Drama, Theatre and Performance

Digital Open Day

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Welcome to the School of Arts and Digital Industries

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Welcome to the Drama, Theatre and Performance Digital Open Day

Studying Drama, Theatre and Performance

Studying Drama, Theatre and Performance

Experience the London theatre scene 

The University of Roehampton is in one of the world’s most exciting performance cities. Our courses are brought to life through our close connections with the London theatre and performance scene.
You will join a welcoming and diverse postgraduate community in a well-established UK department of drama, theatre and performance which offers a range of opportunities to work on staff and student-led projects in addition to your own studies.

What have our students seen?  

Here is a selection of some of the theatre our students have experienced as part of their course: 

  • North Country Girl at the Old Vic
  • Forced Entertainment’s Real Magic at UAL’s Platform Theatre
  • Victoria Melody’s Ugly Chief at Battersea Arts Centre 
  • Angel at the Arcola Theatre 
  • Against at the Almeida Theatre 
  • Rachael Young’s Nightclubbing; Katy Baird’s Unreal; and The Katherine Araniello Show at The Yard Theatre
  • Lady from the Sea at the Donmar Warehouse
  • B at the Royal Court 
  • Under Glass at the Hackney Showroom
  • Yasmine Hugonnet’s Le Recital des Postures at the Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells 
  • Sondheim’s Follies at The National Theatre 
  • La Tragedie de Carmen at Wilton’s Music Hall 
  • Julius Caesar at The Bridge Theatre 
  • Julius Caesar NT Live broadcast at Ibstock Place School 

Course Highlights

London's Theatre and Performance: Viewing, Making, Writing

Taking the wealth and diversity of London’s unique artistic culture as its prime focus, this unique programme opens up a variety of pathways to students looking to focus their interests in the broad field of theatre and performance. Shaped around a series of thematic investigations of the city’s unparalleled theatrical and cultural resources, you will be able to pursue a range of projects matched to your professional aspirations.

Below is a small sample of modules taught on our courses.

Viewing, Making and Writing 1

This module introduces the students to the study of performance through the practice of being spectators. The productions the students will attend as part of the Masters operate as case studies for the exploration of different strategies offered in the three components of Viewing, Making and Writing.

Research Methods in Theatre and Performance

This module will provide students with a grounding in practices relating to Masters level research in theatre and performance and introduce them to approaches to project writing and development relevant to MRes, MPhil level and beyond. It will introduce them to a broad range of established and emerging research methodologies, which will be examined as both interdisciplinary and discipline specific tools.

Major Project

In this module, students explore individual research interests through the conceptualization and realization of an extended project, with the option to pursue the traditional dissertation or to take up practice-as-research methodologies and to produce outcomes in a variety of formats and media. In addition, students may realize a project in the form of a work placement within an appropriate organization in the London area. Students are responsible for negotiating their own placements with advice and support from the module tutor.

 

Find out more 

Research

Our globally renowned research spans feminist theatre and thought, Shakespeare in performance and on television, site-specific, live art and experimental theatre, performance ethnography, contemporary playwriting, radio and sonic arts, postcolonial and world theatre, creative writing, curatorial practice, political performance, social action, cultural memory and archives. Lecturers are experts on prominent contemporary artists and dramatists as well as being leading innovators in the field of creative practice-as-research.

The department has many links and formal collaborations with major and small arts organisations in the UK and overseas, and we share our research globally through new media, in workshops, and by presentations at conferences and festivals. Staff research actively feeds back into new teaching so that our students learn from cutting-edge thinking, writing and making. Our doctoral research environment is one of the strongest in the field.

In the most recent Research Excellence Framework, the national survey of research quality, over 80% of our research was ranked as "world leading" or "internationally excellent".

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Drama, Theatre and Performance Students

Alumni who succeed  

In conversation with Rachel John

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In conversation with Matt Henry

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Joel Oladapo 

Drama, Theatre, and Performance Studies Graduate, 2018 

What have you been up to since graduating? 

I’m part of a theatre company called Hyperfusion that specialises in running TIE content around secondary schools in the UK. One strand of their work is through their theatre umbrella label, TICBox Productions which produce interactive plays that are focused on tackling contemporary social issues such as homophobia, sexuality, and consent. I’m also working at the Young Vic Theatre in London Waterloo as a member of the Welcome Team where I sell tickets at the box office and answer telephone calls and emails from the general public regarding all customer queries and ticket bookings.  

