Scottish History/Theatre Studies

Scottish history and theatre studies is a combination that brings together two disciplines which, in the Scottish context, have a particularly interesting relationship. Scottish history is one of the richest areas of historical scholarship, encompassing the medieval kingdom, the Reformation, the Union with England, the Enlightenment, the Highland Clearances, industrialisation, and the complex politics of the twentieth century and the contemporary devolution era. Theatre studies examines the art and culture of performance, from ancient drama through to contemporary devised and political theatre, developing both practical and critical understanding of how theatre works and what it does in society.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year full-time programme is supported by historians at the cutting edge of the discipline and by scholars of theatre and performance within a university with strong creative arts provision. A year abroad is incorporated into the degree, giving you the opportunity to study at a partner institution overseas and to encounter historical scholarship and theatre traditions in a different cultural context. You will develop skills in historical research and primary source analysis alongside the practical and critical capabilities that theatre studies demands, including performance work, textual analysis, and the study of theatre history and theory.

The combination is particularly interesting for the relationship between theatre and Scottish national identity: theatre has played a significant role in Scottish cultural life, and studying its history and theory in the context of Scottish history gives you a distinctive perspective on both.

Graduates go on to work in theatre, arts administration, education, heritage, cultural organisations, journalism, and research. Postgraduate study in theatre, Scottish history, or cultural studies is a natural next step for those wishing to specialise.