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Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Contemporary Theatre and Performance

BA Contemporary Theatre and Performance students performing with microphones and 2 large screen televisions in the acting lab session.

BA (Hons) Contemporary Theatre and Performance, Wimbledon College of Arts, UAL
College
Wimbledon College of Arts
UCAS code
W442
Start date
September
Course length
3 years

BA Contemporary Theatre and Performance at Wimbledon College of Arts is for students who are interested in making performance.

Applications suspended 2024/25

Recruitment has been suspended for 2024/25. Discover more undergraduate courses at UAL.

Course overview

On this course you’ll create contemporary theatre productions and new forms of performance. You will do this in collaboration with other students.

The course will give you the opportunity to develop as a: 

•    collaborative theatre-maker
•    creative entrepreneur
•    innovative performance practitioner.
    
You will plan, design, develop and deliver performance projects. These will be for theatrical and non-theatrical locations and contexts. Your work will engage with contemporary culture. This course will enable you to work in an ensemble and to form a company or collective.

What to expect 

  • Solo and group performances: Develop your skills across a range of creative forms and disciplines.
  • Exploration: Investigate critical approaches to contemporary theatre, post-dramatic performance and different performance environments. 
  • Composition: Study the theory and practice of performance composition and have the chance to design your own. 
  • Deeper knowledge: Understand performance in relation to text, image and action. 
  • Contextual study: Look at performance from cultural, political and historical perspectives.
  • Ideas and viewpoints: Examine global theatre practices, post-colonial narratives and socially engaged performance. 
  • Different types of performance: Learn about digital, participatory and relational performance practices.
  • Access to Wimbledon's shared workshops: View the Wimbledon facilities.

Mode of study

BA Contemporary Theatre and Performance is offered in full-time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage consists of 30 teaching weeks. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study. 

Course units

Year 1 

Unit 1: Introduction to Contemporary Theatre and Performance

This unit is an introduction to your course, the College and the University. 

Unit 2: Contemporary performance lab

This unit will investigate a range of contemporary theatre and performance-making practices and compositional methods. It will provide you with a firm grounding in key approaches to dramaturgy and performance composition. You will develop practical skills and knowledge required for your initial development as a theatre-maker. 

Unit 3: Theatre in context

This unit investigates theatre as an expanding field of cultural practice. Taking both a local and global approach, you’ll consider what theatre might mean to different communities. You’ll explore different practices in relation to their social, cultural and historical contexts and consider the complex politics and ethics of cross-cultural performance.

Unit 4: Representing the real

This unit will introduce you to some of the foundational practices and theoretical questions concerning the relationship between reality and representation. This awareness will help you grow your acting and performance-making skills so you can authentically position yourself within the context of an event and scenography.

Year 2 

Unit 5: Performance histories

This unit explores different approaches to acting and performance as cultural narration and storytelling practice. Project briefs will enable you to investigate your own stories, histories and cultural identities. You’ll explore the creative potential of acting and performance to tell stories, give voice to marginalised experiences and generate alternative perspectives. 

Unit 6: Collaborative and collective practices

You will be introduced to different ways in which collaborative working can help you to focus and enhance your own creative strengths. You’ll have the chance to work with fellow students and creative communities.

Unit 7: Digital performance lab

This unit investigates the rapidly developing field of digital performance and its transformative impact on contemporary theatre forms. You will explore performance-making for digital environments and platforms, including acting for screen and interactive media. You’ll also have opportunities to experiment with new technologies such as virtual and augmented reality. 

Unit 8: Contemporary theatre-making

This unit looks at a range of contemporary theatre-making practices developed by contemporary performance companies, directors and performer-practitioners. You’ll explore contemporary approaches to making socially and politically engaged theatre and performance. This critical awareness will enhance your compositional skills and creative capacities as a contemporary theatre-maker and ensemble practitioner. 

Year 3 

Unit 9: Performance research

This unit will provide you with a firm grounding in performance research. You will learn how to frame research questions, conduct a critical literature and practice review, identify appropriate research methods and form a sustained critical and theoretical argument, whether in performance practice or through writing. 

