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University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
UK, LU1 3JU
This exciting, practice-led course will enable you to build up an impressive portfolio of work while you study to become a creative theatre practitioner either in education, the creative industries or as a performer. You will immerse yourself in the process of contemporary theatre making from stage one and experience various relevant positions in professional theatre production.
You will study the theoretical concepts that underpin theatre-making, but focus on developing as a performer, director and educator. You will take part in various public performance projects, run a workshop with a local community group and plan a season of work that will be realised in small-scale companies during the final year of the course. Your practice will be inspired and encouraged by regularly attending on-campus professional performances. Through your own observations and performances, in addition to your work with local groups, you will experience the power that theatre has to transform lives.
A dedicated theatre team with extensive experience in theatre practice will guide you throughout your development. They will consistently emphasise professional practice, present you with opportunities to perform in full-scale theatre productions in excellent facilities, and help you to transform your ideas into genuine productions. You will even set up and run a small-scale touring company that will present a production you and your fellow students have created. This practical experience will help you make the transition from student to professional theatre practitioner upon graduation.
As a student on Contemporary Theatre Practice you will be assessed on your development as a creative theatre practitioner within the following, broad, categories:
You will undertake a range of assessment tasks under each of these headings. A `Written Assessment may be a formal essay, or it may be a piece of professional writing such as a Funding Application, or a draft CV. A `Practical Presentation could be a full scale production but it could also be a workshop for a client group, or a site-specific piece of work. In every unit you will be assessed across more than one activity; for example, a Production unit will require that you are assessed as a performer but the assessment may also consist of a practical presentation seminar and a reflective journal either in written, or e-form; a theory-based unit will require you to demonstrate and articulate your understanding of theory in a formal essay, but it will also consist of a seminar presentation in which you explore theory in practice.
Each of these categories includes research as a foundational condition for all elements of the course. Whilst the contexts within which these broad categories are assessed will differ, the generic qualities subsumed within each of them will appear consistently in your assessment criteria. At each level of study it is expected that your response to assessment tasks will become more sophisticated as your skill and subject knowledge develops; the level of study will be reflected in the level of response required by assessment criteria.
At each level of study you will be asked to participate in formative assessment procedures which require you to consider and grade your own work against the agreed assessment criteria. This allows you to reflect upon your own practice, with tutors, and to take responsibility for acknowledging areas of strength and weakness in your work. Wherever you feel that your work could be strengthened you will be offered appropriate professional support to facilitate this.
You will receive detailed feedback on all your work, both written and practical. In all cases this will be in the form of a written feedback sheet which you should read carefully and, if necessary, discuss further with the tutor who has written it. It is your responsibility to follow up on any recommendations within the feedback although you can always seek advice from the marking tutor. In some instances where the assessment has included a period of practical preparation you will be given detailed verbal feedback on your work in place of written assessment. The feedback will take the form of a 30 minute tutorial at which you will be given the opportunity to discuss your work with your tutor and the second marker for the assessment.
Your training as a Creative Theatre Practitioner is at the core of the degree course and the professional qualities which accompany this training are articulated and embedded in the assessment criteria. The emphasis placed upon your professional identity recognizes the requirements of your chosen field of employment.
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:-
1) Interpret a selected drama text, through the implementation of a range of production roles, for a contemporary audience.
2) Initiate and lead creative projects which may involve non-professional participants.
3) Initiate and develop processes and structures which facilitate the production of theatre texts for a range of audiences.
4) Apply appropriate research methodologies to written and/or practice-based research in self-managed study.
5) Articulate your identity as a Creative Theatre Practitioner.
6) Present yourself as a professional in a range of written, practical and e-forms.
University of Bedfordshire Level Descriptors
QA Subject Benchmark Statement: Dance, Drama and Performance
PALATINE
Creating Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship for the Creative Industries
Study Skills are embedded in the course but additional support will be available throughout the three years of the degree via PADS.
Students who are diagnosed with needs for extra support with writing and communications skills development may be required to take extra classes provided by the University
CAAS will provide confidential help and support with issues relating to students academic studies throughout the three years of the degree.
Careers planning and advice is embedded in the course but additional advice and services are available from the Centre for Personal and Career Development.
Each student will be assigned a Personal Tutor on arrival at the University of Bedfordshire. Regular tutorials will continue throughout the three years of the degree.
