Lancaster's degree in Theatre and Creative Writing is taught jointly by the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts (LICA) and the Department of English and Creative Writing. It combines the study of Theatre with the writing of original and imaginative fiction, poetry or plays. These two different focuses reinforce and complement each other.
Studying Theatre at Lancaster gives you the opportunity to learn about innovative twentieth and twenty-first century theatre and performance through an exciting and varied mix of practical and academic approaches. You will be taught by internationally esteemed, award winning theatre practitioners and scholars and will gain critical and creative skills that open up possibilities for working in theatre, while making you attractive to a wide range of other employers.
Your Creative Writing courses are taught by a team of widely published authors through a combination of lectures, readings, practice and discussion in regular tutor-led workshops. Your degree includes an Introduction to Creative Writing in your first year, and in your second and third years of study you will choose additional genre-specific units such as Short Fiction, Poetry Writing or Creative Non-fiction.
You will begin your degree with core courses including, an Introduction to Theatre Studies and Creative Writing. In your second year you’ll move on to subjects such as Theatre Techniques, Performance Composition, Work Placement, Intermediate Creative Writing and Critical Reflections. You will then complete your degree by choosing from a selection of Theatre and Creative Writing modules on offer including a final year theatre production module.
This course can be combined with other courses to make a full programme. It goes well with any subject but particularly works well with Art or Media based subjects and English and Humanities courses. In the first year you will complete an AS level.
This courses allow you to combine practical performance with theoretical work, based on studying set plays and their stage history. The course has a practical feel and will be largely taught in studio spaces. It is delivered over two years and combines the study of one set play, alongside the performance of one scripted piece and one reinterpretation of an existing text, plus two further performance pieces, one scripted and one devised, and the study of two set texts.
Assessment is by practical performance and written coursework (60%) and written examination (40%).
What topics will I study?
You will:
We offer a wide range of theatre trips to a variety of venues across the year. We ask that students have an open mind and attitude and learn to appreciate theatre and performance in a range of forms, styles and genres. We also invite professional theatre practitioners to come into College and provide both practical and theoretical workshops in order to enhance the learning experience.
This course offers extensive training in contemporary and jazz dance techniques, acting and singing. We also teach you about the performance industry and the opportunities that are available.
You will take part in five assessed performances over the year in front of an external audience, as well as having the exciting opportunity to audition for a full length musical, with students previously performing Les Misérables and Sweeney Todd.
Our teachers are industry professionals who are passionate about the subject and will continually push you to be the best performer you can be. If you are looking for a lively, engaging and creative course, Performing Arts is the perfect choice for you!
This course is available as:
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.
