BA (Hons) Drama

Summary 2012/13

• Top in the North West for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2011;
• Elect to study Drama with Design, Music and Sound or Aerial Performance;
• Learn to create, collaborate and reflect critically on contemporary theatre practice, while working towards professional standards in high quality facilities.

Drama was ranked top in the North West for overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2011. If you have a passion for performance and are happy working both independently as well as part of an ensemble, then this course would suit you. You should be motivated, have an enquiring mind, and want to specialise in an area of performance, such as acting, stage management, scenography, directing, writing, or applied drama. You should be able to relate your practice to critical theories and current ideas, and you should possess artistic skills and vision which you want the chance to develop in professional theatre spaces. Optional specialist pathways are available leading to degree titles in Design, Music and Sound, and Aerial Performance.

2012 Entry Requirements

Typical offer 280 UCAS tariff points overall, preferably to include Drama or Theatre Studies or Performing Arts or a related subject at grade B or equivalent, although relevant experience will be taken into account.

BA (Hons) Drama and English / English Language / English Literature: Preferably to include A level English.

All Drama candidates are required to attend an audition-workshop. The workshop means you get to spend an afternoon familiarising yourself with our working environment and experience working with us in a class. We use the audition-workshop to assess your practical aptitude through a variety of drama exercises. We also ask you to write us a short essay. You then get the chance to look round our department facilities, as well as see the rest of the University, taking in accommodation tours and talks relating to finance.

Summary 2013/14

• Top in the North West for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2011;
• Elect to study Drama with Design, Music and Sound or Aerial Performance;
• Learn to create, collaborate and reflect critically on contemporary theatre practice, while working towards professional standards in high quality facilities.

Drama was ranked top in the North West for overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2011. If you have a passion for performance and are happy working both independently as well as part of an ensemble, then this course would suit you. You should be motivated, have an enquiring mind, and want to specialise in an area of performance, such as acting, stage management, scenography, directing, writing, or applied drama. You should be able to relate your practice to critical theories and current ideas, and you should possess artistic skills and vision which you want the chance to develop in professional theatre spaces. Optional specialist pathways are available leading to degree titles in Design, Music and Sound, and Aerial Performance.

2013 Entry Requirements

Typical offer 300 UCAS tariff points overall, preferably to include Drama or Theatre Studies or Performing Arts or a related subject at grade B or equivalent, although relevant experience will be taken into account.

BA (Hons) Drama and English / English Language / English Literature: Typical offer 300 UCAS tariff points overall, preferably to include Drama or Theatre Studies or Performing Arts or a related subject at grade B or equivalent, although relevant experience will be taken into account. Preferably to include A level English.

All Drama candidates are required to attend an audition-workshop. The workshop means you get to spend an afternoon familiarising yourself with our working environment and experience working with us in a class. We use the audition-workshop to assess your practical aptitude through a variety of drama exercises. We also ask you to write us a short essay. You then get the chance to look round our department facilities, as well as see the rest of the University, taking in accommodation tours and talks relating to finance.

Details

How we will support you

The department offers an ‘open office’ policy to ensure you have ready access to a tutor for academic advice and pastoral care. You are assigned a personal tutor at the beginning of each year of study. A personal tutorial week occurs in each semester to ensure you engage at least twice a year in a reflective discussion on your progress. The University Library offers a comprehensive resource of relevant books, journals and DVDs and also houses the ‘Edge Ahead Centre’, which offers independent study skills tuition to support you in your learning.

What will I study?

In Year 1 you will explore and develop a fundamental knowledge of the evolution of drama, theatre and performance.

In Year 2 you will study key practitioners and movements in the modern era and engage with important ideas about the history, politics and culture of modern drama. Compulsory modules in the study and making of modern theatre are complemented with optional opportunities to explore acting, directing, writing, stage management, technical theatre and design, as well as community drama and applied theatre practice.

