of interest. To expand your international horizons the Drama and Performance course offers prospects to participate in a biennial cultural exchange with Shanghai Normal University in the spring semester plus the opportunity to learn Mandarin at the on-site Confucius Institute. In 2011, members of The Student Theatre Company travelled to China to perform, more information.

Course Duration

NumberDuration
3year

Career outcomes

Potential careers include acting, live art performance, directing, stage management, lighting and sound design, and production. The course also provides a platform for working within the contemporary arts in education, arts management, research and production. Many students begin successful teaching careers on graduating from the degree and others progress to further study at MA and PHD level in a range of subject areas. LSBU is committed to supporting you develop your employability and succeed in getting a job after you have graduated. Your qualification will certainly help, but in a competitive market you also need to work on your employability, and on your career search. Our Employability Service will support you in developing your skills, finding a job, interview techniques, work experience or an internship, and will help you assess what you need to do to get the job you want at the end of your course. LSBU offers a comprehensive Employability Service, with a range of initiatives to complement your studies, including: direct engagement from employers who come in to interview and talk to students Job Shop and on-campus recruitment agencies to help your job search mentoring and work shadowing schemes.




BA (Hons) Drama and Performance London South Bank University