Our ethos is really important to us; we are here as artists and practitioners, creators, thinkers and learners, here to encourage your development, understanding and appreciation of theatre and drama as powerful tools in the examination of human interaction, and to help you respond in a personal and creative way. We are a department of collaboration, creation and innovation and you will be involved in the lively artistic life of the College as a ClassAction practitioner. Everyone will always be encouraged to find their own unique artistic voice as a practitioner.

The course demands practical, creative and communication skills in equal measures. You will be expected to extend your ability to create drama and theatre, either in a performing or a production role. You will write about drama and develop your powers of analysis to become an informed critic. The course will involve taking part in productions as well as studying plays, playwrights and theatre practitioners.

The teaching is done using a variety of approaches designed to suit different abilities and learning styles. Our staff work closely together and operate a team-teaching approach for practical units to encourage the widest range of creativity.

Successful completion of this course will allow you to progress to the HND in Performing Arts at The Eastern School of Performing Arts or study at prestigious performing arts schools.

Previous students have gone on to study at establishments such as: Arts Ed, Guildford School of Acting, Urdang, Performers College, Bird College, Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama, Italia Conti, Liverpool Theatre School, Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts and Stella Mann.

Progression to year 2 is subject to successful completion of year 1.

The Level 2 Performing Arts course is a practical qualification assessed on work created for performance projects and supported by developing a knowledge of the industry and career routes.

You will begin your journey with our theatre company by developing your performance skills culminating in a live performance to a public audience in November of dance and dramatic pieces. You will develop performance skills as you continue your journey working towards a solo showcase and begin exploring progression routes within application materials, reflecting industry practice.

You will then explore crucial styles, terminology and approaches within dance. Alongside this you will also continue developing acting and performance skills by staging an adaptation of a classical text which reimagines the work for a modern audience. You will complete your work with our theatre company by creating an original piece of performance for inclusion in the end of year week-long Festival celebrating performing arts.

Throughout your studies you will explore the wider industry, employment opportunities, progression options, including wider job opportunities in backstage, production and theatre management. You will also have the opportunity to widen your skills working front of house and backstage on performances and events to further improve your experience.

Theatre and Performance Studies at Warwick takes pride in its national and international reputation for research and teaching excellence. As a student, you will be taught by world-leading scholars, industry professionals and artists who are as passionate about the power of theatre and performance as you are.

You will explore how drama, theatre and performance are used to share stories, to laugh, to feel, to understand more deeply, and to change things.

You will have the ability to curate your own distinctive degree, on a course that’s designed to empower you. The foundational first-year consists of four core modules which balance theory and practice. The second and third years are defined by optionality with the opportunity to select from a wide range of modules designed by our diverse team of specialist staff.

You will join a School that fosters a strong sense of community and will work with your peers to continually design, make, discuss and debate theatre and performance. Staff will see, understand and develop you as an individual, helping you to create a pathway through the course to achieve your ambitions.

Beyond the course, you will be encouraged to see work and get involved at Warwick Arts Centre, one of the largest multi-artform venues in the UK, and join one of the many award-winning performance-based student societies.

We believe that it is the unique combination of our course, with the practical experience in the creation and production of work within student societies, and the professional environment that Warwick Arts Centre has to offer, which makes our graduates so successful.

As part of your degree you have the option to apply to do an intercalated year studying with one of our partner institutions overseas.

In 2021/22 these partners included University of Toronto in Canada; Monash University in Australia; and a number of Universities in Europe, including in Helsinki, Lisbon, Ljubljana, and Dublin. The locations that you can travel to are confirmed in November of the preceding academic year to when you would be travelling and these locations can change each year.

There will also be opportunities for you to apply to have short periods of study, work, research and/or volunteering overseas during vacation periods in order to gain international experience without adding a year to your studies.