BA (Hons) Drama

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Introduction to our Drama degree

Explore different modes of performance and drama practice and develop skills for the stage and screen, with our BA (Hons) Drama degree in Cambridge.

Drama student success

David Alade wrote and performed Fox Hunting at ARU: then developed for a professional 3 week run at the Courtyard Theatre, London. He also starred in The Fisherman, Trafalgar Studios. Both had 4 star reviews or more.

"The Mumford is a beast of a stage. Now that I have left and seen more and more theatre in London it has been a real eye opener, so I'm quite privileged to have trained and performed on it."

Performing is at the core of our Drama degree at ARU.

With our BA (Hons) Drama degree, we’ll help you to grow into a confident, versatile and exciting drama practitioner with transferable skills to suit the field you want to work in.

With a strong focus on performance, you’ll get to work on public productions as well as smaller-scale projects, exploring practices from the 20th century onwards and devising your own productions.

We’ll encourage you to create innovative and daring performance practice as you develop expertise in group collaboration alongside your own solo performances. You’ll also get the chance to weight your studies to suit your interests, be that drama practice, specialising in backstage production or even theatre administration.

Course options

Course options

Key facts

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Entry requirements

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Fees and paying for university

Facilities and showcase

Professional Facilities

As part of your studies at ARU, you’ll have access to all of our creative industries facilities including:

  • Dedicated drama studio, with highly flexible black-box performance space
  • Full-size on-campus professional Mumford Theatre
  • Large rehearsal space with audio playback facilities, piano, LED lighting rig, portable dance mirrors, gym mats and rostra/modular staging
  • Students’ Union-run dance studio
  • Podcast and video capture system

Futures Lab and workshop equipment

Our new digital workshop includes a variety of computer aided manufacturing machines, helping you learn up to date manufacturing and design processes as well as supporting many traditional techniques. These technologies include:

  • 3D printers and scanners - FDM printers; material-specific extruders; SLA Formlabs printers; SLS Formlabs Fuse1; structured light 3D scanners
  • 2D printing and cutting machines - laser cutters; Roland BN20 vinyl printer & cutter; Gerber substrate cutter; Mimaki TX300P sublimation printer.

Opportunities

During your time at ARU, you’ll have the opportunity to:

  • develop your technical and production skills.
  • put on productions on campus, in our Mumford Theatre, and at a commercial venue in Cambridge
  • volunteer with our Anglia Ruskin Community Theatre Company, and experience being part of a professional ensemble
  • gain valuable work experience through placements and live briefs.

Take a closer look

Our Creative Showcase shines a spotlight on what makes ARU creative and cultural – our spaces, places and people. Find out more about our community, the difference we make, the stories we tell, and the things that inspire us.

Meanwhile, Present is an exhibition that you curate for yourself. Explore the work of our graduating students in this eye-catching virtual degree show.

Careers

Not only will you develop your performance skills during your time at ARU, our BA (Hons) Drama degree will give you practical experience as a stage technician, and the academic understanding you need to be a director or a teacher.

Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our MA Dramatherapy. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.

LAURA MACKIE

I took part in Anglia Ruskin Community Theatre Company's 'Theatre in Education' Production... creating a performance for primary-age students and working with a professional director. I have learnt many valuable skills as a result

LAURA MACKIE

BA (Hons) Drama

Laura's story

Apply now for BA (Hons) Drama

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