Overview
Are you passionate about theatre and eager to transform your creative ideas into compelling stage productions? Brunel’s Theatre course is designed to equip you with specialized skills across various performance genres while providing a robust academic foundation in history and theory. This unique blend nurtures your development as a versatile artist and critical thinker.
Balancing theory with hands-on practice, you'll benefit from instruction by industry professionals and accomplished academics within specialist facilities.
The course features both compulsory modules and numerous optional modules, allowing you to tailor your Theatre degree to align with your interests. A dedicated personal tutor, who also serves as your academic seminar guide, and a team of cutting-edge academics and industry specialists will support your academic journey.
Our proximity to central London enhances your experience as we regularly organize trips to renowned venues such as the Barbican, National Theatre, Royal Court, and Sadler’s Wells. Additionally, you'll engage in workshops with ground-breaking theatre companies, enriching your course experience.
"Dana demonstrates a strong commitment to the third sector community, named as one of the Top 100 Charity Sector Influencers and winner of the Best Trustee Award at #SocialCEOS Awards 2019" - Dana Segal
"When I left Brunel, my plan was to get a paid internship right away. I knew how important this would be as my plan was to go into paid work right away and build on my career. I managed to secure an internship with a creative company, through the Santander scheme at Brunel." - Carolina Herranz-Carr
"Dana demonstrates a strong commitment to the third sector community, named as one of the Top 100 Charity Sector Influencers and winner of the Best Trustee Award at #SocialCEOS Awards 2019" - Dana Segal
"When I left Brunel, my plan was to get a paid internship right away. I knew how important this would be as my plan was to go into paid work right away and build on my career. I managed to secure an internship with a creative company, through the Santander scheme at Brunel." - Carolina Herranz-Carr
You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.
Course content
In your first year, foundational modules will provide a rigorous understanding of Theatre, allowing you to pinpoint your specific interests. Subsequently, in the second and third years, you have the flexibility to select modules aligned with your passions.
By the time you complete your degree, you will have cultivated a diverse portfolio of strengths including academic writing and creative practice, positioning you for various career paths in the creative industries, education, or further postgraduate studies.
For 2024/2025, we have transformed our curriculum to offer exciting and cutting-edge perspectives on the work of making and engaging in theatre and performance (pending validation). For an in-depth overview of compulsory and optional modules offered throughout the course, please refer to the link below. Further insights into module content can be found in the dropdown menus.
This course offers a choice of full-time study over three years, full-time with a placement year, or part-time spanning four to seven years, commencing in September.
Compulsory
- Theatre Making
Unleash your creativity as this module introduces diverse strategies for crafting theatre. Lay the groundwork for your creative journey by understanding devising and dramaturgical principles, connecting the dots between various performance elements to give life to your imaginative expressions.
- Critical Histories
Challenge the status quo as you navigate the labyrinth of performance histories entwined with society, politics, and culture. Discover the power to critically analyse global performance narratives and reshape performance histories as dynamic political activities. This module encourages you to unearth gaps, biases, and alternative perspectives, transforming history into a vibrant tapestry of performance
- The Performer: Acting and Performance
Dive into the world of performers and their unique abilities to craft theatrical performances. This module is your backstage pass to developing performance skills, drawing inspiration from a diverse array of training practices, and navigating the exciting boundaries between training, rehearsal, and the spotlight of live performance.
- Performance Studies: Creative Research and Practice
Embark on a journey to critically explore the theoretical and practical realms of performance. Uncover how the study of performance can dynamically respond to challenges on local, national, and global stages. This module provides a canvas to apply performance analysis to political, social, artistic, and cultural phenomena, offering insights into the transformative impact performance practices and research can have on individuals and communities.
Compulsory
- Creative Research Project
Embark on an intellectual journey as this module introduces you to diverse realms of arts research. Survey recent and emerging research, analyse existing practices, and master key academic approaches that will shape your research endeavours within and beyond the academic realm.
- Performance Lab
Transform your curiosity into a dynamic performance exploration. Engage with performance to probe specific topics, unravel issues, and pose questions. This module empowers you to view performance not just as an art but as a potent mode of inquiry into the world around you.
Optional
- Gender as Performance
Join the exploration of performance practices and practitioners delving into the critical discourse surrounding gender. Develop not only a critical vocabulary but also frameworks to dissect gender as a vibrant performance woven into everyday life. This module takes you on a global adventure, exploring transnational analyses of gender performances.
- Applied Drama Project
Become a creative powerhouse. This module invites you to create and evaluate applied drama workshops and performances tailored for specific audiences. Dive into collaborative ventures within student companies, where collective working becomes the heartbeat of your creative process.
- Musical Theatre Makers
This module will introduce you to key practitioners in the field of musical theatre aiding you to recognize and ponder the impact these practitioners have had on shaping the art form. Analyse the critical aspects of musical theatre, journey through its historical lineage, and feel the stage come alive as you gain practical insights through performance.
- Acting as a Critical Practice
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of naturalism and acting as a critical practice. Explore the techniques of pioneers such as Zola, Hagen, Adler, and venture into the intersection of naturalism with magical realism, Epic Theatre, and farce. This module is your ticket to understanding how acting and critical practices intersect with the rich tapestry of cultural contexts.
Compulsory
- Contemporary Theatre Project
Become a creator of original performance works, drawing from your interdisciplinary experiences. Navigate the dynamic interplay between performance-making and the ever-changing contexts of local, national, and international stages. This module equips you with tools to not only create but also market your work effectively.
- Drama, Theatre, and Performance Dissertation
Undertake a substantial research journey, crafting a written dissertation that contributes to the field. This module is designed to empower you to plan, design, and execute a specialised project. Develop research skills, critically evaluate your project, and leave a compelling mark on the academic landscape.
