Theatre Studies 2012
"The course is showing me that there are so many layers to the world of theatre that I have never thought about before."
Daniel Friar
Our programme explores the ideas and practices that inform current theatre-making, both nationally and internationally. You will consider a breadth of performance practices, from the mainstream to the contemporary. Through performance and debate, you will engage directly with the specialisms that shape this changing field. Your study of theatre will be grounded in artistic enquiry, theatre history, culture and performance analysis, and informed by comparative and intercultural perspectives. With strong links between theory and practice, the programme provides a thorough knowledge of relationships between creative theatre practice and culture.
The Theatre Studies programme began in 2009 and draws on the University’s long-established reputation for performance and dance studies. You will join a thriving performing arts community and benefit from close connections with both the Dance and Film Studies degree programmes and with the Guildford School of Acting (GSA) at the University.
With new facilities for practical workshops and performance for the arts on the University campus, this programme provides an enviable experience of both making and reflecting on the significance of theatre today.
Factfile
| Minimum Entry Requirements | A level grades AAB All applicants should also adhere to the University's General Entrance Requirements. |
|---|---|
| Required Subjects | Grade A at A level in an arts, humanities or social science subject. |
| English Language Requirements | An IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent for non-native-English-speaking applicants. Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre. |
| Other Suitable Qualifications | BTEC National Diploma - DDM A wide range of other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. |
| Selection Process | Offers are usually made in terms of grades. We do not accept General Studies in our offers. There are no interviews for the programme, but successful applicants are invited to the University for a Theatre Studies UCAS Day, which will include an introduction to the programme and examples of workshop and seminar-based teaching. During the visit, candidates can find out more about the programme and meet staff and students. |
Degrees
Degree Programme
BA (Hons) Degree
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| BA (Hons) Theatre Studies | W440 | 3/4* years |
Degrees
Degree Programme
BA (Hons) Degree
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| BA (Hons) Theatre Studies | W440 | 3/4* years |
Our Degree
Theatre Studies offers experience and knowledge of one of the oldest and most significant forms of human expression. You will investigate dramatic literature and practices of theatre from historical, critical, aesthetic and experiential perspectives and consider the connections between theatre texts and cultures. You will work with specialists in theory and practice, both those at Surrey and also invited guest directors and teachers.
You will be encouraged to engage actively in both written and practical work, and to explore the rich cultural histories of the locations in which we work, both at the University and in site-based theatre projects.
Our Theatre Studies programme provides you with a firm foundation in the study and practice of theatre and will help you meet the demands of the creative and cultural industries.
Other degrees you may be interested in:
Programme
Programme Overview
You will begin by establishing an understanding of key texts, practices and methods that inform theatre studies today. As you progress through the programme, you will follow practice, theory and professional pathways, to develop your skills, knowledge and experience in the field.
Level 1 will introduce key concepts and a foundation of core knowledge, practices and methods. As part of the practical pathway, you will look at strategies to develop character, while in theoretical modules you will explore the different ways in which character has been staged in the history of theatre. You will be encouraged to consider what it means to stage theatre and will look closely at the theatres of London and at London itself as a 'theatre city'.
In Level 2 you are encouraged to shape your ideas in response to particular perspectives and practices and to create supervised projects that develop and support your emerging knowledge. This will involve focusing your acting practice and sharpening your skills in debating the importance of performance in culture. You will engage with popular theatre practices and the ways in which artists have worked collaboratively on specific performance projects. You will start to prepare for professional work in the placement year or after your degree. You will learn about policy, professional practices, education and workshop leadership.
Level 3 involves wider perspectives: on management of the arts at international levels, on leading research in the field, on the scale and spectacle that is possible in performance and on your own individual research through the dissertation project, which can involve a practical element. A Research Methodologies module prepares you for this solo work and it will be supported through carefully programmed staff supervision. Level 3 is a chance to reflect on your development through the degree and focus on specific areas for future work or study after the degree.
