Theatre: Directing BA(Hons)

Why study BA(Hons) Theatre: Directing at University College Falmouth?

Performance courses - additional information (994.71 KB)

Study BA(Hons) Theatre: Directing and you'll be introduced to a wide range of disciplines, focusing on the skills, knowledge and imagination required to make an impact in contemporary theatre. At the heart of the course is a thorough exploration of the collaborative nature of theatre, focusing on the role of the director and enabling you to develop a sound grasp of the techniques and strategies used for researching, generating and composing work with ensembles.

Studying Theatre: Directing at Falmouth also gives you the opportunity to work alongside students from other artistic disciplines - including music, dance, film, design, animation, digital media and fashion - and share in the creativity and innovation at the heart of University College Falmouth.

What will I get out of the course?

You'll gain the practical skills that every director needs, including understanding the building blocks of performance language - space, light, sound, image, audience - and how they can be arranged, layered and composed. You'll also learn about working collaboratively, including improvisation and working with an ensemble, and you'll study the history of theatre direction and examine the evolving role of the director in contemporary theatre.

Learning how to make work in both a controlled theatre environment and in non-traditional spaces will give you the practical experience of how the specifics of place, people and time can affect your work - as well as understanding the vital connection that exists between theatre makers and the audiences, consumers, communities, industry, and cultures that they serve.

Tell me more about the BA(Hons) Theatre: Directing course

"The course challenged many of my preconceived ideas and opened up new ways of thinking and working, giving me the confidence to commit to being an artist and vitally influencing the furthering of my professional practice. The cross-disciplinary approach provides a lively pool of collaborators across different artistic fields, and generates numerous networking opportunities." Klaus Kruse, Theatre graduate and co-founder of www.livingstructures.co.uk

By choosing to study for a degree in Theatre: Directing you will:

• Benefit from being taught by friendly and approachable staff who are experts in their chosen fields.
• Share a common first year of study with all Theatre students, giving you the opportunity to gain knowledge not only in your chosen specialism but also to experience how each of these areas of the field relates practically and conceptually to one another.
• Work collaboratively with students from the other Theatre awards and have the opportunity to present your performances as part of an exciting public festival showcase.
• Learn from professional directors sharing some of their approaches, techniques and insights with you, and have opportunities to direct new performance work created with the support of fellow students and tutors - giving you excellent preparation for the professional world.
• Hone your writing skills, including essays and project proposals.
• Learn a wide range of new skills through a combination of practical workshops and theoretical study.
• Benefit from visiting professionals, for example Michael Grandage  artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse in London, Kneehigh Theatre and Goat Island.
• Study at the stunning Tremough Campus and be based in our new Performance Centre, a high-specification facility purpose-built for students' specific needs with the very latest equipment.

Facilities

Our brand new £15 million Performance Centre at Tremough includes:

• A large theatre performance studio with variable raked seating options
• Three studio theatres
• Contemporary production lighting and sound facilities
• Access to music and media facilities including a recording studio complex

Course outline

Level 1

• Foundations of Devising: Collaboration
• Foundations of Devising: Composition
• Theatre Contexts 1: Place

Level 2

• Directing: Roles & Methods
• Directing: Research & Analysis
• Devising for Performance
• Collaboration
• Theatre Contexts 2: Situated Project
• Theatre Contexts 2: Planning and Proposal

Level 3

• Theatre Contexts 3: Contextual Enquiry Project
• Research Writings
• Theatre Practice
• Complementary Practice

Professorial lecture series

Falmouth's Professorial lecture series aims to produce an engaging and challenging public programme that stimulates the intellectual curiosity of our staff, students and alumni, our research collaborators, our industry partners, our local communities and other supporters.

Recent lectures of interest to Theatre students include Michael Grandage, artistic director of Donmar Warehouse in London. Michael has won every major theatre award and ranges from the European classical repertoire to new plays and musicals. He has worked with many of the UK's leading actors, such as Kenneth Branagh, Jude Law and Joseph Fiennes. 

A video of Michael Grandage in conversation can be viewed online here

Answers and advice about the course

If you have any queries about the course please visit our HelpMe Forum

HelpMe Forum

For further information about BA(Hons) Theatre: Directing at University College Falmouth, please email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 255945.

Career opportunities

• Director in an individual theatre practice
• Theatre director employed within the creative industries
• Theatre critic
• Theatre animateur in community contexts

Course entry requirements

A minimum of 220 UCAS points mainly from the A2 level (including one Grade B), equivalent Level 3 qualifications or relevant experience.

Please see our How to Apply page for more information.

For further information about BA(Hons) Theatre: Directing at University College Falmouth, please email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 255945.

Interview dates and selection process

Selection days will commence in December.

Selection days will involve improvisation and working in small groups.

Applicants will be expected to bring:

• A prepared piece of text of no more than five lines. This fragment may be your own writing or it may be text from another source that interests you. The prepared material will be used for group improvisation and devising exercises. Please bring comfortable clothes for movement.
• A short review of a contemporary performance that you have recently seen (a page at most).

Related courses

• Theatre Design & Production BA(Hons)
• Theatre: Performance BA(Hons)
• Theatre: Screen & Media BA(Hons)
• Theatre: Writing BA(Hons)