Drama BA (Hons)
Subject and course type
- Dance, drama and music
- Undergraduate
The Drama BA (Hons) course at Kingston School of Art immerses you in the multidisciplinary performance training to help you launch your career in the performing arts. Acting for stage and screen, theatre-making, contextual studies, and popular performance are the cornerstones of our programme, which supports young artists to become industry leaders and professionals.
Please note: from September 2027 onwards, this course title will be Acting and Performance BA (Hons). The delivery and content of the course remain the same.
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Be inspired by theatre’s past, present and future
Begin your career in the performing arts
On this course, you'll develop your skills as a performer and theatre-maker in professional facilities, such as The Rose Theatre, and the Studio Theatre in Kingston University’s landmark Town House building.
As part of Kingston School of Art, students on this course benefit from joining a creative community where collaborative working and critical practice are encouraged. Our workshops and studios are open to all disciplines, enabling students and staff to work together, share ideas and explore multi-disciplinary making.
Dance, drama and music at Kingston School of Art
Develop your technique and learn the skills you need to launch your career. Hear from our staff and students about how they hone their craft.
Why choose this course
If you have a passion for performance, this practical course is for you. It covers skills and methods in acting, production, devising, directing, comedy, cabaret, experimental performance and design. You'll emerge as a multi-hyphenate artist, prepared to wear many hats in the industry. You'll also explore not just how to make performance, but why, through the study of theatre history and contemporary socio-political contexts.
Our lecturers have practical and professional experience in the theatre industry. This ensures you'll have access to practical help and career advice from people with insider knowledge. On specific modules, you'll also work with guest speakers and visiting companies.
At the heart of our drama course is a strong theatre industry link with the Rose Theatre, the largest producing theatre in south-west London. Every Kingston drama student receives a complimentary ticket to all Rose Theatre productions. As well as this, the theatre hosts regular classes and occasional masterclasses from industry experts, sharing and networking events, research platforms, Director's insight events, company Q&As and behind-the-scenes events. Finally, all Kingston performing arts students are celebrated in an end-of-year, main-house showcase called KSA Live.
Check out what we’re up to on our Drama Instagram page.
The Art School Experience
As part of Kingston School of Art, students benefit from joining a creative community where we encourage collaborative working and critical practice.
Our workshops and labs are open to all disciplines, enabling students and staff to work together, share ideas and explore multi-disciplinary making.
Course content
You will explore the ways in which theatre and performance can both shape, and be shaped by, surrounding artistic, political and historical contexts.
As you progress, you will work on projects that draw together different strands of your learning. Across the three years of the course, you will have increasing independence in the design and delivery of these projects and you'll specialise in one or more of the following areas: playwriting, directing, devising, performing (in a variety of modes).
Each level is made up of four modules, each worth 30 credit points. Typically, a student must complete 120 credits at each level.
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. Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.
Year 1
Year 1 introduces approaches and ideas that are central to the study of drama and theatre and culminates in acting scene studies and a popular performance project. You will develop your skills as a performer and enhance your knowledge of a variety of methods of theatre-making. You will study key approaches to interpreting performance by examining play texts and productions, and you will acquire understanding of basic principles in theatre design and explore significant phases in theatre history.
Core modules
30 credits
This industry-focused module will introduce you to skills, vocabularies and methods associated with making theatre, creating performance and exploring ways in which these may be applied within a range of dramatic and theatrical contexts.
Professional skills such as creative problem solving, collaboration, adaptability and enterprise are developed alongside theatre-making skills. The main features of this module are the study and practice of key elements of performance such as: the use of movement and voice, play, ensemble collaboration onstage and off, devising methods, professionalism, critically reflective practice, performance structure and dynamics, connecting to an audience, and the creation of dramatic meaning and theatrical effect.
In the first part of the module, you will participate in a variety of tutor-led exercises to develop your understanding and skills in these areas. These are drawn from methodologies and techniques developed by 20th- and 21st-century practitioner-theorists, such as Jacques Lecoq, Anne Bogart, Ellen Stewart, Philippe Gaulier, Rudolph Laban, Keith Johnstone, Joan Littlewood and Augusto Boal.
