Drama, Theatre and Applied Performance

Drama at Birmingham Newman University is a richly diverse programme with prepares students for using their drama knowledge and skills in a professional theatre environment and the wider community. The course has four main strands:<br/><br/>A Drama strand which traces the development of the art form from Greek Drama to Postmodern plays<br/>and develops students’ critical thinking;<br/><br/>A theatre performance element in which students take part in major performance<br/>productions that usually take place in professional venues such as the Midlands Arts Centre, The Crescent<br/>Theatre and The Blue Orange Theatre;<br/><br/>A strand devoted to applied performance in contexts such as education, in<br/>which students learn skills as community actors and artists-in-residence;<br/><br/>A work placement strand in year 2 in which all students have the opportunity to apply theory to practice, develop networks and clarify on career decisions. All students have the opportunity to conduct a final year dissertation and they can choose from three types: a traditional written dissertation, a practical performance-based dissertation and a work placement-based dissertation.<br/><br/>Why study this course? <br/><br/>• Drama at Newman offers students the opportunity to learn in a way which dissolves the traditional distinctions between ‘theory’ and ‘practice’. Students work on their feet, actively exploring and applying a range of dramatic ideas and approaches, then pausing at key moments to reflect upon what (and how) they are learning.<br/>• All students have opportunities to take part in productions<br/>• Students can learn about and participate in a range of Applied drama approaches.<br/>• Students receive specialist training from professionals with particular expertise.<br/>• Students can choose between a traditional written dissertation and a practical dissertation.<br/>• Students can develop their critical thinking skills and deepen their knowledge and understanding of Drama as an art form exploring what it is to be human.<br/>• Our performance facilities ensure students devise, rehearse and perform in an appropriate environment.