The Health Centres at Luton campus and Beford campus offers you complete care during your time as a student. The provision includes doctors, nurses, clinics, prescriptions, travel vaccinations, telephone advice and outofhours emergency services.
Team working is fundamental to the study of theatre and throughout your time as a student you will constantly be asked to work in groups of varying sizes and to consider the skills needed in order to operate effectively in this context. One of the most important elements of team work in an understanding of the level of dependency involved in the process of rehearsal or collaboration, and the attendant responsibilities this implies for each individual member of the team. From the moment you arrive as a student you will be working in collaboration with others on a production in Process to Production and issues of responsibility, trust, and flexibility will be addressed as central to your academic, professional and creative development.
At each Level of the degree you will be required to work with others either in the preparation of a seminar, a presentation of dramatic text, a devised piece, or a reflection upon the work of others. At Level 1 group tasks will be structured by the tutors; as the course progresses you will be given more independence in the development of structures which suit the particular requirements of the task. Each year you will undertake a full production and a series of smaller creative projects each requiring different approaches and group structures.
You will sometimes be assessed as a member of a group, and at other times for your individual input to the group. In the Production units you will be asked to comment critically upon your own contribution to the group as a whole and at Level 3 you will be required to critically evaluate the work of your small-scale production company in terms of collaboration, team work and professional attitude.
Your training for professional employment in the Creative Industries begins at Level 1 of Contemporary Theatre Practice and continues throughout the three years of the degree. The Creative Theatre Practitioner strand is dedicated to supporting you in the development of your professional identity, the defining of your career aspirations/goals, and the clear understanding of the requirements involved in achieving them.
In The Creative Theatre Practitioner 1 tutors and specialist staff from the Centre for Personal and Career Development will guide and support you as you start to gain a sense of who you are, where you want to go and what youll need to do to get there. You will research key people, organisations and structures that constitute and support contemporary theatre practice. You will also consider the wider applications of drama-based activity and study models of creative practice in community contexts. Guest speakers will complement your research into career possibilities and how to operate successfully in the current cultural climate. Over the year you will undertake a range of written tasks that will form the foundation of your personal portfolio and you will generate material in traditional and electronic forms.
The Creative Theatre Practitioner 2 will enable you to test your developing range of professional skills more independently and in leadership roles. In the first term of this unit you will develop your facilitation skills in classes and co-lead an educational drama workshop with a chosen group of people outside university. In the second term, with your peers, you will form your own theatre companies. You will personally take on a role within the company, develop plans for artistic projects and formally propose a programme of work.
The Creative Practitioner 3 is designed to be a springboard into your professional career and to develop your entrepreneurialism. You will consolidate your professional identity and articulate your own artistic vision, work and practice. You will engage in careers, skills and portfolio building classes (as well as one-to-one tutorials) and you will create usable resources for the next stage of your careers. You will also apply for jobs and experience in theatre and the creative industries.
On completing this course you are likely to progress into the following areas:
Further study:
UK Students
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
All applicants will attend an audition and interview.
The general requirement is one of the following:
Students from the European Union
As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.
All applicants will be required to provide evidence of practical performance work.
International Students
Undergraduate applications (BA/BSc) can be made direct to the University or via our representatives in your home country.
If you intend to apply to more than one university you should apply via UCAS.
If you want to apply to the University of Bedfordshire only you should apply directly using our International application form or via our representatives in your home country.
All applicants will be required to provide evidence of practical performance work.
A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.
Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.
Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.
We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
The general requirement is one of the following:
Postgraduate applications (MA/MSc) should be made direct to the University using the standard University application form. There are some exceptions, please see individual course descriptions for details.
As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.
(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)
We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.
Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.
Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section
APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.
Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `
The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.
We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.
Return your completed application to:
University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk
Your training as a Creative Theatre Practitioner will involve the development of subject specialist skills, a detailed knowledge of production processes, an academic understanding of your subject area, and the application of professional attitudes and discipline in all areas of study. Your degree course consists of four strands of work, therefore.
Creative Processes Strand
Your skills training (acting, directing, devising, project management) will normally take place in a studio theatre, working practically with a tutor. During the course of your skills training you will be set short projects to fulfil and these may take place in the studio before your peers, in a community venue, or in a site-specific venue. Sometimes you will be required to work independently on projects and you will then present your work for group feedback.