In the second part of the module, you will apply what you have learnt in a student-led, staff-supervised project: a 15-minute ensemble-devised performance that draws on the methods and techniques explored in the module.
30 credits
In this module, you will be introduced to the technical skills which form part of theatre production: lighting and sound design, scenography and stage management, as well as basic marketing skills. This will be supported through skill specific workshops leading to a collaborative performance production which fully considers the role of technical elements which make for effective theatre practices. You will be specifically encouraged to reflect in practice on your work's ecological impact and openness to diversity.
30 credits
This module introduces you to approaches and research methods associated with the study of World theatre histories, organised across 4 sections: rituals, formalisations, popularisations and reactions.
Within these separate thematic sections, you will study a variety of global historical practices which may include ancient Greek choral practices, Yoruba ritual processions, the Spanish Golden Age, Noh Theatre, Beijing Opera Victorian Melodrama and early twentieth century experiments. You will study a wide range of performance texts and styles to investigate how we make theatre history, what evidence we draw upon and what implications these histories have for our current performance making.
In the first part of the module, you will investigate key periods in theatre history, which might include English renaissance, classical Indian dance, the popular Victorian stage, Nritya, postcolonial formal interventions the post-war theatre of the absurd or British and American Black theatre. Particular attention will be given to the material conditions in which theatre artists worked and the relationship with the theatre and the culture at large in any given period and place.
In the latter part of the module, you will apply your knowledge and research skills in a performance presentation.
30 credits
This module complements and extends knowledge and understanding of key concepts of performance developed in Making Theatre Happen by focusing on the relationship between the actor and the written playtext.
There are two interweaving strands, each designed as a foundation for your ongoing studies. You will explore fundamental components of drama such as plot, action, character and dialogue and examine ways in which each is presented in a series of written playtexts. These plays are studied in detail and each is identified as a pretext for performance. You are introduced to ways of interrogating the texts and develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the relationship between what is written on the page and what is presented on the stage. The same playtexts are also used to explore a range of differing performance methodologies that can be used to identify the performance potentials of a text in a workshop environment. You are led through cycles of Preparation, Exploration and Realisation – understanding what these terms mean and the actions they consist of will be an important aspect of the module. You will not only learn appropriate ways in which to create intelligent and imaginative performance informed by a written text but also develop a range of acting skills necessary to perform them effectively.
Throughout the module you are also introduced to the basic principles of theatre lighting and sound and will be encouraged to explore the impact of these technical elements when used in a performance context.
Year 2
Year 2 develops your understanding and practical knowledge of theatre arts. Core modules offer practical experience of devised performance and the impact of naturalism on the work of the actor. You will study modernist directors and playwrights such as Stanislavski, Ibsen and Brecht, and you will consider the impact of these practitioners on contemporary performance practices. Modules develop your skills in areas such as acting for screen, physical comedy, directing, playwriting and analysis, and devising.
Core modules
30 credits
Devising and ensemble practice support the development of skills and competencies that are not only applicable for theatremakers of all kinds but also valued by employers in a range of different professional sectors.
Exploring the work of ensembles embracing a collaborative approach to the creative process and supporting the acquisition of skills and methodologies they engage with; the module demonstrates the value of motivation and commitment; self-discipline; adaptability and flexibility; creative problem solving and an ability to work under pressure.
Ultimately, these skills and attributes are brought to bear in the Explore element of the module which enables you to engage with students from other courses, schools and faculties, to create new and original interdisciplinary dramatic work.
30 credits
This module explores the centrality of the play in the Anglophone world across two elective strands: Global Shakespeares and Contemporary Plays and Playwrighting. Each of these strands will serve to investigate the primacy of dramatic literature in the context of historical and contemporary Anglophone theatre production, through a mix of academic research methods as well as a creative portfolio of work in written or performed form.
