Theatre: Writing, Directing and Performance

Theatre is one of the oldest forms of human expression, bringing together writing, direction and performance in a shared live encounter between makers and audiences. It is a collaborative art that demands creative and critical thinking in equal measure, asking practitioners to understand plays as texts, as concepts and as live events, and to work fluently across the roles that bring a production to life. Studying theatre at degree level develops not only artistic skills but also the capacity to analyse performance, interrogate cultural assumptions and work with others under pressure.

At the University of York this three-year, full-time BA draws together the key roles of director, playwright and performer, giving you in-depth knowledge of theatre practice and the intellectual frameworks that surround it. You will develop your skills in all three areas, studying the history and theory of performance alongside practical work in studio and production settings. You will engage with a wide range of theatrical traditions, from classical drama and twentieth-century political theatre to contemporary devised work and performance art, developing your critical vocabulary and your own practice simultaneously.

The programme includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad and work placements, giving you direct experience of professional theatre environments and international performance cultures, both of which will deepen your understanding and strengthen your professional profile.

Graduates work as theatre directors, playwrights, actors, producers, stage managers, arts administrators, drama teachers and community artists. Many also move into related fields including film, television, radio, casting, literary management, arts journalism and creative industries management. The communication, collaboration and creative problem-solving skills developed through theatre training are transferable across a wide range of professional contexts, and many graduates build portfolio careers combining several of these roles.

Some continue to postgraduate study in theatre, performance, playwriting or arts management.