What you'll study
This course combines practical theatre-making skills with project design and implementation, understanding of cultural, social and creative context, writing proposals, fundraising, marketing and communications. Industry placements, case studies and ongoing input from professional practitioners and cultural activists play a major role in the course.
Clearing applications are now open. Apply through clearing here.
Why choose this course?
Learn from working experts and professionals
Ongoing sessions with cultural activists working in a range of arts, social, and other diverse non-traditional settings
Professional experience
Participate in an extended placement that gives you a practical and immersive experience in a working environment
Make connections
Build a national and international network of industry contacts and change-makers
Career-focussed
Acquire the essential skills required for design, making, implementation and evaluation of theatre and social change projects
Course breakdown
Course content is regularly reviewed, to make it relevant and current. Course modules are therefore subject to change.
Year 1
Focus is on your own identity as a theatre maker and learning the fundamentals of theatre-making as performers, producers and directors.
- Learning to make and research practice
- Essential arts management and production skills including finance, fundraising, grant writing, basic contract law, marketing and communications and digital and social media
- Understanding social and historical movements and high-level interaction with individuals and companies actively engaged with social change
- Visits to cultural organisations and social enterprises, meeting practitioners, and talks from a range of professionals working in the field of cultural activism
Year 2
Concentration is on how can you make a contribution through an understanding of principles of project management as performer, maker or producer. Achieved through:
- Development of facilitation skills and case studies
- Professional inputs from individuals and companies working as cultural activists in the field
- Industry visits and placements within an Arts organisation or Major Festival / Cultural season (e.g. Arts Council England, Battersea Arts Centre, Coney, The Sick of the Fringe, Slunglow at The Holbeck)
- Working with cultural activists further developing your management, administrative and cultural leadership skills and exploring the range of skills required to fulfil the role of cultural activist (as performer, maker or producer) in a social change context
Year 3
Focus is on your skills as a leader and you will develop a project in partnership with a cultural /social organisation with mentoring.
This will take the form of an articulated role in a social impact project in an organization or group.
Teaching and assessment methods
- In your first year, you will complete around 380 hours of indicative scheduled learning and teaching activities and 80 hours of independent learning on projects, productions, placements or self-directed study. Assessment will be through: Performances; Coursework, presentations and portfolios; Continuous practical assessment
- In your second year, you will complete around 380 hours of indicative scheduled learning and teaching activities and 80 hours of independent learning on projects, productions, placements or self-directed study. Assessment will be through: Performances; Coursework, presentations and portfolios; Continuous practical assessment
- In your third year, you will complete around 200 hours of indicative scheduled learning and teaching activities and 280 hours of independent learning on projects, productions, placements or self-directed study. Assessment will be through: Performances; Coursework, presentations and portfolios; Continuous practical assessment
Programme summaries
Get a flavour
Your future career
This is a course for creative individuals committed to an innovative professional theatre practice – as performer, maker or producer – which aims to change lives and inspire change in communities from all backgrounds and walks of life. We aim to put you in front of and amongst the profession. This includes the opportunity to build a highly relevant network and work on real projects while you study.
Careers options
Studying an Arts related subject gives you a wide range of skills that can be put to use in many careers. Our graduates will be ideally placed to go on to become:
- Theatre makers - performers, producers and directors
- Community arts project leaders
- Creative practitioners and leaders in Arts organisations
- Facilitators in the creative and cultural sector
- Festival and Event specialists and leaders
- Actors, entertainers, musicians and presenters
- Arts officers, producers and directors
- Teaching and other educational professionals
- Archivists and curators
- Authors and Writers
- Activists and cultural organisers
Meet the staff
Professor of Theatre & Performance, Programme Director for BA Theatre & Social Change
Read their profile
Professor of Theatre & Performance, Programme Director for BA Theatre & Social Change
Brian Lobel is a performer, teacher and curator, who is interested in creating work about bodies and how they are watched, policed, poked, prodded and loved by others.
Read their full profile Dr Phoebe Patey-Ferguson
Phoebe Patey-Ferguson is an academic, artist and producer. Their research expertise is on international theatre festivals, rooted in the Sociology of Theatre and Performance. This work frequently intersects with their further research interests in live art, contemporary British theatre, and queer theory. Phoebe’s Doctoral thesis examined the history and practice of international theatre festivals in Britain, with particular focus on the London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT) and its social, political and economic context.
Read their full profile Theatre and Social Change Programme Manager & Lecturer
Lehni Lamide Davies is an Artist, Creative Facilitator, and Producer who primarily works on socially engaged performances, films, installations, exhibitions and participatory arts projects across various contexts and communities including care homes, schools, parks, shopping centres, festivals, theatres, galleries, cultural institutions and museums. Her creative practice is rooted in creating Empathic Spaces to uncover intimate narratives around race, identity, wellbeing and interconnectedness, bringing transformative stories to life that are uncovered, nurtured, celebrated and archived. Her films and installations have been presented at the Manchester Film Festival, Dulwich Festival, The Whitgift Centre Croydon, NY Independent Film Festival, Galapagos Arts (NY & Detroit) and The Public Theatre NY.
Read their full profileHow to join
For 2022 entry, please apply via UCAS.com
Institution code: R51
Course code: W412
64 UCAS points*
This is equivalent to two Cs at ‘A’ level or one Merit and two Passes at BTEC (QCF) National Diploma or equivalent.
*We offer places based upon your future potential. We may offer you a place based on lower UCAS points than shown here, or an offer that is not linked to UCAS points if we have evidence of your potential from your application or the workshop and discussion.Workshop audition process
The application process for this course involves a workshop and discussion.
There is no charge for participation in the workshop.
AuditionsCourse Summary
Duration
3 years
Mode of study
Full time
Start date
September 2022
Course Type
Undergraduate Course
Qualification
BA (Hons)
Course Fees (2022 Entry)
UK/Republic of Ireland students (Fee per year)
£9250
International students (Fee per year)
£18900