Become a honed specialist in theatre directing
Our BA (Hons) Drama, Theatre and Directing course offers you numerous opportunities to both perform in and direct your own performance work, as well as working with pre-existing texts.
This will develop your creative and theoretical skills ready for real-world application after you graduate, as you learn to cultivate your own ideas in response to seeing other contemporary performance practices and the world around you.
You will explore the cultural and critical significance of dramatic practice, process, and product throughout history, as you consider a wide range of historical and social theatre practices and contexts.
When you graduate you will have a confident understanding of the complimentary disciplines of drama, theatre and directing, alongside a range of practical experiences suited to diverse careers in a range of professional contexts.
We have a strong link to the world-renowned Chichester Festival Theatre, where you will discover and experience established theatre practice and perform throughout your studies.
Study a unique programme where you can creatively engage with both traditional and alternative forms of theatre.
We encourage you to engage with a wide range of approaches to making theatre and performance. This includes looking at traditional forms of theatre, while also engaging with alternative forms of making performance such as devising. There’s actor training to do with straight acting, comedy and physical theatre.
Studying Drama at Chester involves working with a dynamic, international team of tutors, with a wealth of industry experience. The staff team currently includes experienced theatre directors, applied theatre practitioners, and experts in actor training and physical theatre. Alongside this, you can work with specialists in areas such as live art and interactive digital performance.
There is a large emphasis on practical work here at the University of Chester. We have a wide range of modular choices, and students have a number of options as they develop a range of skills over the course of their degree. So whether you want to be a performer, a director, a facilitator or a project manager, in your final year there’s an opportunity for you to specialise in your chosen profession within the creative industries.
Here at Chester, we have a thriving performance ennvironment, with regular productions and performances by both our undergraduate and postgraduate students. There are regular workshops and guest performances from visitng artists, and opportunities to get work experience through our extensive industry links and, of course, our three resident, professional theatre companies.
There are a number of extracurricular activities to get involved with such as regular trips to theatres, galleries and other creative spaces. We also invite practitioners and facilitators from outside companies to come and host workshops.
We pride ourselves on the quality of support we offer, and have a range of support packages to help support students during their time at University.
As a student studying Performing Arts you'll benefit from excellent links with the professional industry, both nationally and internationally
This course brings together the ‘triple threat’ of singing, dancing and acting. Develop acting techniques for the stage and strengthen your voice and singing in our Showcase and Contemporary Music Theatres Modules working in professional performance spaces.
You’ll make the most of performances in site-specific spaces such as Gloucester Cathedral, the bustling Gloucester Docks, and the Wilson Art Gallery. You’ll work in professional theatre venues such as the Everyman Studio and the Playhouse Theatre in Cheltenham.
You’ll learn in our purpose-built ‘2million Performing Arts and Events Centre at Oxstalls campus. These facilities include a dance studio with a harlequin-sprung floor, full lighting rig and sound, an acoustically designed music and singing room, a drama studio and a multi-media studio.
Focus on singing, dancing and acting and take part in full-scale musical theatre performance. You’ll develop acting techniques for the stage and strengthen your voice and singing with regular tuition. Take dance lessons including ballet, tap, modern and jazz.
With live performance opportunities throughout the course, including full-scale musicals, you’ll gain plenty of experience, working in real theatres with industry experts. You’ll learn with international theatre companies at renowned events and locations. Students have recently been developing skills with Motionhouse Dance Company and Frantic Assembly, as well as performing at Edinburgh Fringe, Jolt Theatre and Strike a Light festivals. You’ll also make the most of performances at local theatres and venues such as the Everyman and The Wilson Art Gallery.
From creative drama to contemporary digital performance, you’ll experience a range of theatre practice on this performance focused and creative degree. Based in the purpose-built Performing Arts Centre, this course combines theory with practice in preparation for performance, incorporating sessions on:
You’ll focus on the latest developments in Contemporary theatre and have the chance to work with professional directors and leading theatre companies. The academic programme includes some specialist workshops in areas like Commedia dell’ Arte mask performance and TV Drama, as well as regular opportunities to access professional performances at a reduced ticket price. You’ll be performing at professional venues such as Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre, as well as having some site-specific performance work opportunities.
During your year of study there will some opportunity for international study trips to New York or Berlin to see shows and undertake professional workshops/talks, and on alternative years there is the opportunity to perform at the Edinburgh Festival.
BA (Hons) Dance is a unique degree that offers specialist vocational and academic training across a variety of dance genres. Our modules are designed to develop your technical, performance, choreographic and teaching skills, whilst encouraging you to gain a strong sense of who you are as an artist and which area of dance you are passionate to pursue as a career – whether that be performing, creating, teaching or all three. Alongside your modules you will receive regular technique classes in different dance styles, as well as strength and conditioning training to support your development as a practitioner.
By the time you graduate, we want you to leave University as well-rounded, versatile dancers who feel confident and equipped with the knowledge of a range of genres that support your professional practice. The versatility of our team of lecturers allows us to deliver a wide range of these specialist areas to the highest of standards.
You will train in our purpose built Performing Arts Centre and benefit from two large, well-equipped harlequin sprung-floor dance studios, a multimedia suite and a devising studio. You will also have access to the University’s fitness suite at a discounted rate, and can also book treatment appointments as part of our sports therapy clinic offer.
Working across disciplines of acting, music and movement, this exciting and collaborative course responds to the creative industry demands of today by developing artists who will graduate as multi-skilled creative performers and practitioners.
If you don't meet the entry requirements for a BA, you can study this course as an extended, four-year programme. You'll begin by taking a foundation year which prepares you for a successful transition to the BA degree. This means it will take you four years to complete the course full-time, and eight years to complete the course part-time.
You will study acting, dance, physical theatre and community theatre through six distinctive modules. You will participate in a variety of dynamic projects and learn about current trends in the performing arts. The course content is specifically chosen to reflect the diverse nature of our students and this is evident through the themes, practitioners and subject matter covered. You will learn in a highly supportive environment where you can develop the self-confidence, knowledge, skills and understanding for further study.
Each module focuses on developing your understanding of the techniques intrinsic to the separate disciplines and will prepare you for a successful entry onto your chosen degree pathway listed below.
BA (Hons) Dance: Urban Practice
BA (Hons) Performing Arts
BA (Hons) Drama, Applied Theatre and Performance
The foundation course is for students who:
do not yet have the entry requirements for study at level 4.
want to develop skills and confidence before embarking on study at Level 4.
are returning to study.
are changing careers and need to gain experience in the performing arts.
Working across disciplines of acting, music and movement, this exciting and collaborative course responds to the creative industry demands of today by developing artists who will graduate as multi-skilled creative performers and practitioners.
You will work collaboratively and creatively with your peers, exploring and blending the disciplines of music, movement and acting. Experiencing a range of contemporary performance methodologies, you will develop skills as both performer and performance maker, enabling you to establish your own authentic and relevant creative practice.
You will be taught by a team of academics and professional artistic practitioners with a combined wealth of experience as makers, performers and researchers. Professional guest speakers will provide lectures, tailored workshops, masterclasses and opportunities, which will provide a direct link to the creative arts industry. In the past, our students have performed or collaborated with Stratford Circus, the National Youth Theatre, English Heritage, Positive East, The Vault Festival and many more.