In Year 3 your focus will primarily be on the contemporary era and you will be expected to undertake increasingly independent work and develop particular, practical and theoretical specialisms. Compulsory modules investigating all aspects of contemporary performance and undertaking ensemble production work are complemented with optional modules in a variety of specialist areas of theatre including acting, directing, popular drama and educational drama.

How will I study?

Through a wide range of formal lectures and seminars, practical workshop classes, production projects, independent ensemble work and personal research, you will acquire critical and creative skills which will be of use in a wide range of future careers. Alongside your study programme, you will develop a personal portfolio and prepare practice CVs for employment, supported by dedicated sessions in personal development planning.

Our lecture programmes include tutorials and workshops, which provide an opportunity to study a wide range of plays and to interrogate ideas in the history, theory and practice of drama and theatre. Through full-scale production courses you have the opportunity to develop your practical skills and test your knowledge and understanding of live theatre before audiences.

Who will be teaching me?

The Performing Arts team work closely together in an acknowledgement of the collaborative nature of performance. Our team of academics, professional practitioners and technical staff, together with a range of part-time industry professionals and academic specialists, offer a wide range of learning experiences.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment is through a mixture of practical and written work including essays, portfolios, seminar presentations, workshop performances and full productions. All practice demands theoretical justification, so most modules will require either a piece of writing or an oral presentation. Students are required to reflect on their learning in each assessment and summarise their development regularly.

What are my career prospects?

You will be qualified to seek a career in the theatre, research, media, teaching (further training required), community or social work, professional companies, theatre administration, community arts, postgraduate study and business.

Further study at Edge Hill University

MA Making Performance

Related Programmes

Drama can also be studied in the context of two other Single Honours programmes offered by the Department:

• BA (Hons) Dance and Drama
• BA (Hons) Music and Sound with Drama

A Great Study Environment

As a Performing Arts student at Edge Hill University, you will enjoy excellent facilities and technical support, and benefit from having a purpose-built professional venue, the Rose Theatre, integrated into the department’s buildings. Our £5 million Centre for the Performing Arts contains a second fully-seated auditorium; three dance studios; four additional performance studios; three rehearsal studios; seminar rooms; costume, props and scenic design workshops; a fully-equipped scene dock and state-of-the art equipment for developing skills in theatre technology.

Based in 160 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, the Ormskirk Campus is a unique and inspirational place to study. Industry standard resources and cutting edge technology combine to make an interactive and highly advanced teaching and learning environment. Everything you could want is on one site with 25 acres of sport and leisure facilities, more than 1,400 rooms in halls of residence and fantastic modern spaces in which you can study and socialise.

The University library gives you access to thousands of books, journals, online resources and extensive PC and media provision. You'll get all the support you need to succeed, reflected in Edge Hill University being ranked in the top two in England for students' personal development, and the top three in the country for assessment and feedback, in the 2011 National Student Survey. The University is also featured in the top four in England for graduate employment.

How do I apply?

Apply online through UCAS at www.ucas.ac.uk.

Visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/apply for more information on the application process and our Admissions criteria.

Fees and Finance

For academic year 2012/13, Edge Hill University will charge £9,000 for full-time BA, BSc and LLB degrees. Eligible students will not have to pay upfront for their tuition. The cost of tuition will be paid by a loan which you will only start to repay once you have finished the course and are earning over £21,000.

Eligible full-time students can also apply for a maintenance grant, subject to household income, and a non-means-tested loan to help with living costs.

Edge Hill University offers a range of scholarships for prospective full-time students. These include £2,000 Entrance Scholarships rewarding determination, commitment and achievement in creative arts, performing arts, sport and volunteering. Eligible entrants with outstanding grades are recognised through the £1,000 High Achievers Scholarship.

The University will also be offering awards, worth £3,000 in cash benefits and fee/accommodation waivers for academic year 2012/13, to eligible prospective full-time students through the National Scholarship Programme.

For more information on scholarships, including eligibility criteria for each award, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/scholarships.

To find out more about fees, grants and loans for academic year 2012/13, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/undergradfees2012.