You will delve into details and questions raised by plays assigned over the module, covering the playwright's intention, style of writing, dramatic structure, characters along with the context in which the work was completed – whether this be the social and historical climate or the production environment. Specific attention will be given to the production of Anglophone plays in a global context to reflect on the role of theatrical culture in either maintaining or challenging global hierarchies of power.
30 credits
This module gives you the opportunity to continue advancing your acting training and begin exploring the discipline of directing for live and filmed performance. These two electives complement each other allowing the student actors to be directed by the student directors.
This module will advance your understanding of the theatre industries through collaborative practice which develops specific skills and experience in direction, devising, script reading, but also transferrable skills of time-management, producing, critical thinking, active listening, communication, and presentation skills.
Within the acting elective you will explore the themes and principles of Naturalism in theory and practice on stage and screen.
Within the directing elective, student directors navigate contemporary theatre practitioners and theoreticians, and are given the opportunity to lead a group of creative artists towards their own unified vision for a performance. The role of the stage and film director is examined through the lenses of design, script analysis, working with actors, proxemics and semiotics.
30 credits
For some, popular performance is simply a style of performance that is well liked by many people. For others it is commercial performance that is produced and sold for mass consumption. Others still believe it is an 'authentic' style of performance made by 'the people' for 'the people'. These are just some of the definitions of popular performance examined in this highly practical module.
This module explores the history, theory and practice of theatre and performance traditions that might include but are not limited to: commedia dell'arte and other forms of masked performance; clown, pantomime and physical comedy; bouffon and political satire; carnival, festival and pageantry.
The practical exploration of these traditions, through games, exercises, improvisation, and performance, will enable you to encounter concepts such as presence, play, and the role of the spectator in the creation of meaning as well as common themes such as marginality, transgression, and chaos.
This embodied learning will be supported by critical engagement with the work of artists and academics such as Jacques Lecoq, John Rudlin, Dario Fo and Franca Rame, Natalie Palamides, Carlo Mazzone-Clementi, Red Bastard, Domnica Radulescu and Louise Peacock.
Optional year
You have the option to take an additional year to study abroad.
Year 3
Year 3 allows for both greater independence and specialisation and culminates in a major production project in which you will be able to showcase the skills acquired on the course. Alongside the production module you will undertake a focused study of avant-garde and experimental performance practices. Other disciplines studied include cabaret and stand-up comedy, applied theatre, and performance.
Core modules
30 credits
This module provides an opportunity to study a range of contemporary popular performance forms such as cabaret, variety, music hall, revue, stand-up comedy, drag and burlesque from historical, theoretical, and practical perspectives. You are supported to develop relevant techniques and performance skills, such as crafting a stage persona, creating rapport with the audience, generating material, presence and spontaneity.
You will have the opportunity to apply ideas and creative skills to explore the role of performance in identity construction, the significance of liveness in performance, perceptions of theatre's agency and issues of power and representational visibility. It therefore enables you to investigate issues such as the impact of Modernism and the emerging Avant Garde on the cabaret culture that spread throughout Europe and Africa; the importance of these forms in the development of popular culture; the birth of alternative cabaret and subsequently alternative comedy and the current popularity of neo-burlesque.
You are responsible for the overall development of a popular performance piece, enabling you to develop key industry skills related to collaborative working practices as well as practical performance experience in the arts industry.
30 credits
This module enables students to develop ideas and research and carry them through to realisation. The assessment for this module is a capstone project which allows students to draw together their learning from across the degree and apply it in a 'real-world' context through the creation, rehearsal and performance of a theatre production.
This module is largely undertaken through independent group-based rehearsal, although there is also a series of presentations and workshops addressing specific areas such as group work strategies, problem-solving, rehearsal planning and scheduling, managing budgets and publicity and marketing. Students form groups, select roles and choose scripts, themes and modes of performance based on a 'pitch' they make and the feedback received at the end of Teaching Block One. The size of groups may vary but groups should not be made up of fewer than five students or more than 12. Each group will have a designated supervisor and a budget allocated on the basis of group size. The rehearsal process will be constructed around a series of formatively and summatively assessed stages such as work in progress performances, group and individual reflective exercises, submission of design and technical plans and presentation of publicity materials. Performances will be scheduled across a number of weeks in consultation with the Drama Technical Production Manager.