Production Strand
Your production work will either take place in the University theatre, or in a touring venue, which could be, for example, a church hall, an arts centre, or a school. Sometimes you will work as an actor being directed by your tutor or another student, at other times you will have the opportunity to take on production roles in addition to your acting, in order to have experience of a range of work within the production structure. Production work normally takes place before the public who pay to see your work; it is expected, therefore, that your work aspires to professional standards throughout the degree.
Creative Thinking Strand
Your academic training will introduce you to a range of texts which will help you to develop and make yourself understood as a Creative Theatre Practitioner. You will study dramatic texts, theory, and the work of practitioners in lectures, seminars and practical workshops over the three years. You will be supported in your development of the academic skills to write essays, and present seminars but you will also apply these skills to the writing of evaluative reports, project proposals, or funding applications. In your third year you will work independently, with a supervisor, researching an 8-10,000 word dissertation, an academic response to a practical research question, or a research project on arts policy culminating in a presentation and research folder of 5,000 words.
The Creative Practitioner Strand
Your professional training will prepare you to work effectively as a theatre practitioner within the Creative Industries. You will receive training on the development and maintenance of e journals in order that you can keep a detailed record of your development as a practitioner; you will also work with to develop a range of CVs for use when you graduate. Throughout all levels of the degree you will be supported in your growth as a professional practitioner and this will include one-to-one futures planning tutorials, networking events, placements and training events. In order to support your ambitions as a practitioner you will learn how to make professional project proposals and funding applications. By year three you will be representing yourself as a professional in your work and you will be offered the support and confidence necessary to reach this point.
The close integration of theory and practice, the exploration of the relationship between thinking and doing, is at the heart of the teaching and learning strategy of Contemporary Theatre Practice. Consequently, all four strands of the curriculum combine theoretical and practical study, although the emphasis might be on one or the other for particular units. For examples, you will read and analyse drama, but you will also explore how a particular text works theatrically in performance and how new meanings can emerge through practical interpretation. You will research the working methodology of a particular practitioner, but will also have the chance to physically experience that methodology in workshops and thus make sense of their research in a very tangible, experiential way. You will explore a particular theoretical approach and will then explore how this approach opens up new possibilities of creating performance.
Group development and identity is of central importance to the Contemporary Theatre Practice degree. You will all take the same units with no options between units being offered in any of the three years of study. Whilst you have no choice at unit level, however, choice of the material performed, practitioners studied, and specialist skills developed is built in to units. You will, therefore, be able to develop specialist knowledge within the structure of the degree.
The course welcomes students with disabilities. During the application process disabled students discuss their needs with individual members of the academic staff, as well as staff from the Disability Advice Team. It has normally been the case that disability has not provided an obstacle to students participating fully in the practical aspects of coursework.
The Disability Advice Team is available to discuss any issues students may have and can provide services such as sign language interpreters, note takers, dyslexia screening/tuition and support with mobility on campus. They offer confidential advice and information about academic and personal issues, adjustments in examinations, applying for the Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA) and buying suitable equipment.
You will improve your chances of employment by:
Communication
To help with the development of this you will participate in a range of activities requiring you to communicate verbally, through dramatic text, and in written forms.
In the Production strand you will undertake full scale production each year necessitating both the communication of a dramatic text to an audience and the clear articulation of your ideas, opinions and research in the process leading up to performance. As you progress through the levels you will be expected to contextualize the theatrical material and find ways of communicating context as well as content to your audience in performance. At Level Three you will work as part of a small production company in the production of a touring piece of theatre; this will necessitate sophisticated use of communication skills both in the planning and execution of your ideas as a group.
In Creative Thinking you will you will develop your skills as an academic researcher in order to enable you to articulate ideas and theoretical perspectives in written and practical form. At Level 1 you will focus on drama and theatre analysis and the articulation of reflective theatre practice in writing. You will examine the `language that is specific to drama and theatre, explore a range of genres in their original context of production and performance, and apply a range of theoretical approaches to the interpretation of drama and theatre. At Level 2 you will study avant-garde practitioners and discuss their ideas and influence within the field both in seminars and in written form. At Level 3 you will undertake an independent research project which will involve a lengthy written submission on a topic of your choice.
In Creative Processes you will develop your reflective writing skills through the Creative Journal and you will practice your feedback skills by offering critical responses to peers work in progress on a regular basis. At Level 2 you will work collaboratively with a number of different groups of people in a range of creative contexts, and you will be required to use the written word in order to communicate ideas for a variety of different purposes. At Level 3 you will work as part of a small scale company in collaboration with a group of people unused to expressing themselves through theatre. You will initiate, develop and maintain a relationship with the group, work towards a negotiated goal with them, using your skills as theatre practitioners, and evaluate your process in written form.