Please note, the above information is for UK and eligible EU students only. International students should check the fees and finance information at www.edgehill.ac.uk/internationalfees2012.

Not got the entry requirements?

Students returning to education may present their previous experience in work to support their application. Other Access to Higher Education qualifications are welcome. Students with relevant study through either a professional body or appropriate academic course may be able to join the programme at an advanced stage. In all cases, students returning to education will also be required to go through the audition-workshop selection process.

Where can I find out more?

If you would like to receive a copy of our prospectus or be kept updated about forthcoming events, contact the Course Information, Advice and Guidance Team by emailing study@edgehill.ac.uk or calling 01695 657000.

If you want to attend one of our open events held throughout the year, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/opendays to book your place.

You will also find Edge Hill University staff at many national careers fairs and UCAS events.

Still want more?

If you have any questions you would like to ask the programme leader about this course, please contact:

• James Stock, Performing Arts Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP
• Tel. 01695 650851
• Email: stockj@edgehill.ac.uk

Overseas students should visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/international or email international@edgehill.ac.uk for further information.

Combinations

Joint

• BA (Hons) Creative Writing and Drama (WW94)
• BA (Hons) Drama and English (QW34)
• BA (Hons) Drama and English Language (WQ43)
• BA (Hons) Drama and English Literature (QWH4)
• BA (Hons) Drama and Media (PW34)

Modules

Year 1

DRA1071 The Nature and History of Drama provides different learning environments in which you begin your essential theoretical and historical study of drama, focusing broadly upon the rise of Western European practices, but drawing on contextual examples and theoretical perspectives from around the world. The module defines fundamental concepts, examines theoretical perspectives and explores diverse practices in the field of drama, subjecting each to critical scrutiny. The module addresses at an introductory level the challenge of dramatic theory and its impact on our understanding of practice, seeking preliminary answers to some fundamental questions: What is drama? How did it originate and develop? What does it do? How does it work? What is it for? Why do we need it?

DRA1072 The Secret Art of the Actor equips you with a foundation level of knowledge and understanding of theoretical and critical perspectives on the art of the actor, on the history of acting, and on the socio-cultural role of actors in different historical contexts. The module provides a creative environment in which your own performance awareness of the art of the actor through history can be developed.

DRA1073 Text into Action provides a performance laboratory environment in which you can begin to experience the creation of small-scale practical production projects, transforming different kinds of ‘text’ into dramatic action. The practical work in this module is informed both by the theoretical and historical study of theatrical performance and by the investigation of the theory, history and role of the actor covered in the other year 1 modules.

Year 2

DRA2071 The Process and Purpose of Drama. Focusing principally on the Western context, this compulsory module places the development of modern drama in the context of the arguments surrounding the essential processes involved in the making of theatrical events, and the essential controversies surrounding what the purposes of drama are said to be in its response to modernity. In contextualising modern drama and confronting modern theatre processes via key practitioners, productions, and plays of the modern era, you enter into the crucial debate concerning the purpose, use and value of drama, initiated by Plato and Aristotle and continued since.

DRA2072 The Making of Modern Theatre investigates and interrogates approaches to theatre making in the modern era. In this module you study key theatre practitioners in the history of Western modern drama, and make work informed stylistically by an exploration and examination of their ideas about acting, training, directing and the art of theatre production.

DRA2073 Drama in the Real World? is of particular relevance to those of you interested in ‘applied drama’ and ‘applied theatre’. The module provides you with a developed level of practical knowledge and theoretical understanding of the uses, applications and value of drama and theatre. In particular it looks at social or community contexts outside of the conventional theatre environment (such as prisons, hospitals, museums, and so on).

DRA2074 The Role of the Actor and Rise of the Director is of particular relevance to those interested in the art of the theatre practitioner. The module is a practical and theoretical interrogation of the cultural significance of acting and directing in the modern era of drama, and provides you with a developed level of practical knowledge and theoretical understanding of the skills, technique and role of both the actor and the director in modern theatre.

