Theatre and English Literature (Placement Year) Lancaster University

Theatre and Literature shape the world around us. In this interdisciplinary course you will explore diverse narratives through writing and performance.

You will bridge practice and theory, developing your artistic voice through innovative theatre projects. You’ll also read widely, closely, and deeply, analysing the greats as well as the voices that history has overlooked. Lancaster is a hub of artistic and cultural activity, offering you the opportunity to join a thriving creative community and preparing you for a wide range of career paths.

Why study Theatre and English Literature at Lancaster?

• Benefit from a forward-thinking curriculum that is firmly based on the skills and knowledge that will be needed in years to come

• Study a wide range of genres from both ancient and modern literatures

• Specialise in your chosen area of theatre such as acting, scenography, scriptwriting, directing or applied and community performance

• Choose a course that expertly combines practical skills with contextual knowledge, giving you a strong understanding of 21st century theatre and how it can impact society

• Develop your own critical (and even creative-critical) voice

• Be part of Literary Lancaster a vibrant community of critics and writers

What does the Theatre course at Lancaster University offer?

Focussing on the emerging trends and innovations of 21st-century theatre and performance, we will teach you the building blocks of performance making, whilst supporting your ability to develop highly creative, challenging and impactful work.

You will collaborate with others to create original performance projects spanning multiple genres, from contemporary post-dramatic theatre to naturalism and political theatre. You will frequently work in professional theatre venues, including the Nuffield Theatre on the University campus.

You might choose to focus on acting, playwriting, scenography or directing. You may see yourself behind the scenes, managing productions from start to finish or creating sound, video and lighting concepts.

What will I study in English Literature?

Literary study at Lancaster offers a rich engagement with the very best of literature from classical and medieval to the modern and contemporary. You will have the chance to study all the great names, as well as voices that have been forgotten or overlooked.

We are pioneers in experimental or creative forms of literary criticism, as well as encouraging established forms of literary scholarship, such as archival work, historicism, close reading, and literary theory.

To enhance your experience, we run many special literary events, often in spectacular locations such as Lancaster’s medieval Castle, the awe-inspiring Priory, or the archive-rich Wordsworth Grasmere in the nearby Lake District.

What networking opportunities are there outside the course?

You will be taught by professional theatre practitioners and top academics, benefitting from their links to leading creative and cultural organisations, such as Arts Council national portfolio organisation, Lancaster Arts, and The Dukes Theatre with their Creative Communities programme.

If you are interested in writing, publishing, and editing you could choose to get involved in one of our four student-run literary journals. You could also volunteer to help at Litfest, Lancaster’s annual literature festival which attracts well-known authors from around the world (including some of our own author-tutors).You could join the LU Theatre Group and take part in student-run performances.

Your Placement Year

Sometimes known as a year in industry, your placement year will take place between your second and final year of study and this will extend your degree to four years. You'll spend your third year in a paid, graduate-level position, where you’ll work for between nine and twelve months in the type of role that you might be considering for after you graduate.

Entry requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. This section will tell you whether you need qualifications in specific subjects, what our English language requirements are, and if there are any extra requirements such as attending an interview or submitting a portfolio.

A levels

ABB. Theatre, Drama, Dance or Performing Arts are considered desirable subjects, but we would also welcome an application from you if you can demonstrate experience and interest in practical theatre in your application.

Access to HE Diploma

30 Level 3 credits at Distinction plus 15 Level 3 credits at Merit. Theatre, Drama, Dance or Performing Arts are considered desirable subjects, but we would also welcome an application from you if you can demonstrate experience and interest in practical theatre in your application.

Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

We accept the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in place of one A level, or equivalent qualification, as long as any subject requirements are met.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM, ideally in Performing Arts, but we would also welcome an application from you if you can demonstrate experience and interest in practical theatre in your application.

BTEC in combination with A levels

A level at grade B plus BTEC(s) at DD, or A levels at grade BB plus BTEC at D. Theatre, Drama, Dance or Performing Arts are considered desirable subjects, but we would also welcome an application from you if you can demonstrate experience and interest in practical theatre in your application.

International Baccalaureate

32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects. Theatre, Drama or Performance are considered desirable subjects, but we would also welcome an application from you if you can demonstrate experience and interest in practical theatre in your application.

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

We are happy to admit applicants on the basis of five Highers, but where we require a specific subject at A level, we will typically require an Advanced Higher in that subject. If you do not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone, we will consider a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers in separate subjects. Please contact the Admissions team for more information.

T levels

Distinction overall. We would also expect you to be able to demonstrate experience and interest in practical theatre in your application.

GCSE requirements

English Language grade 4/C.

We will also look at your overall GCSE profile when considering your application as a whole.

We do have flexibility when considering GCSE requirements. Go to our GCSE information for more details.

Additional requirements

If you have not studied Theatre, Drama, Dance or Performing Arts as one of your qualifications equivalent to A level, then we would expect you to demonstrate experience and interest in practical theatre elsewhere in your application.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component for this programme. English language qualifications for undergraduate study.