Drama BA(Hons)

Why choose this course?

This course enables you to explore the practice, history and theory of drama in a range of contexts and settings. You will have the chance to work with leading professionals and be actively involved with productions. Our drama team has links with a number of theatre companies and practitioners, a close association with the town's Rose Theatre, and is engaged in cutting-edge research.

You can also choose to study this course as a joint honours degree alongside another subject. See the course combinations section for more information.

Watch a video to find out why you should study Drama at Kingston University:

What will you study?

This degree focuses on four key themes that run through all three years of the course: performance histories; creative theatre-making; performance texts; and performance in relation to culture. Each theme integrates theory and practice, and, throughout your studies, you will be encouraged to explore how these complementary areas relate to and impact upon each other.

Year 1 introduces you to approaches and ideas central to the study of drama at Kingston University. You will look at key approaches to interpreting performance, analysing playtexts and productions; explore the skills and methodologies of performing and theatre-making; learn basic principles of theatre design; and study key phases in theatre history. At the end of Year 1, you will bring your different kinds of learning together in a performance project.

In Year 2 you will extend and develop your understanding of the key themes. There are core modules in contemporary play study, devising performance and Modernist theatre theory and practice. In addition, you may choose from option modules in popular performance, Shakespeare and scriptwriting.

During Year 3, a higher level of independence and specialisation is encouraged. A major production project, either text-based or devised, is a core element. You will also be able to follow your interests through a choice of option modules; for example, cabaret and variety performance, Renaissance theatre, performance and identity and scriptwriting.

You will have the opportunity to study a foreign language for free during your time at the University as part of the Kingston Language Scheme. Options currently include: Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish.

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules.

Year 1 (Level 4)

• Making Theatre Happen
• Staging Histories
• The Actor and the Text
• Culture and Performance

Year 2 (Level 5)

• Modernism and the Stage
• Devising in Context
• The Play Today
• Popular Performance I: Mask and Clown
• Shakespeare: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
• Write Action: Introduction to Dramatic Writing

Year 3 (Level 6)

• Production Projects A
• Production Projects B
• After Modernism: Avant Garde Performance from the 1940s to the Present Day
• Beyond Text: Advanced Dramatic Writing
• Dissertation
• Popular Performance II: Cabaret, Music Hall, Variety, Stand-up and Burlesque
• Professional Practice
• Renaissance Drama In Action 1567 -1642
• Special Study: Staging the Nation - Identity Politics in Contemporary Drama
• Special Study: Tragedy, Catastrophe, Trauma