Our Department of Drama has a long-standing commitment to social justice, wellbeing and inclusivity. We define performance expansively and investigate how it can be used in different settings – theatres, art galleries and museums, schools, prisons, clubs, and the street – in the UK and internationally. Our research, teaching, and public engagement reflects our commitment to new and marginalised texts, practices, voices, identities and communities. We embrace experimentation, creative risk, and difficulty in the performances we make and study.
Our students work with academic staff and professional theatre makers who have expertise across a wide range of drama, theatre, and performance – contemporary experimental performance and live art, British and international drama and theatre, the theatre of Shakespeare and his contemporaries – as well as all kinds of intersections between performance and philosophy, city life, political activism, film, visual art, and more.
We offer single and joint honours BA programmes, and postgraduate degrees at Masters and PhD levels. All our students combine academic study with practical theatre making, taking advantage of our two purpose-built studio theatres, and three dedicated rehearsal rooms.
Students also take advantage of our extensive professional connections in one of the world’s great theatre cities to develop their skills and experience in work placements. We work closely with industry partners in London, including National Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre, and Live Art Development Agency; and we support two important arts organisations in the Department: People's Palace Projects and Phakama.
Most recently, the Department of Drama was ranked 2nd in the UK for drama, dance and cinematics departments in the Times Good University Guide 2022 and ranked top in the UK for research in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