Looking back, what was your favourite aspect of Drama, Theatre, and Performance Studies? 

The opportunity to see different theatre around London was a huge highlight; it was just fantastic to broaden my knowledge of the variety of theatre on offer. In addition, writing a 12,000 play instead of a dissertation was something I deeply valued, it was undoubtedly one of the hardest academic tasks I have yet faced but the process was rewarding and stimulating and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. 

Were you involved in any societies or trips while at Roehampton? 

I was actively involved in The Roehampton Players which was one of the student drama societies that the University had to offer. I performed in a range of shows which allowed me to form friendships with people outside of my course and broaden my acting abilities. I also was given the opportunity to study abroad in America as part of my second year. I studied Theatre at the University of North Carolina Wilmington for six months which was a life-changing experience that I will always cherish. 

What advice would you give to current Drama students? 

I’m sure it’s probably been said a million times but I’ll say it again - make the most out of your time at university! Work hard, make sure you are involved in other projects, spend time with friends, go out and see as much theatre as you can - take advantage of what London has to offer. 

When you leave university, make sure you seize every opportunity that you get in order to develop new skills and broaden your horizons. Be open-minded, bold, courageous, creative and focused. Dream big, aim high, and enjoy everything that life has to offer you post university. 

Roehampton Societies

SSOAP is an association created by the students from the department of Drama Theatre and Performance who share a passion for original artistic creations and performances of all sort. Throughout the year SSOAP stages festivals to present original student-led work, organise workshops, talks, debates and seminars to help develop skills.

The Roehampton Players is a society created by students who share an interest and passion for Musical Theatre. Throughout the year they orchestrate productions with the support of the lighting and sound technicians at Roehampton.

Student Life

Student Life

Why Roehampton?

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Being a student at a campus university in London gives you the best of both worlds. We are lucky enough to have a 54-acre parkland campus to call home, and are only 30 minutes from central London.

We offer plenty of opportunities for you to get involved through playing sport, music, volunteering, or joining one of over 50 student societies. We also have catering outlets, across campus, and each College has social spaces where you can meet up with your friends and relax.

Our campus is close to Putney, Hammersmith and Wimbledon, which each have wide a range of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. With central London so close, you can easily access the wealth of culture, entertainment and dining options the capital has to offer.

Accommodation

Accommodation

We guarantee accommodation for all new students accepting a place to study with us by the guarantee deadline and offer some of the most affordable student accommodation in London!

Why live on campus?

  • We offer something for everyone from single rooms in large flats to en-suite rooms in smaller flats whether you are a postgraduate or undergraduate student.
  • All-inclusive bills so no hassle and easy to budget.
  • Living on campus means you will be close to the gym, acres of landscaped gardens, shop, bar, catering, esports, societies and even our resident chickens!
  • We can accommodate a range of special requests, including 'quiet' flats, single-sex flats and flats dedicated to postgraduate students.
  • When you join us, you'll be looked after by your friendly College staff, which include dedicated wardens and flat reps
  • For peace of mind, our accommodation is accredited by: The Student Accommodation Code
  • We have a free, dedicated student bus service to Barnes Station and Wimbledon, and facilities for bicycle storage on campus, and ebikes to hire.
  • All our private and secure rooms are on-campus, with 24/7 security and plenty of catering outlets and shops to choose from on campus and locally

View our on-campus accommodation  

Support services

Support services

At Roehampton we are focused on ensuring you succeed, and have a wide range of support services to help you at every step of your journey.

Wellbeing – our team are able to provide personal wellbeing support, professional counselling and mental health support. Each college has a Student Wellbeing Officer and a College Warden, the latter is available after hours for all on campus students.

Medical – we have an on-site NHS medical centre which provides doctor and nurse-led services.

Disability and dyslexia – we encourage students to let us know about specific needs so we can work with you to tailor our support.

Financial – we have a wide range of scholarships, and a student hardship fund for those students in financial difficulty.

Chaplaincy – our diverse community is reflected in our multi-faith chaplaincy and we have a number of spaces for worship.

Study support – all students have an Academic Guidance Tutor, as well as access to library support and online study resources.

Next Steps

Next steps

We hope you found our Digital Open Day informative.

Find out how to make an application to us

Accept your Offer today through the link in your offer email