Undergraduate Study
The Department is probably the largest university theatre department in the UK, so it can offer an unusually wide range of subject areas, all taught by specialists. No other department offers courses covering a comparable range of historical and cultural areas.
It has a strong research culture, with all staff being active researchers; it is the only university drama department in the country to have received the top grades of 5 or 5* in each of the four Research Assessment Exercises carried out between 1986 and 2001. Hence teaching is always on the cutting edge of the subject, the curriculum never remaining quite the same from one year to the next.
It has a strong commitment to good teaching. At the last Teaching Quality Assessment, we fell only one short of full marks. Its only fault was to be short of space, a problem that has been rectified by the opening and contunued development of the Boilerhouse complex including our awe-inspiring 'found' theatre space.
The Department is well resourced, with a new workshop, six technical staff, three major performance spaces (the Studio Theatre, the Boilerhouse, the Handa Noh Studio), and two rehearsal rooms. A 'digital studio' allows you to explore new technology in relation to performance.
The department is committed to the integration of theory and practice at all times. No members of staff consider themselves to be academics rather than practitioners or vice versa. All courses are taught by drama specialists. The emphasis of the teaching is upon experimental projects that test ideas rather than glamorous but orthodox productions.
An active 'student workshop' which organises theatre productions, social events and guest visits from theatre professionals, and the College Drama Society offer ample opportunity for students to develop their own theatre practice outside the curriculum.
The College has a pleasant campus with easy access both to green countryside and to the London theatre.
Tel/Fax : +44 (0)1784 443922/431018