Drama with Philosophy

Drama with philosophy is a combination that rewards students who are drawn to both the theatre as a practical and creative art form and the rigorous examination of fundamental questions about knowledge, morality, mind, and meaning. Drama and theatre studies develop your understanding of performance as a cultural and social practice, your ability to analyse plays and productions critically, and your skills as a practitioner working in theatre-making contexts. Philosophy trains you in systematic argumentation, conceptual precision, and the ability to evaluate claims about knowledge, ethics, and the nature of reality.

This three-year, full-time programme at Royal Holloway takes drama as the major element of your degree, comprising around three quarters of the course, with philosophy providing a significant and intellectually serious complement. You will engage with theatre history, dramatic theory, performance practice, and the analysis of texts and productions, alongside philosophical topics in epistemology, ethics, aesthetics, and the philosophy of mind. The programme includes a placement year and a year abroad, which give you the opportunity to develop professionally in performance or related contexts and to engage with drama and philosophy in different cultural settings.

Graduates of drama with philosophy move into careers across the performing arts, education, arts administration, journalism, media, and the broader creative industries. The philosophical training adds intellectual depth that is valuable in contexts beyond theatre, and the combination of practical skills, analytical rigour, and communicative ability that the degree develops is appreciated by employers in a wide range of fields. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in drama, theatre studies, philosophy, or arts management, pursuing specialist knowledge for academic or professional careers in the cultural sector.