Programme Structure
Programme Structure and Modules
Level 1
Modules include:
- Acting Character
- Contemporary
- Character, Text and Culture
- Staging Theatre
- Theatre Production
- Theatre Project
- Arts and Society
Level 2
Modules include:
- Acting for Camera and Radio
- Radical Action
- Production Project
- Popular Theatre
- Laboratory Theatre
- Working in The Arts
Level P
Optional professional training year
(subject to availability)
Level 3
Modules include:
- Research Methodologies
- Dissertation
- Theatre Spectacle
- Postcolonial Drama
- International Programme
You will also be able to take selected modules from other subjects to make up your programme, including Dance and Culture, Film Studies and English Literature.
Professional Training
You will have the opportunity to undertake a professional training year, subject to placement availability. During this year, you will be supported in gaining valuable experience in degree-related professions such as community work, cultural policy, media, creative arts and arts education. You will have both a University supervisor and workplace mentor to guide you through an original project in an industry context.
A pioneer in integrated professional training, the University has operated the placement scheme for the last 40 years. The Department has a strong record of supporting the placement year in allied disciplines and employers have been impressed by the maturity and professionalism of those who have undertaken it.
Why Surrey?
Key reasons to study Theatre Studies 2012 at Surrey
- Rated the twelfth best department in the UK by The Times Good University Guide 2011
- Benefit from a wide range of high-quality performing opportunities
- Profit from a strong research culture that informs your learning
- Enjoy excellent employment prospects in education, the community, theatre and industry
- A programme that is focused to enable you to map and work towards your future career
- You will benefit from good transport links to London’s international cultural scene, providing access to the latest performances
Careers
Top for Jobs
Our Theatre Studies degree equips you with skills that will prepare you for a range of careers, as well as providing opportunities for placements in professions such as arts administration, community work, cultural policy, media, creative arts, arts education, performance, and personnel or tourism management. Throughout your degree, you will secure goals and competencies that will help you to prepare for a specific career path.
Career Opportunities
During your time on the Theatre Studies programme, you will have a personal tutor who will monitor progress and offer advice and guidance. You will identify an individual career path and establish a plan that will support your career aspirations. Teaching on the programme is informed by professional practices, to support your work on the degree and to prepare you for life in the placement year and in a career after university.
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Teaching
Theatre Studies is taught through a combination of practical classes, lectures, seminars and tutorials. Through practical modules, you will establish a professional approach to performance creation. Lectures and seminars develop informed thinking about theatre in a shared space that values both individual contribution and peer reflection.
You will be encouraged to own your individual learning experience while at Surrey and to become familiar with building and sustaining peer networks. All learning is fully supported by the University’s e-learning environment, ULearn, and you will be able to develop skills and experience in academic software and the ways in which new technologies can support work and learning.
Facilities
Our programmes are well resourced in terms of practical spaces and library holdings. The University campus includes the impressive new Ivy Arts Centre and a separate, established performance studio with retractable seating for 120 spectators and a fully sprung floor. Studio classes, rehearsals and workshops are run in spaces across the campus including the GSA building, shared with the Guildford School of Acting, at the entrance to the University.
You will be encouraged to locate taught modules in the context of wider performance and arts practice. This will include regularly seeing and participating in live theatre and arts events on and off campus. The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford stages new and canonical works, there is a thriving local theatre scene, an established Book Festival and a host of local galleries, libraries and archives.
With London only 40 minutes away, there is a wealth of arts and culture to explore and London is a case study city for the programme, with theatre trips and regular reference to recent productions forming an important part of the life of the programme.
Assessment
You will be encouraged to articulate your ideas through a range of forms and to understand key aspects of these forms, whether in practical performance, essays or presentations. Assessment methods include performance, character study, essay, lesson plan, project proposal, viva voce, report, bibliography and dissertation. As a modular programme, Theatre Studies enables you to monitor your progress throughout the degree.