Unit 10: Ensemble performance

In this unit, you’ll create a professional-standard public production. Working with designers, technicians and performance makers, you’ll learn all the different elements involved in creating and performing in an ensemble production. You’ll be encouraged to showcase all the contemporary theatre and performance-making strategies that you have learnt throughout the course.

Optional Diploma between Years 2 and 3

Between Years 2 and 3 of the course, you’ll also have the opportunity to undertake one of the following additional UAL qualifications:

Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS)

This optional diploma can be taken between years 2 and 3. With support from your tutors, you’ll undertake an industry placement for a minimum of 100 days/20 weeks. As well as developing industry skills, you’ll gain an additional qualification upon successful completion.

Diploma in Creative Computing

Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Creative Computing. This will develop your skills in creative computing alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate course, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Contemporary Theatre and Performance (with Creative Computing).
 

Learning and teaching methods

  • Collaborative work
  • Group and individual tutorials
  • Independent study
  • Introductions and inductions to university, college and course resources
  • Investigative seminars
  • Lectures and visiting speaker talks
  • Practical performance projects
  • Practical workshops
  • Performance analysis of live theatre and digital screenings
  • Performance labs
  • Production projects
  • Project based learning
  • Staff and student led seminars and discussions
  • Studio, external venue and other visits
  • Training for performance sessions
  • Use of resource venues and institutions

Student work

  • BA-Contemporary-Theatre-and-Performance-Kaitlyn-Fiery.jpg
    Student Kaitlyn Fiery performing on stage.
    BA (Hons) Contemporary Theatre and Performance, Wimbledon College of Arts, UAL
  • BA-Contemporary-Theatre-and-Performance-Rockaby-Machine-student-performance.jpg
    Student performance of the play Rockaby Machine.
    BA (Hons) Contemporary Theatre and Performance, Wimbledon College of Arts, UAL
  • BA-Contemporary-Theatre-and-Performance-Attempts-on-her-life-student-performance.jpg
    Student performance of the play Attempts on her life.
    BA (Hons) Contemporary Theatre and Performance, Wimbledon College of Arts, UAL

Film

Studying BA Contemporary Theatre and Performance: Jack and Sara

Staff

Fees and funding

Home fee

£9,250 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£28,570 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are one or a combination of the following qualifications:

  • 2 A Levels at grade C or above
  • Pass at Foundation Diploma in Acting, Performance or Art and Design (Level 3 or 4)
  • Merit, Pass, Pass (MPP) at BTEC Extended Diploma
  • Pass at UAL Extended Diploma
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma
  • Or equivalent EU/International qualifications, such as International Baccalaureate Diploma at 24 points minimum
  • And 3 GCSE passes at grade 4 or above (grade A*-C)

Entry to this course will also be determined by the quality of your application, looking primarily at your portfolio of work, personal statement and reference.

APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference
  • A combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English language requirements

All classes are taught in English. If English isn't your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:

Selection criteria

We look for:

  • Interest in, commitment to and motivation for studying the subject
  • Ability to work imaginatively and creatively individually and in groups
  • Ability to create, develop and respond to new ideas and to work with new creative forms
  • Desire to learn
  • Ability to investigate and develop ideas independently
  • Ability to communicate ideas physically, verbally and in writing
  • Aptitude for creative problem solving
  • Ability to self-direct and critically evaluate work
  • Willingness to think critically about the relationship between performance and public / social life
  • Openness and responsiveness to other’s ideas

Careers

On completing this course you will be:

  • Equipped with a range of specialist performance-making and transferrable performance-related skills. These will enable you to work within the theatre, creative and cultural industries
  • Able to communicate effectively through the medium of performance
  • Confident about your ideas and ability to transfer them into a professional environment
  • Able to work independently and collaboratively
  • Connected and engaged with critical communities of performance related debate and research
  • Prepared for postgraduate study

Find out how careers and employability helps our students and graduates start their careers.