In The Creative Theatre Practitioner you will employ your skills in writing to communicate your ideas, qualifications, and theatrical aspirations to employers, funders and fellow practitioners. At Level 1 you will undertake a range of written tasks that will form the foundation of your personal portfolio and you will generate material in traditional and electronic forms. You will learn the communication skills necessary to articulate your self (e.g. your aims, your skills and experience) in appropriate forms. At Level 2 you will develop your facilitation skills and co-lead an educational drama workshop with a chosen group of people outside university. At Level 3 you will prepare a statement which communicates your own artistic ideals as a practitioner and use your communication skills in a range of written and presentational forms.
Information Literacy
To help with the development of this you will participate in workshops, tutorials and developmental research projects in order to familiarize yourself with a wide range of resources which can support your studies.
At Level 1 you will be introduced to the library resources in workshops embedded within the Creative Thinking strand. A series of project-based tasks will ensure that you feel confident using the library catalogue, BREO, databases, search engines and reference resources available through the internet. Students will also be introduced to the assessment of source material as an integral component of their research. All your units will make use of BREO in the posting of resources, the use of discussion boards, blogs, group pages, wikis and course announcements. In The Creative Theatre Practitioner you will receive detailed tuition on the creation of e-journals and you will then a have an opportunity to develop a group e-journal for assessment purposes.
In Level 2 you will be required to work more independently and confidently with the library and technical resources at your disposal. You will be expected to source materials above and beyond the unit reading lists, and to undertake methodical literature searches as a part of your research process. You will provide annotated bibliographies for essays and be familiar with a range of research resources appropriate to the study you are undertaking. You will feel confident in the use of digital technology as a resource whereby you can record and reflect upon your practical work.
At Level 3 you will plan and submit an extended essay based on a topic of your choice (Independent Research Project). Alongside your academic research you will be using your skills to explore your employment options within the Creative Industries, and familiarizing yourself with networks, funding opportunities and organizations which will be central to your success as a practitioner.
Research and Evaluation
To help with the development of this you will undertake a range of research tasks either within the context of developing your academic or practical knowledge. In every practical process you embark upon you will be expected to plan and execute a methodical research process in order to develop your practice. The research tasks will vary according to the type of work you are undertaking and you will need, therefore, to be adept at understanding the skills involved in sourcing, selecting and utilizing appropriate material. Throughout the Creative Thinking strand you will be introduced to a range of research skills including critical reading, text analysis, and comparative/interdisciplinary study as an aid to the development of your work in this area.
At Level 1 you will be introduced to a range of skills in Creative Thinking 1 which you will be required to practice in different contexts across the units. In both Process to Production and Creative Processes 1 research tasks will be set by the tutor and you will then be required to apply your research material to a practical process of work. In The Creative Theatre Practitioner you will research the Creative Industries as an employment market and consider the modes of enquiry pertinent to your development as a professional practitioner within the field.
At Level 2 you will be expected to work more independently as a researcher, and you will begin to formulate questions and fields of enquiry in relation to the evaluation of your work as a practitioner. You will have more choice in the nature of your research and you will take more responsibility for the application of the research to practical processes. The research you undertake will begin to impact upon client groups from outside the university (The Creative Theatre Practitioner 2) and will form the basis of planning for practical projects at Level 3.
At Level 3 you will undertake an independent research project on a topic of your own choosing, and develop two full scale practical projects, one of which will involve working with participants from outside the university. Your research will be ongoing throughout the year and you will be expected to be able to source relevant material quickly, assess and synthesise your findings, and apply your research to practical work as a regular part of your approach to production. Your field of research enquiry across the four units will be diverse, requiring different processes of enquiry and methodologies. You will develop your own database of material throughout the year and utilize it effectively in the evaluation of your work.
Creativity and Critical Thinking
To help with the development of this you will be introduced to theories of creativity in the early stages of the course, and you will reflect upon your own practice as a creative process. Your practical training will involve a range of models of creative practice and you will be encouraged to develop a critical response through comparative analysis, both verbally and in written form.