DRA2075 Popular Theatre and the Industrial Revolution is of particular relevance to those of you interested in examining the historical rise of ‘popular theatre’ and ‘popular performance’. The module charts the origins and development of various genres of popular theatre during the Industrial Revolution, and provides you with a developed level of knowledge and understanding of the experience of popular theatrical performance for the performer and the spectator.

DRA2076 The Role of the Playwright and the Idea of the Play is a practical and theoretical interrogation of the historical and cultural significance of the playwright and of the idea of the play-text. The module provides you with a developed level of practical knowledge and theoretical understanding of the idea of the play. It provides opportunities for you to learn and develop something of the art and craft of the playwright, and to put that learning into practice.

Additional year 2 pathway options provided by the department include:

• Light, Video and Digital Imagery
• Stage Design
• Costume
• Stage Management
• Outdoor and Site Specific Performance
• Music and Sound for Live Performance
• Music Theatre
• Aerial Performance

Year 3

PAR3071 Contemporary Practice advances your specialised knowledge and understanding of performance theory and performance practice, with particular emphasis on developments in the field of performance studies from the middle of the twentieth century onwards. The module is an intellectually challenging exploration of the work of some of the key figures in the contemporary field of performance theory and practice, tracing some of the paths and directions being taken by performance today. The module culminates in your independent creation of your own performance work, in the light of your personal manifesto vision of contemporary practice.

PAR3072 Ensemble Production Project is concerned with producing creative work that investigates and interrogates approaches to theatre making in the contemporary era. Working within an ensemble company, you will examine the work of key performance practitioners in the contemporary field, and make a theatre production that responds to a particular aesthetic direction being taken in contemporary performance practice, or is inspired by a distinctive contemporary production ethos.

DRA3073 Event Planning and Management is concerned with learning about what it means to plan, stage manage and administrate theatrical events. The module develops your knowledge and understanding of project management, providing you with the enterprise skills necessary to operate independently and professionally, including finance, strategic planning and industry level evaluation as well as more specialised practice. Part of the practical event planning and management experience will involve organising the departments’ three week summer festival of student performances at the end of the year.

DRA3074 Drama as a Learning Medium? is a practical and theoretical interrogation of the efficacy of Theatre in Education (TIE) and Drama in Education (DIE). It explores the traditions on which TIE/DIE are founded, and evaluates the contribution made by these modes of applied dramatic and theatrical practice to pedagogical processes. It also considers the making of pedagogical theatre in non-educational as well as educational environments.

DRA3075 Acting Reconsidered is concerned with reconsidering and re-evaluating modern conceptions of the art and cultural significance of the actor. The module also introduces contemporary theories and practical strategies relating to the art, craft and role of the actor in contemporary cultures, in an investigation and interrogation of the place of the actor in the context of live theatrical performance today.

DRA3076 Contemporary Popular Theatres explores and examines the variety of contemporary forms of theatrical performance that have sought to speak to ‘popular culture’, to address audiences receptive to ‘popular theatre’, and also to find audiences for ‘popular theatre’ in settings and environments beyond the conventional places of performance.

DRA3077 Directing Reconsidered is concerned with reconsidering and re-evaluating modern conceptions of the art and cultural significance of the theatre director. The module also introduces contemporary theories and practical strategies relating to the art, craft and role of the director in contemporary cultures. This is via an investigation and interrogation of the place of the director in the context of live theatrical performance today.

DRA3078 Theatre and Identity explores and examines a range of different types of dramatic text and theatrical experience linked by the fundamental theme of Identity. The module interrogates the theme of identity in relationship to the idea of the play. It also examines the theme of autobiography and theatrical performance, investigating ways in which some contemporary practitioners have exploited stories about themselves, and made theatre out of the idea and nature of the individual self.

Additional year 3 pathway options provided by the department include:

• Video, Installation and Immersive Performance
• Live Art and Installation
• Production Management
• Costume
• Music and Sound for Live Performance
• Music Theatre
• Aerial Performance

Find out more about the optional pathway specialism in aerial performance by visiting www.edgehill.ac.uk/aerialperformance.