BA Drama embraces all forms of drama across stage, screen and beyond.
You will explore everything from literary adaptation to street theatre, from activist performance to audio design, from playwriting to directing, and experimental film cultures.
You will benefit from teaching informed by recent innovations in theatre, performance, and film studies, as well as by historical practices.
Our comprehensive facilities include the purpose-built Martin Harris Centre, home to the John Thaw Studio, a fully staffed, adaptable performance, rehearsal and workshop space.
You will also be able to draw inspiration from the creative beating heart of the city itself, home to countless ground-breaking arts organisations and events - from Manchester International Festival, the world's first festival of original work, to HOME, the largest multidisciplinary arts centre outside of the capital.
You can also take advantage of strong links to partner organisations throughout the city, including TiPP (Theatre in Prisons and Probation Research and Development Centre), based here at the University, and Community Arts North West.
You also can engage with professional practitioners working in the cultural industries through your coursework and through extracurricular events.
Cygnet Training Theatre has a 40-year history of training actors. Its training takes a learn-while-doing approach, giving live performances to paying audiences from term one. Our students learn how to work as an ensemble, with the opportunity to work with multiple directors and visiting industry professionals. While our school ethos is grounded in the work of our late patron, Peter Brook, the training covers an eclectic mix of acting methods and is also able to accommodate for flexibility if the students show aptitude in other areas such as music and dance. Our courses balance classwork with rehearsal. Tutorials and group classes cover acting, voice, singing, movement, text, film, radio, and stage combat. Cygnet offers an unprecedented amount of one-to-one tuition that the larger schools are unable to offer, as well as the opportunity to study in a beautiful city.
Foundation students will have a solid grounding in acting technique as well as the chance to ‘test drive’ some other aspects of the industry such as stage management to consider how they would like to move forward with their career. Students are expected to take the ATCL Diploma (Trinity) with the option to move on to the LTCL if they continue with us. We offer support for auditions with other training providers as well as the possibility to continue training at Cygnet. Continuation of studies will be reassessed at the end of each year.
If you’re looking to become a versatile and multi-skilled performer, and join a creative community of filmmakers, screenwriters and actors, this is the course for you.
You’ll explore acting for stage, performance and camera, with many opportunities to collaborate and build a portfolio of original work – learning to take a production from concept to performance.
We welcome students from all around the world and celebrate your vibrant, individual stories. We encourage you to embrace what’s unique about you (from languages and accents to culture and heritage), and work closely with you to develop your individual talents.
You’ll focus on six interconnected areas of study:
- Acting
- Performance-making
- Acting for screen
- Textual analysis
- Creative enterprise
- Theories, contexts and concepts
By combining theory and practical application, you’ll develop your own artistic identity – exploring acting, voice, movement and scenography to hone your techniques and build your own creative toolkit.
You’ll learn how theatre has evolved in response to the needs and aspirations of different societies, and build a broad understanding of the social, political and cultural contexts that have influenced both playwrights and performers over the years.
You’ll be taught be professional actors, casting directors, filmmakers and screenwriters, many of whom continue to work in the industry alongside teaching. And, being in London means your studies will be enhanced by field trips, professional workshops and guest talks from industry experts.
You’ll also have the opportunity to study abroad in your second year – immersing yourself in a new culture while expanding your awareness of performance and film.
Drama, theatre and performance can transform how we think, act and understand the world. They help us remember the past, change the present and imagine alternative futures.
This course is for you if you’d like to:
Site-specific theatre, live art, durational performance, contemporary playwriting, choreography and composition, visual arts, creative writing, acting and directing – you’ll learn from tutors who bring their passion to their teaching. Our campus facilities include the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, which hosts professional theatre, music and dance by UK and international companies. We’re committed to antiracist pedagogy, and inclusive teaching and learning. Throughout your degree, you’ll:
When you graduate, you’ll be curious, critically informed and self-reflective. You’ll be able to make sophisticated performance, and shape cogent arguments in written work and discussion. Your skills as a critical thinker, creative practitioner and knowledgeable researcher will set you up for your future career.
Learn to be a versatile performing artist. Personalise your studies between dance, drama and musical theatre to suit your evolving interests and aspirations. Become a confident, experienced, industry ready professional.
Study in a multidisciplinary way – which you will know is reflective of the industry. Experiment with new things, create a personal pathway with a focus on dance, drama or musical theatre or a mix of all three. Personalise your studies to suit your evolving interests and aspirations. Build the necessary skills to succeed in higher education, recognise your own strengths and idiosyncrasies and establish yourself as an employable practitioner.
Whether you wish to dance, act, devise, choreograph, teach or facilitate, this course will give you the skills, techniques, confidence and experience to be industry ready. You will develop as a creative and versatile individual; we want you to graduate with the best opportunities possible that will prepare you for a successful career in the performing arts world.
Successful completion of this course will qualify you for Spotlight adult performer membership.
What exactly does studying creative writing at university involve? Any good writing course will allow you to develop your skills in the creative pillars of plot, characterisation and narrative. But at the University of Salford, it doesn't end there. Our unique multidiscipline degree is designed to help you skill up for the creative industries and support your writing vocation with work that pays.
The first year of your creative writing course is designed to inspire and nurture your writing talent, while introducing you to key concepts in multimedia production and multimedia journalism. Each module will give you the opportunity to deepen your knowledge of creative writing – whether that be rediscovering your passion for reading, learning how to respond to poetry or developing yourself as a networked journalist.
Moving into the second and third year of your degree, you‘ll shape your studies to focus on the areas of creative writing that interest you most. From comedy writing and performance to screenwriting, radio podcasting and theatre, this is your chance to develop a strong portfolio in your chosen area.