30 credits
This module explores the breakdown of boundaries between different theatre and performance forms in the late-20th century, focusing on avant-garde performance and how it has developed from the mid-20th century to the present day.
Postmodern cultural theory and Hans-Thies Lehmann's notion of the ‘post-dramatic' provide context for the study of a range of avant-garde approaches to performance such as conceptual performance art, live art, site-specific and autobiographical performance, and a wide array of post-dramatic, experimental theatre practitioners. For example, Forced Entertainment, Gob Squad, Peeping Tom, Rimini Protokoll, Jérôme Bel, Blast Theory and Belarus Free Theatre.
The first part of the module is a practice-based study of live art and performance art lineages. You will explore how, for example, feminist, postcolonial, critical race, queer, crip, and performance theory intersect with your own work and that of artists such as Marina Abramovic, Tehching Hsieh, Hannah Wilke, Coco Fusco, Adrian Piper, Bob Flanagan, Franko B, Maurizio Cattelan, Senga Nengudi, Noemi Lakmaier, and ORLAN.
The second part of the module allows you to explore post-dramatic approaches to text across two elective strands: Experimental Playwriting: Beyond Text and Post-dramatic Performance: Creative Research. Each of these strands investigates how avant-garde performance since the mid-20th century evolved toward contemporary practice through a mix of academic research methods and creative textual responses.
15 credits
In this module you will apply your knowledge and understanding of the Theatre and Performance industry to support your preparation for graduation and beyond. You will extend your knowledge and understanding of a portfolio career, professional practices, and professional development alongside being encouraged to develop appropriate professional networks.
You will independently plan, carry out and critically evaluate an industry-focussed placement or project that engages with current industry standards and practices relevant to the sector with support of the module teaching team. This will prepare you for working in an aspect of the theatre and performance industry and support you with developing a multi-faceted professional identity as a performing arts professional.
You will critically evaluate your own development through reflection on your progress of planning and participating in an industry-focussed placement or project. You will document your reflection and critical evaluation in a portfolio referring to relevant industry context and practices. You will also create a professional profile that reflects your developing professional identity to support your progression to your chosen career path.
15 credits
This module gives you a dedicated opportunity to develop your Future Skills Graduate Attributes.
At the start of the module, you will be supported to self-assess your current skills profile. You will determine which attributes and skills you need to develop to support your career ambitions. In this process, you will be supported by a dedicated career coach, helping you explore a range of options that includes self-employment/freelancing, starting your own business, higher level study, and other professional graduate-level opportunities. Throughout the module, you will be given opportunities to engage with external mentors, to support reflection and to develop a professional network.
You will undertake a tailored series of activities and projects, aligned to your goals, from a menu of development options. This could include short courses, enrichment activities and experiential learning options such as micro-placements. You will also be able to reflect on activities outside the University that develop your graduate attributes, such as work or volunteering.
International students: direct application
Are you an international student? Have you decided Kingston is the place for you? If so, you can apply for this course directly, rather than having to go through UCAS.
What career opportunities does this course offer?
Some of our Drama BA (Hons) graduates achieved international success shortly after graduating. Ben Barnes, who plays Prince Caspian in the Chronicles of Narnia, is our most famous alumnus. Several Kingston drama graduates work in major theatres such as the Soho Theatre, the Rose Theatre and Cardboard Citizens.
Other students have set up their own companies – such as Tin Horse, Urban Theory Films and Bad Clowns – often in collaboration with former classmates. Conrad Murray founded the Beatbox Academy at the Battersea Arts Centre, and recently won an Offie Award for his original hip-hop musical.