Optional
- Advanced Acting
Elevate your acting in this performance-focused module. Intensive workshops, theatre productions, and a focus on realism and naturalism await you. Dive into the techniques of acting pioneers and let the stage become your workshop for honing your skills.
- Anti-Racism and Performance
Ignite change as you explore anti-racism through the lens of performance. Navigate the historical landscapes of Critical Race Theory and delve into the intricate relationships between race, racism, and colonialism. This module is your gateway to understanding how performance becomes a powerful tool for social repair, protest, and activism.
- Advanced Creative Research Project
Embark on a research adventure, independently and within a vibrant community of peers. This module mirrors doctoral research contexts, offering a blend of taught sessions, practical workshops, and collaborative exploration. Your journey involves discovering, testing, refining, sharing, and reflecting on emerging research findings.
- Advanced Musical Theatre
Fine-tune your instrument—voice and body—in this practical module. Develop rehearsal and performance skills, seamlessly integrate singing, dancing, and acting, and embark on a journey of critical self-reflection on your evolving practice. Explore the industrial context of the musical theatre performer and master the art of auditioning with confidence and flair.
- Professional Practice and Development
Prepare for your journey from university to professional practice with this module. Gain sector-specific insights and align academic experiences with career goals. The module develops crucial skills for post-graduation challenges, ensuring graduates emerge academically enriched, focused on key employment areas, and prepared for life after university.
This course can be studied 3 years full-time, 4 years full-time with placement or 4-7 years part-time, starting in September.
This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of undergraduate degrees at Brunel.
Careers and your future
A Theatre degree from Brunel not only equips you with the skills to thrive as a versatile, critically informed creative person in an ever-shifting economic landscape but also fosters the development of resilient, critically-thinking citizens prepared for the challenges of the professional world. Our commitment goes beyond shaping versatile artists; we aim to nurture individuals capable of navigating the complexities of the workforce.
The program offers the option of a short or year-long work placement, providing a valuable opportunity to enhance your professional profile during your course. Our dedicated support ensures you find the industry placement that aligns with your aspirations.
Graduates from our Theatre program embark on diverse paths. Some enter the creative industries, exemplified by notable alumni such as actor Damson Idris (2013), deputy stage manager at Shakespeare’s Globe Alannagh Cook (2015), and Les Enfant Terribles’ Assistant Producer Fiona Porritt (2015). Others venture into the marketing sector, education, or applied drama, while some choose to pursue postgraduate study and training. The possibilities are broad and exciting, and we eagerly anticipate supporting you on your unique journey. Explore stories of our inspirational alumni in Theatre here.
UK entry requirements
2024/25 entry
- GCE A-level AAB-BBC.
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma DMM in any subject.
- BTEC Level 3 Diploma DM in any subject, with an A-level at grade C.
- BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma M in any subject, with A-levels grade BB.
- International Baccalaureate Diploma 29 points.
- Obtain a minimum of 112 UCAS tariff points in the Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3.
- T levels : Merit overall
- A minimum of five GCSEs are required, including GCSE Mathematics grade C or grade 4 and GCSE English Language grade C or grade 4 or GCSE English Literature grade B or grade 5.
Brunel University London is committed to raising the aspirations of our applicants and students. We will fully review your UCAS application and, where we’re able to offer a place, this will be personalised to you based on your application and education journey.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants as well as our full GCSE requirements and accepted equivalencies in place of GCSEs.
EU and International entry requirements
If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6.5 (min 5.5 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
- BrunELT: 63% (min 55% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 90 (min R18, L17, S20, W17)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2024/25 entry
UK
£9,250 full-time
£6,935 part-time
£1,385 placement year
International
£19,430 full-time
£14,570 part-time
£1,385 placement year
Fees quoted are per year and may be subject to an annual increase. Home undergraduate student fees are regulated and are currently capped at £9,250 per year; any changes will be subject to changes in government policy. International fees will increase annually, by no more than 5% or RPI (Retail Price Index), whichever is the greater.
More information on any additional course-related costs.
See our fees and funding page for full details of undergraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Please refer to the scholarships pages to view discounts available to eligible EU undergraduate applicants.
Teaching and learning
The BA (Hons) Theatre program at Brunel is designed for in-person delivery on campus, offering a dynamic mix of lectures, seminars, practical workshops, rehearsals, one-to-one tutorials, and site visits. While some materials may be delivered online or pre-recorded, students have the flexibility to arrange individual tutorials either on-campus or online, accommodating diverse schedules. Attendance is mandatory; beyond facilitating teaching and learning, on-campus in-person sessions cultivate collaborative theatre practices, personal and collegial networks, and overall well-being.
There is no equipment required for purchase by Theatre students and access to all software and hardware needed for learning and assessments is available on campus.
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
The weekly Perspectives seminars led by your personal tutor are at the heart of your learning. Here’s where your critical thinking and writing skills will be nurtured and developed in a small group of eight to ten students.
The rest of your study time is spread across lectures, seminars, individual tutorials, workshops, practical classes, masterclasses, rehearsals, screenings and theatre visits.
You'll also have the opportunity to be in several performances. For example at the end of your first year, you can take part in the Ensemble Production module; a large scale, public-facing performance. In year 3, several modules finish with public-facing modules (e.g., Acting, Physical Theatre, Musical Theatre, and Digital), and if you choose a Final Project for your dissertation, you get to develop work in a format you desire to share with an audience as a conclusion to your studies.
Gain insight into life after your studies by putting your learning into practice through a one-year work placement.
Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.
Assessment and feedback
In lieu of traditional written exams, assessment in the Theatre program is a dynamic mix of practical performances, projects, presentations, online reflective journals, written essays, and in-class participation. To ensure academic integrity, refer to our guide on avoiding plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.
Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.
