Drama, Acting and Performance

Drama, Acting and Performance occupies a distinctive position in higher education: it is at once a practical art form, a body of critical and theoretical knowledge, and a set of professional skills with wide application beyond the stage and screen. Studying drama academically means developing your craft as a performer while also engaging with the history of theatre and performance, contemporary practice, and the critical frameworks that help you understand what performance does and why it matters.

At the University of the West of England in Bristol, this part-time programme allows you to build your skills and knowledge at a pace that works alongside other commitments. You will develop performance techniques across different traditions and styles, working practically in studio and performance spaces as well as studying dramatic texts, devised work, and the full range of performance contexts from mainstream theatre to site-specific and community practice. Bristol's vibrant cultural scene provides a rich context for this kind of study, with strong theatre, arts, and media industries nearby.

The programme develops confidence, discipline, collaborative working, and the ability to inhabit and communicate complex emotional and intellectual material, capabilities that have significant value in many professional contexts. The programme's track record speaks to this: across Drama, Dance and Cinematics at UWE, a strong proportion of graduates entered graduate-level employment or further study within fifteen months of graduating.

Career paths for drama and performance graduates are varied. Many pursue careers in theatre, screen, and performance arts, in acting, directing, producing, stage management, and community arts. Others apply their skills in education, in youth theatre and drama workshops in schools, or in drama therapy contexts.

The communication, confidence, and collaborative skills developed on the programme are also valued in media, marketing, public relations, events management, and corporate training. Some graduates continue to postgraduate study in performance, dramaturgy, or arts management.