BA (Hons) Acting for Contemporary Theatre Degree

Program Overview

This BA (Hons) Acting for Contemporary Theatre degree at the University of Chichester is a practical program that develops students' skills as theatre actors while exploring the expanded role of the actor in contemporary theatre. Students have the opportunity to specialize, participate in productions, and undertake placements with professional theatres. The program prepares graduates for careers in the cultural industries through its strong vocational focus and professional development opportunities.

Program Outline

The course focuses on the role of the actor in the theatre-making process. During your studies you will have the freedom to explore a range of theatrical styles to shape your own artistic identity. You will:

• Develop your performance skills as a theatre actor.
• Explore the expanded role of the actor within contemporary theatre.
• Expand your knowledge and skills beyond performance as you study devising, scriptwriting, directing and workshop leading.
• Have the option to undertake placement with a range of theatres.
• Benefit from our professional industry partnerships throughout your studies.
• Access placement opportunities including roles at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Brighton People’s Theatre, Edinburgh Festival and more.

Outline:

• Year One: Foundations
• Building core skills in acting
• Discovering new techniques
• Freeing the actor
• Year Two: Specialism
• Deepening core skills
• Bespoke actor’s toolkit with a range of optional modules
• Two staff-led productions
• Year Three: Independence
• Applying the craft in the actor across four practical projects from a range of options; devised production (compulsory), professional showreel, solo performance, directed play and devised production.
• Focused professional development including theatre company management and graduate festival for programmers, producers and funding bodies.

Modules:

• Year One
• Critical and Cultural Theory 1: Theory-Lite
• Performance Skills 1: Voice, Body Text
• Theatre Project: Narrative
• Theatre Project: Site Specific
• Year Two
• Critical and Cultural Theory 2: Modernism
• Performance Skills 2: Interdisciplinary Devising
• Theatre Project 2: Physical and Visual Performance
• Theatre Project 3: Text and Deconstruction
• Children and Young People’s Theatre
• Clown, Comedy and Mask
• Critical and Cultural Theory 3: Romanticism
• Critical and Cultural Theory 4: Postmodernism
• Drama in Education
• Gender, Sexuality and Theatre
• Performance Skills 3: Devised Text and Character
• Performance Skills 4 (Post Dramatic Theatre)
• Production 1: Ensemble Practices
• Production 2: Postmodern Theatre Project
• Theatre, Politics and Activism
• Visual and Technical Arts
• Year Three
• Adaptation and Direction
• Applied Arts
• Company Management
• Documenting Performance
• Performance and Material
• Performance Writing
• Personal Study
• Production 3
• Solo Performance
• Work Placement
• Workshop Project: Practice As Research

Assessment:

You will be assessed through a range of assignments including practical and performance contexts. These assessments will include group and individual performances, directing exercises, presentations, creative installations, and essays. During your degree you will be involved in at least 12 examined performances, including three major productions, over the three years.

Teaching:

• In the first year you can expect to attend 12 hours per week of taught skills classes, at least four hours of rehearsals for third year directing exercises, six hours of project classes, at least six hours of group rehearsal and personal study and two hours of lectures and seminars.
This amounts to 30 hours per week during term time.
• Skills development sessions are taught by a range of dedicated specialists in small classes of about 15, whereas some modules are taught in lectures and small seminar groups.

Careers:

This BA (Hons) Acting for Contemporary Theatre degree will prepare you for a range of careers in industry and you will graduate ready for the workplace. Our professional development programme offers a range of formal internships with professional partner organisations to ensure that graduates are well-prepared for careers in the cultural industries.

Other:

• The course runs in parallel to our BA (Hons) Acting course, so you will work with and perform with other students throughout your degree.
• All our staff work professionally in the theatre industry as performers, theatre-makers, directors, and dramaturgs.
• You will become a member of a shared creative community where cultural identity, experimentation and research are central to making contemporary theatre.
You will be able to take part in casting opportunities, auditions, and talks with industry professionals.
• We often run workshops and post-show discussion for Theatre students with visiting artists.
This is at the heart of the ShowRoom’s ambition.
• You will be fully supported throughout the process to help find the right destination institution for you and your course.