BA (Hons) Drama course preparation
To help you feel prepared for your BA (Hons) Drama studies, we’ve gathered together a range of course related activities including suggested reading, useful websites and some great things to do right now. Read on to find out more.
Suggested reading
You will be given lots of information about which textbooks to read and introduced to the University Library, as well as the many ebooks we have for you to access, when you begin your studies in September.
In the meantime, there are a few suggested books you might like to read before starting your degree if you can. We don’t recommend rushing out to buy texts before you arrive but if you can pick some up second hand, borrow from a library or access online to read over the summer.
The books listed below are some of the key critical texts that you’ll need for your course and, although they’re available in our University Library, you may choose to get your own copies to ensure they’re always available when you need them. Amazon Marketplace will often offer you the best deals, especially if you’re happy to buy your books second-hand.
More specific reading lists will be provided when you start your modules and there are many books and journals in the Library for you to investigate once you are here.
Suggested materials/clothing
It’s important during your first week to bring a pen and notepad with you and a good diary and planner would be a very sensible purchase. The one we recommend is The Palgrave Student Planner by Stella Cottrell.
Practical clothing
For all practical classes in drama you’re required to wear suitable clothing and footwear that allows complete freedom of movement and which you don’t mind getting dirty. Tight jeans, leather boots, expensive fashion items and the like are therefore not suitable.
You’ll usually find that a set of ‘rehearsal blacks’ (black top, loose black trousers) and black trainers (or bare feet) are the best thing to wear. In some classes tutors will insist you wear rehearsal blacks, so come prepared. Any simple black t-shirt and thin black training (or dance) trousers (rather than thick tracksuit bottoms) available from most sports outlets would be fine.
Useful websites
Researching, viewing and engaging online effectively allows you to be in touch with theatre throughout the world. Here’s a list of recommended viewing:
- National Theatre at Home
- BBC Arts has a range of production work from the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Globe and the National Theatre. You can find details of the productions available on the website. Scroll down to the section labelled Theatre.
- If you’re thinking about the future and careers in the performing arts visit the prospects website or the Times Higher Education website.
Things to do now
Live performance is central to the work that we do, and we recommend that we see as much as possible, seeing a wide range of work is encouraged. Whatever you’re able to get to see will be beneficial to your studies and the work that you make.
Reading plays is also really important for the study of drama. Try to read as many play-texts as you can from as many different historical periods. You can read a great many play-texts online so why not take the time to read some and use this as a starting point to think how you might stage a production in your favourite theatre. Here are some play-texts available on-line to get you started:
- Sophocles Oedipus the King
- Shakespeare- access many Shakespeare plays online for free
- Wilde, Oscar The Importance of Being Earnest
- Synge, J.M.W. The Playboy of the Western World
- Albee, Edward The American Dream and Zoo Story
- Miller Arthur All My Sons
- Berkoff, Steven Plays 1
- Wesker, Arnold: Three Plays