At Level 1 you will be introduced to the foundational principles which inform the creative process via the work of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (Creative Processes 1). Emphasis, in your first year will be upon the creative challenges presented during the process leading up to production. In Creative Processes 1 and Process to Production you will be guided and supported in your negotiation and articulation of the specific stages of development which define a creative process. In Creative Thinking you will be introduced to the process of research and encouraged to consider this a creative activity in its own right.
At Level 2 the emphasis shifts from participating in creative processes to structuring creative processes. You will be required to think critically about your experience at Level 1 and apply your understanding of the creative process to your work in the construction of frameworks which will support and enhance the creativity of the participants. In Creative Processes 2 you will take on leadership roles which will require of you the ability to identify problems and work towards creative solutions. In Creative Thinking 2 you will study the work of Avant Garde practitioners and consider the ways in which they developed their processes of creative exploration.
At Level 3 you will work as Creative Theatre Practitioners, creating your own structures and processes of work, and motivating and guiding non-theatre practitioners through a creative process. You will be required to be flexible and adaptable to the needs and requirements of others, to locate and solve problems as they occur, to reflect critically upon your own practice in order to develop the work, and to collaborate with others on a daily basis in order to achieve your goal. Built in to the third year is the possibility to set your own rhythm of work allowing for research, reflection, practical exploration and production.
Throughout your three years on the Contemporary Theatre Course you will be encouraged to manage your process of learning in collaboration with tutors, support services and peers. Verbal and written feedback on your work is a regular feature of the course and this will occur within practical sessions, seminars and at assessment points. As a practitioner you will be helped to respond actively to feedback given on your work, and to give feedback to others which promotes active response. After all practical assessments you will be given detailed verbal feedback on your individual input/performance and written feedback highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. In written work you will be encouraged to read your own and peers work critically, in draft form, as a means of improving it. You will then be given detailed written feedback and the opportunity of discussing this with the marking tutor. Tutors will be explicit where they feel that you would benefit from the range of services offered by PADS.
Throughout Level 1 you will be introduced to foundational Study Skills for your subject area. In Creative Thinking you will be given strategies for reading effectively, and critically; managing your independent study time, and structuring the process of essay writing through planning, draft form, proof reading and final product. In Process to Performance you will interpret dramatic text practically, work with character in performance, develop dramatic relationships with others and utilize appropriate performance energy in the communication of the text. In Creative Process 1 you will develop your use of voice, movement, gesture and linguistic range in your preparation to work as an actor. In The Creative Practitioner you will learn how to represent your work in a range of written forms and research your field of employment.
On arrival at the university you will be allocated a Personal Tutor who will meet regularly with you throughout your first year of study. These sessions will allow you to review the grades you receive throughout the year and consider ways in which you can improve your skills through taking advantage of the services offered by PADS.
In your first year of study you will be introduced to the use of Progress Files through meetings with your Personal Tutor. The Progress File is a document charting your development as a student; it is made up of three parts:
Your Personal Tutor will guide you through the initial stages of preparing your Progress File, for example, after your first set of assessments you will have a tutorial which will give you the opportunity to reflect on your grades and consider ways in which you might improve specific skills and/or build on the strengths demonstrated. Much of the material for your Progress File will be generated through your work in The Creative Theatre Practitioner which will include digital records as well as paper ones.
After Level 1 it will be your responsibility to maintain your Progress File but you will be supported in this by the generation of appropriate materials in units throughout the degree course.
Professional values and standards are central to employability within the Creative Industries. In order to develop an appropriate professional attitude we expect of students:
The development of a professional attitude and values is fundamental to the training of Creative Theatre Practitioners. It is embedded in all the units, therefore, and assessment criteria relating to professional values and attitudes are found in The Creative Theatre Practitioner, Production Units, and Creative Processes. The success of the work at Level 3 will be largely dependent upon the degree of professionalism you are able to bring to their relationships with collaborators both within and outside the university during the first two years of your study.
In recognition of the importance attached to the development of professional standards as a central element of the degree your first activity on the Contemporary Theatre Practice course will be a production process in which you will work collaboratively with your peers and tutors towards a full-scale performance. Throughout the first five weeks of Term 1 you will participate in rehearsals which will require of you an understanding of performance discipline (preparation for rehearsal, punctuality, appropriate energy within rehearsal), respect for collaborators (reliability, commitment, negotiation), and clear focus upon the work as a whole (respecting deadlines, completion of research tasks set, contribution beyond the required minimum). This first experience of production work will allow the year group to develop a professional identity and set the standards of professionalism which will prove the benchmark for all future work.
