Ever wondered why it took Leonardo di Caprio so long to die in Titanic? The answer to this question and many more is explored in drama and performance. Drama and performance is an exploration of the many processes that exist to support performance in all of its many guises. It examines the vocabulary, concepts, history and theory of the creative process. We aim to challenge conventional assumptions about the performing arts and the many possible roles of the spectator. Through cross disciplinary and collaborative approaches to teaching and learning, we combine a recognition of the importance of historic and theoretical contexts to facilitate the discovery of working strategies and the acquisition of knowledge, to provide students with the tools needed for a successful career in the performing arts. The aim of this course is to provide an extensive understanding of the practice, history and theory of drama and performance and to encourage creative thinking. It balances practice with theory to enable graduates to understand not only the ‘how’ but the ‘why’ of performance. Through collaboration with all of the performing arts courses, students will develop a broader and deeper understanding of the processes of creating performance. On graduation, students will have an understanding of the variety of ways in which drama and performance work and how they can be made relevant. The course provides a broad understanding of the subject area and opens up a number of diverse career paths. The first two years offer the opportunities to work in collaborative, creative experimental workshops, in which students will work to find solutions to the creative staging and performance of classic and contemporary genres and texts. Bringing a range of interests and skills (eg acting, directing, dramaturgy, scenography and playwriting), students will share their different perspectives and insights. Classes will also cover theatre history and theory which will inform the decisions students make in their creative work. Years Three and Four will involve the study of core modules and a series of options (which may vary from year to year) to focus interests in specific areas. Year Four will see the completion of a personal final project, which can be performance based or a written dissertation.

You may use your studies as a basis for professional practice within theatre and allied industries, using the specialisms as a stepping stone to: playwriting; directing; producing; screen industries; further training in acting; theatre in/within the community; contemporary performance practice; arts journalism; professions requiring skills in communication and creativity; drama teaching; and postgraduate study. Katie Innes BA (Hons) Drama and Performance After leaving school, I did an HNC in Acting and Performance at Edinburgh’s Telford College. On completion of the course, I was disillusioned with my chances of having a career as an actor so I decided that I wanted to gain a better knowledge of theatre in general then reassess my career path. The BA/BA (Hons) Drama and Performance at QMU seemed the best course to move onto as it offered a wide spectrum of classes in the arts. The first two years suited my needs in that I was provided with a general overview of many different aspects of theatre, from technical production, to performance skills and on to dramaturgical background. For me, it was a nice balance between practical and theoretical sessions as I had come from a predominantly practical course, and the shift to theory was beneficial. During my second year, I was inspired by my scenography classes, and took on roles within our group performances as designer. My passion for theatre design began to grow, with encouragement from my lecturers. In my third and fourth year, there weren’t formal practical sessions on scenography, however the intention of the course is to encourage students to engage in extra curricular work to further their skills. This led to my involvement in a variety of shows, with roles such of head of design for the [RED]otto 2012 and Assistant Scenic Artist for the Acting for Stage and Screen show. I also sought out a summer course in design and now, in my fourth year, am attending professional placements with the Brunton and Lyceum Theatres, with the intention to go on to postgraduate study to further enhance my skill set as a designer. This course allowed me to study a variety of different aspects of theatre, and has led me onto a career path which I might not have discovered otherwise.