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We are distinctive among university theatre departments in the UK because of our primary concern with innovative contemporary performance and its cultural significance. Our degree offers a broad foundation in the study of contemporary theatre, drama and performance; increased specialisation follows at second and third year levels.
Your understanding and creative abilities will be developed through a stimulating cross-fertilisation of theory and practice, which will enable you to think creatively and perform critically. Our teaching is designed to support and encourage modes of independent thinking and collaborative performance making.
Explorations of innovative and radical aspects of twentieth and twenty-first century theatre and performance are informed by our staff research interests. These include contemporary British and European drama and dramaturgy, dance and physical theatre, multimedia theatre, radical, political and feminist theatre, and television drama.
The facilities available to you include two performance spaces supported by generous technical assistance. The Nuffield Theatre is one of the best university theatres in Europe and one of the largest and most adaptable professional black-box theatres in the UK. It is a major teaching resource and, through Live at LICA, it offers an exciting programme of professional productions with access to talks and workshops by performers and professional companies.
Major practical projects in years two and three are supervised by highly experienced professionals. Recently, these have included performance makers Louise Ann Wilson (wilson+wilson), A. Smith, Graham Eatough and Leentja Van de Cruys.
Our graduates find employment in an incredibly diverse range of fields. Past students are working as researchers, producers and technicians for radio, film, television and theatre, as teachers and university lecturers, in social, financial and health services, in pop bands, the Houses of Parliament, and for charities.
Past students have appeared in some of the most successful theatre and media productions of recent decades. These include Lord of the Rings (Andy Serkis), The Office (Ralph Ineson), One Man Two Guvnors and Pirates of the Caribbean 4 (Daniel Ings) and Hamlet at the Globe (Amanda Hadingue). Other graduates have set up internationally-successful touring companies or make work as solo performance artists. These include companies like Stan’s Café, Third Angel, Metro-Boulot-Dodo, Imitating the Dog, and artists such as David Leddy and Ursula Martinez.
In year one you will be introduced to key theoretical and critical tools. These are explored through exemplary play scripts and performances across a wide variety of genres, media and historical periods (e.g: Shakespeare, Stanislavski, Brecht, DV8 and the Wooster Group). You will consolidate and apply this knowledge through collaborative group performances. Relations between theatre and the other arts will be explored via our LICA-wide module on modernism in the arts. You will also take a third module, either from another LICA discipline or from a range of subjects offered across the University.
In year two you will develop and apply theoretical and practical knowledge through two core modules – approaches to performance analysis and performance composition. Other options include a work placement, a media and performance module, and a major production project. We also make available smaller half modules covering: dance and physical theatre, European playwriting, television drama, and experimental theatre.
In year three you will develop an analytical and independent approach to study, engage with more abstract concepts, and devise creative work with high production standards. Core modules comprise contemporary performance and a dissertation. Optional modules include cultural entrepreneurship and a final degree show in the Nuffield Theatre. Smaller half module options cover: contemporary British theatres, popular performance, and post modern dance.
You may also study modules from other LICA disciplines.
Our ideal Theatre Studies student is driven by a passion to explore theatre and performance in theory and in practice. We also welcome your application if you are curious about the relationship of theatre and performance with wider social and cultural contexts. Many of our students have A-level Theatre Studies and evidence of practical experience is highly desirable, but we are happy to consider you if you have studied at least one other media, performance-related, or essay-based humanities subject. We encourage you to evidence your drive to study theatre by attending performances, reading plays and thinking seriously about them.
BA (Hons) Theatre Studies, 2006
"I came to Lancaster as the Theatre department has a strong reputation, fantastic facilities, and great staff. Everyone seems friendly and cooperative and wanted that environment to study within."
"Being able to use the Nuffield Theatre is a great opportunity. The range of performances and the ability to perform ourselves in this space is a huge bonus."
"The college system makes Lancaster. Being part of a college has really affected my social experience, bringing me into contact with students from a variety of different courses."
"The lecturers and practitioners around the Nuffield Theatre allow us to as students to really question our own styles of performance. They are all helpful and friendly too, something you don’t find at most universities!!"
BA (Hons) Theatre Studies, 2006
"Theatre Studies is a very close and friendly department. We can study a wide range of subjects from directing, through experimental theatre and theatre administration, to TV drama which is fantastic for achieving a broad understanding of theatre as a whole."
"I like having access to professional performances every week at a reduced price in the Nuffield Theatre and being able to see lots of contemporary theatre is exciting."
BA (Hons) Theatre Studies, 2006
"I am in my final year and the course is hard work but I’m still enjoying it. I think that the balance between theory and practical work is really good."
"I enjoy that there is a performance in the first seven weeks of the first term which means that everyone on the course gets to know each other quite well."
"I really like that the city centre is quite small and you are always guaranteed to bump into people you know. Having said that, there are plenty of great places to go for a night out."
Due to the demands of group work in Theatre Studies part-time study is not possible.
Roughly 50/50 but this can be varied through module choices in part two. We usually aim for an integration of theory and practice.
We recommend that you book online for a Visit Day or Campus Tour. Details can be found at: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/undergraduate/uk/visit.htm. On certain campus tour dates you can also ‘drop in’ to the department you’re interested in for a talk and tour. Remember though that if you apply to Lancaster you will be invited to an Open Day / Interview which includes a talk, tour and the opportunity to chat to current staff and students.
Start by searching for your course via the Online Course Search tool on the website: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/coursesearch/ . Once you have reached the summary page for your course, click on the link to the Online Courses Handbook. This will take you to a detailed course description including links to individual modules and their reading lists.
We may be able to offer you an alternative. However, due to the amount of applications we receive this may not always be possible.
If you have completed your first year at another institution you may be able to enter direct into Part II for all LICA undergraduate degree schemes. In most cases this requires you to submit a marks breakdown / transcript from your current institution as additional information when you apply.