Many graduates undertake further vocational training after completing their degree, in subjects such as acting, directing, advanced theatre-making, playwriting, and theatre production. These graduates are at prestigious institutions such as the Drama Centre, Drama Studio, Guildford School of Acting, the Central School of Speech and Drama, and the Royal Court Young Writers’ Programme.
This course is great preparation for specialist training for careers in therapeutic and applied drama (for example drama therapy), especially if taken in combination with relevant subjects.
Future Skills
Our Future Skills programme is embedded within all our undergraduate courses and throughout the whole Kingston experience. These skills will help you to become a future-proof graduate by equipping you with the skills most valued by employers, such as problem-solving, digital competency and adaptability.
As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills. You’ll also understand how to demonstrate and articulate to employers how these future skills give you the edge.
Teaching and assessment
Scheduled learning and teaching on this course includes timetabled activities including lectures, seminars and small group tutorials.
It may also include critiques, project work, studio practice and performance, digital labs, workshops, and placements.
Outside the scheduled learning and teaching hours, you will learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, preparing for and completing your work for assessments. Some independent study work may need to be completed on-campus, as you may need to access campus-based facilities such as studios and labs.
Our academic support team here at Kingston University provides help in a range of areas.
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Kingston University.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 120 credits across a year (typical for an undergraduate course) would equate to 1,200 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below for each year of study. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- Year 1: 23% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 2: 23% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 3: 20% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Types of assessment
- Year 1: Coursework 48%; practical exam 52%
- Year 2: Coursework 15%; practical exam 10%; other 75%
- Year 3: Coursework 23%; practical exam 28%; other 49%
Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
Fees and funding
| Fee category | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | £10,050* |
| International | |
| Year 1 (2027/28): | £To be confirmed |
| Year 2 (2028/29): | £To be confirmed |
| Year 3 (2029/30): | £To be confirmed |
The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student.
For courses with Professional Placement, the fee for the placement year can be viewed in our Fees and Funding section. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.
*For full-time programmes lasting more than one academic year, a tuition fee is payable for each academic year of the course.
Your annual tuition fee covers your first attempt at all modules required for that academic year. Any re-study or repeat of modules will incur additional charges, calculated according to the number of credits taken.
Home students (UK):
Tuition fees are subject to inflation-linked increases in line with government policy. Updated fees will be confirmed in line with the maximum fee cap set by the Government or the Office for Students (OfS) for each academic year. This means your fee may increase for each academic year of study, but only up to the maximum amount permitted for that year.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
International students:
Full-time taught international student fees are subject to an annual increase, which is published in advance for the full duration of your programme.
| Fee category | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | £9,790* |
| International | |
| Year 1 (2026/27): | £19,200 |
| Year 2 (2027/28): | £19,900 |
| Year 3 (2028/29): | £20,700 |
The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student.
For courses with Professional Placement, the fee for the placement year can be viewed in our Fees and Funding section. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.
*For full-time programmes lasting more than one academic year, a tuition fee is payable for each academic year of the course.
Your annual tuition fee covers your first attempt at all modules required for that academic year. Any re-study or repeat of modules will incur additional charges, calculated according to the number of credits taken.
Home students (UK):
Tuition fees are subject to inflation-linked increases in line with government policy. Updated fees will be confirmed in line with the maximum fee cap set by the Government or the Office for Students (OfS) for each academic year. This means your fee may increase for each academic year of study, but only up to the maximum amount permitted for that year.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
International students:
Full-time taught international student fees are subject to an annual increase, which is published in advance for the full duration of your programme.
| Fee category | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | £9,535* |
| International | |
| Year 1 (2025/26): | £18,500 |
| Year 2 (2026/27): | £19,200 |
| Year 3 (2027/28): | £19,900 |
The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2025/26 the fees for this course are above.
For courses with Professional Placement, the fee for the placement year can be viewed in our Fees and Funding section. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.
*For full-time programmes lasting more than one academic year, a tuition fee is payable for each academic year of the course. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full-time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
There may be costs for participating at external shows and exhibitions, such as travel costs, which will vary according to the location.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying this course at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
Key information
The scrolling banner below displays some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).
