Course overview

An interest in the way language is used is central to both aspects of this degree and at Portsmouth our experienced staff provide the perfect environment for exploring the language of English and drama.

The drama pathway combines practical and theoretical approaches to the study of various aspects of drama. It provides an opportunity to engage with a range of practices and diverse theatre practitioners, and strongly encourages the production and performance of original dramatic work by students.

Texts from Shakespeare to Quentin Tarantino and from Mary Shelley to Salman Rushdie are explored as part of the English element of the degree. They are taught from a variety of perspectives including period-based study, thematic approaches to literature, the theory and history of literary study, and close textual analysis.

Course content

This course offers a core drama strand that combines practice and research through looking at a broad range of performance styles. The second and third years of the degree enable you to focus on a specific aspect of the theatre industry, such as acting, directing, production management or dramaturgy.

You will study theory and practice relating to the principal methodologies of twentieth century performance practitioners including Stanislavski, Brecht, Artaud, Grotowski and Brook. Drama topics include:

• Practical Skills
• Devising Theatre
• Text and Practice
• Interdisciplinary and Critical Approaches
• Drama in Context
• Forming a Company
• Applied Theatre

You will also study a wide range of literary texts and the cultural, historical and theoretical interpretation of literature, as well as a range of theoretical approaches to the study of drama. You will analyse, interpret and criticise literature in different ways by studying a variety of topics including:

• Introduction to Literary History (Author and Narrative)
• Popular Fiction
• Writing in the Nineteenth Century
• Literary Detectives
• The Gothic
• Rewriting Literary History
• Renaissance
• Women’s Writing

Teaching and assessment

You will experience considerable intellectual freedom and choice. Specialist options are built into the programme to allow a great degree of freedom and personal exploration. There is a lively tradition of presenting your own work and you will have access to a workable studio theatre with flexible seating accommodating an audience of up to 80 people, rehearsal facilities including a mirrored dance space and several music practice rooms equipped with pianos.

Collaborations with outside organisations, such as the New Theatre Royal and Chichester Festival Theatre, provide
crucial professional input, enabling you to experience the sort of challenges you may meet in a performing arts career.

Drama students run their own society, The Show Committee, which will offer you the chance to get involved in producing regular shows. Staff also run their own production company, Soothsayer, mounting productions in-house and professionally.

We have sought to develop assessments that allow you to demonstrate a range of skills and talents. You may be assessed in a variety of ways including practical productions, dramatic writing, essays, video productions or group presentations. You might also sit an exam, write a report or develop a research portfolio. At the end of the course you will write a dissertation. This is an opportunity to engage in a sustained and developed research exercise.

Career prospects

You will graduate with a unique set of communication and research skills, complemented by professional practical capabilities. We encourage our students to actively seek work experience and extracurricular activities if they wish to pursue a career working in or with the media and creative industries. The University’s Purple Door Careers and Recruitment service is there to help you research and apply for placements.

Possible career destinations include:

• acting, theatre, film or television production
• publishing, arts and events management
• local and community broadcasting
• teaching
• postgraduate study

Facilities and features

You will have access to our main studio, which is a fully workable black box space, with flexible seating accommodating up to 60 audience members. A second purpose-built space offers an adaptable experimental space. We have a number of other rehearsal facilities kitted out with lighting, as well as a sound recording booth, a video editing suite and music practice rooms equipped with pianos.

We regularly welcome guest speakers and practitioners into the School. Previous speakers have included Sheila Hancock, Edward Bond, Mark Ravenhill, David Edgar, Howard Brenton, Michelene Wandor, the Fecund Theatre Company, Pete Wire, the Solent People's Theatre and the Big Brum Theatre.

The University also has a very close connection with the professional theatres and theatre companies in and around Portsmouth, particularly the New Theatre Royal. In recent years, students have been able to make the most out of these relationships through performing or staging productions at the theatre, finding part-time employment at the box office or front of house, or working alongside the theatre professionals as part of their course to programme events, understand the basics of marketing or engage with outreach activities organised within the city.

Entry requirements

View all the entry requirements for BA (Hons) English and Drama for the academic year 2013/14 (opens in new window).