Theatre Studies

Theatre studies is the academic and practical discipline concerned with understanding performance as a cultural, social, and artistic phenomenon. It encompasses the analysis of dramatic texts, the history and theory of theatre and performance, practical engagement with acting, directing, and design, and the critical frameworks that enable you to understand what theatre does in society and why it matters. Theatre is one of the oldest of human arts, and it continues to be renewed and challenged by practitioners who are asking what performance can be and do in a contemporary world.

At Glasgow, this part-time programme allows you to engage with theatre studies in a flexible format that fits alongside other commitments, developing both analytical and practical skills in an environment with close connections to the theatre industry. You will examine dramatic texts from a range of periods and traditions, develop critical frameworks for understanding performance, and engage with the work of practitioners of national and international standing who are connected to the programme. The degree includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study at an international partner institution and to encounter approaches to theatre and performance in a different cultural and educational context.

Studying part-time means that you can develop your engagement with theatre and performance alongside participation in the broader cultural life that is part of the Glasgow experience.

Graduates of theatre studies degrees move into careers across the performing arts sector, in roles including acting, directing, stage management, producing, arts education, cultural journalism, and arts administration. The analytical and communicative skills developed in the degree are valued well beyond the theatre world, in education, broadcasting, journalism, publishing, and public relations. Many graduates go on to postgraduate training in performance, directing, or theatre design, or pursue careers in theatre education, community arts, and the broader creative industries.