DRAMA
DRAMA, THEATRE & DANCE For over 50 years our department has been an exciting and vibrant place to study Drama, Theatre and Dance. An ethos of fairness, opportunity and creativity is maintained through the outstanding teaching provision. Academics who are real world theatre makers, producers and choreographers and who are innovative and dynamic in their approach facilitate a rich programme of learning. As a department we respond to the creative arts landscape and cultural offer, across the region and nationally. We offer emerging theatre makers and performers the opportunity to be part of our exciting artistic community. We work closely with industry professionals and community partnerships and aim to enable the next generation of inspiring performers and creators to emerge. These programmes continue to develop inspirational and socially engaged graduates who leave university and go out into the real world and make a difference. We look forward to welcoming you. Rachel Conlon Subject Director: Theatre, Drama & Dance
Both the course and the University ticked all the right boxes for me: innovative, diverse and welcoming. I was drawn into this course immediately. I’ve always loved the arts, especially drama, so to be able to study it whilst specialising in the education and community aspects of the subject made it all the more perfect for me. I’ve been given so many amazing opportunities throughout my three years here, from working in schools for first hand experience with the education system to being a part of the Prison Partnership Project, which was one of the most important experiences I’ve had in my life. We were part of the rehabilitation process for a wonderful group of women. The time spent with the group was truly inspiring, it opened my eyes to the world around me and without the project I don’t think I would be the person I am now. I’ve been lucky to have such down to earth, experienced lecturers. They have been there through the good and the bad and have always been on hand for the right advice. I have made so many friends and am constantly growing and learning as a person. Jasmine Rayner Drama: Education & Community BA (Hons)
93%
of 2017 graduates from our Drama, Theatre and Dance courses were in employment or further study within six months. (Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey 2017)
OUR COURSES — Acting BA (Hons)* Our Acting programme allows you to study the craft of contemporary mainstream acting for stage and screen. It is a focused and creative course which will develop your artistic skills. Through exciting and innovative practice workshops you will discover rigorous approaches to performing. You will have the opportunity to develop personas and characters utilizing imaginative skills to hone presence and tell unique stories. You will study acting as a transformative experience, act in plays and ensemble works and present solo pieces. We offer training in voice, movement, acting, interpretation and textual analysis as part of a well-rounded educational experience. You will have the opportunity to develop a professional acting portfolio and be encouraged to develop your future career path towards the creative industries.
— Drama & Theatre BA (Hons) Do you thrive on performing live and creating and collaborating to make unique theatre experiences? If the answer is ‘yes’ then our Drama course is a great match for you! This course is practice-led, so you will be working independently or alongside others writing, directing and performing - using your mind and body creatively together. We help you to find your own unique voice and style, building the confidence to bring your whole creative self to the stage. The course emphasises contemporary performance practice, so you are encouraged to respond to social and political events and the importance of drama and theatre in the 21st Century. You will have a wide variety of opportunities, including a large outdoor performance to a public audience, a field trip to Europe, establishing your own theatre company for our annual creative festival and working with recognised theatre companies outside the University. You will work with a variety of visiting artists and theatre companies in order to develop your creative skills and enhance your career prospects.
*Subject to final approval
— Drama & Dance BA (Hons) This course recognises that powerful performances can happen when drama and dance come together. It has been designed for people who are passionate about both drama and dance and enjoy exploring opportunities to combine these two disciplines to create new and exciting work. You will develop your dance skills through creating choreography, devising and performance making, ensemble and solo performance work and creating a piece of socially-engaged arts practice. Throughout the programme you will be supported by theatre-makers and choreographers with a variety of practical experience. Drama and dance tutors work closely together to make sure the course prepares you for a career in the current world of performance, be that as a teacher, choreographer, physical theatre maker or freelance performing artist.
— Drama: Education & Community BA (Hons) At York St John University community really matters to us, and we have a firm belief in the transformative power of education. This degree offers students an opportunity to study and engage in contemporary theatre practice, theatre in education, community theatre and group facilitation. At the heart of our course is a commitment to socially-engaged theatre practice, which means that you will devise and facilitate empowering, vital and important drama experiences and performances on and off campus. Utilising our strong links in the city and region, the course provides students with vital outreach and work placement opportunities in a variety of education, health and community contexts. You will have the chance to develop real world understanding and practice in contexts such as schools, prisons, elderly care homes, mental health and youth settings.
100%
of Drama: Education & Community students were satisfied with their course. (NSS 2019)
EXCELLENT FACILITIES The University has five performance studios of various sizes, which are accessible and bookable by students. Each studio contains high quality audio-visual technical equipment as well as access to a team of qualified technicians who are able to support a wide variety of performance and theatre-making activities. Workshops in a range of skills, including acting, workshop practice, ensemble and solo theatre making run throughout the year. The Drama programmes offer extensive opportunities to perform both on and off campus and with the many local and regional partnerships in the community with whom we are linked.
INSPIRATIONAL EVENTS There are a wealth of events which students can get involved in throughout the academic year. Each December Year 1 Drama students perform a theatrical intervention in the annual University Carol Service, which is held in York Minster. They also put on an outdoor performance in our beautiful Quad on campus in the second semester. In Year 2 students have the opportunity to work off campus in the community in professional work placements. At the end of semester two all Year 3 students perform their final productions in the university’s vibrant ‘CoCreate’ festival. The department also runs ‘performing house’ each year, in which four national touring performance companies perform their productions on campus and run specialist workshops for our students.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Throughout our degree programmes there are real world learning opportunities, allowing you to work with a wide range of partner organisations, either within modules or as a volunteer. These include Converge, York St John Prison Partnership Project, Shakespeare on Screen in Prisons project, NSPCC, York Theatre Royal Youth Theatre, platform at Spark Community Theatre, Mind the Gap, Theatre Hullabaloo, York St John Dance and Dementia Project, and in many local schools.
FANTASTIC FIELD TRIPS Each year group has a key field trip: Year 1: A one or two day trip to a rural or seaside location to create site-specific performance work. Year 2: A three-day trip to Krakow, Poland to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau and various galleries and museums, including the Kantor Museum. Year 3: A visit to London to develop individual research and performance projects. Opportunities are provided to view performances, visit museums and galleries and meet practitioners. Tutors regularly arrange theatre visits to see performances relevant to their modules. These may be in York or other venues in the region, such as Leeds, Hull, Newcastle or Manchester.
At York St John University we’ve been changing lives through education since 1841. We have a long history of championing social justice and expanding opportunities. Our research and our teaching reflect this.
97% of York St John University graduates were in work or further study six months after graduation (DLHE 2017).
People from almost
60
different countries study at York St John University. When you graduate you will become part of a global community who are proud to be part of the YSJ Family.
/YorkStJohnUniversity @YorkStJohn @YorkStJohn ADMISSIONS INFORMATION E: admissions@yorksj.ac.uk T: 01904 876598 www.yorksj.ac.uk
OVER 200 COURSES
to choose from Whatever you want to do, we’re here to help.
York is the safest city in the region for students The Complete University Guide (2017).
PLACEMENT YEARS Almost all of our Undergraduate courses can now be studied with a placement year in industry, giving you more real-world experience to boost your career.
STUDY ABROAD Most of our courses include the option to study abroad for a year or a semester without adding extra time to your degree. We have links with partner institutions all around the world.