BA Theatre and Performance
-
UCAS code
W400 -
A level offer
ABB -
Year of entry
2025/26 -
Course duration
Full Time: 3 Years
-
Year of entry
2025/26 -
Course duration
Full Time: 3 Years
Our BA Theatre and Performance degree will prepare and inspire you for a career in the creative industries. You’ll learn the skills needed for developing and staging performances, and also explore the many cultural and political questions being raised in contemporary theatre.
Develop your knowledge as a theatre-maker and scholar, and learn how to make creative practice with a purpose. Across your degree, you’ll explore how directors, designers, writers, technicians and other theatre-makers respond to and shape our rapidly changing world, and develop your ability to make politically engaged and creatively ambitious performance.
Contemporary performance practices
During your studies, you'll encounter a range of contemporary performance practices, including:
- verbatim performance
- immersive performance
- adaptations
- applied theatre
- site-specific work
- digital practices
- live art
- new writing.
Professional facilities
Develop your creative confidence and ‘voice’ through experimentation and exploration in our purpose-built, industry-standard Minghella Studios, a dynamic collaborative environment in which film, theatre and television makers work alongside each other. You'll have access to three flexible theatre spaces, a multi-camera film and TV studio (featuring Arri Alexa film cameras), a digital cinema, and a dedicated recording studio and mixing suite with state-of-the-art equipment.
Our Department proudly subscribes to the industry-leading BAFTA Albert scheme, which supports film-and-television makers in their efforts to work sustainably and limit their environmental impact. By studying with us you'll join one of the UK’s leading Universities in Environment and Sustainability’ Ranked 1st in the world in the People and Planet University Awards 2023/24.
Year One
You’ll start by combining hands-on experience (including playwriting, design, and staging) with studies of theatre practice (such as histories and debates), and broadening your skillset by building a good awareness of diverse performance styles and techniques. Through hands-on experience, you’ll be introduced to a variety of contemporary theatre-making, playwriting, design and production practices, staging your own performance experiments using a range of forms.
Year Two
In the second year, you’ll explore work within and beyond classical and conventional narrative traditions, and learn about practitioners and movements that have challenged those traditions in various global contexts. You’ll have the opportunity to work in real-world settings, as well as specialise in particular skills (such as writing, directing and performing) as you learn about film and television.
Year Three
Your degree culminates in a major project, taking the form of either a collaborative performance, an individually written dissertation, or an independent creative research project. The final year also includes optional modules which are based around our academics’ current world-leading research and practice.
Overview
Our BA Theatre and Performance degree will prepare and inspire you for a career in the creative industries. You’ll learn the skills needed for developing and staging performances, and also explore the many cultural and political questions being raised in contemporary theatre.
Develop your knowledge as a theatre-maker and scholar, and learn how to make creative practice with a purpose. Across your degree, you’ll explore how directors, designers, writers, technicians and other theatre-makers respond to and shape our rapidly changing world, and develop your ability to make politically engaged and creatively ambitious performance.
Contemporary performance practices
During your studies, you'll encounter a range of contemporary performance practices, including:
- verbatim performance
- immersive performance
- adaptations
- applied theatre
- site-specific work
- digital practices
- live art
- new writing.
Professional facilities
Develop your creative confidence and ‘voice’ through experimentation and exploration in our purpose-built, industry-standard Minghella Studios, a dynamic collaborative environment in which film, theatre and television makers work alongside each other. You'll have access to three flexible theatre spaces, a multi-camera film and TV studio (featuring Arri Alexa film cameras), a digital cinema, and a dedicated recording studio and mixing suite with state-of-the-art equipment.
Our Department proudly subscribes to the industry-leading BAFTA Albert scheme, which supports film-and-television makers in their efforts to work sustainably and limit their environmental impact. By studying with us you'll join one of the UK’s leading Universities in Environment and Sustainability’ Ranked 1st in the world in the People and Planet University Awards 2023/24.
Learning
Year One
You’ll start by combining hands-on experience (including playwriting, design, and staging) with studies of theatre practice (such as histories and debates), and broadening your skillset by building a good awareness of diverse performance styles and techniques. Through hands-on experience, you’ll be introduced to a variety of contemporary theatre-making, playwriting, design and production practices, staging your own performance experiments using a range of forms.
Year Two
In the second year, you’ll explore work within and beyond classical and conventional narrative traditions, and learn about practitioners and movements that have challenged those traditions in various global contexts. You’ll have the opportunity to work in real-world settings, as well as specialise in particular skills (such as writing, directing and performing) as you learn about film and television.
Year Three
Your degree culminates in a major project, taking the form of either a collaborative performance, an individually written dissertation, or an independent creative research project. The final year also includes optional modules which are based around our academics’ current world-leading research and practice.
Entry requirements A Level ABB
Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we'll guarantee you a place even if you don't quite meet your offer. For details, see our firm choice scheme.
Our typical offers are expressed in terms of A level, BTEC and International Baccalaureate requirements. However, we also accept many other qualifications.
Typical offer
ABB
International Baccalaureate
32 points overall
Extended project Qualification
In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.
BTEC Extended Diploma
DDM
UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma
Merit
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5
For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.
Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students
For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.
Pre-sessional English language programme
If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.
Structure
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
FT1ATP | Analysing Theatre and Performance | DR Lucy Tyler |
FT1DP | Devising Performance: Politics and Citizenship | DR Lucy Tyler |
FT1STP | Staging Texts: Playwriting, Design and Performance | DR Lucy Tyler |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
FT1ATF | Approaches to Film | MR James Kenward-Abdollahyan |
FT1ATT | Approaches to Television | DR Faye Woods |
FT1CSS | Comedy on Stage and Screen | DR Tonia Kazakopoulou |
FT1EN | English for Arts and Communication Design | MS Emily Salvesen |
CL1G1 | Ancient Greek 1 | PROF Amy Smith |
CL1L1 | Latin 1 (C) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL1RH | Roman History: the rise and fall of the Republic | DR Andrew Fox |
EC110 | The Economics of Climate Change | DR Stefania Lovo |
FA1MM | Modernisms & Mythologies | MS Kelly Lloyd |
IL1GICC | Intercultural Competence and Communication | MRS Daniela Standen |
MM1F10 | Student Enterprise | MS Linghe Lei |
PO1INE | Inequality | DR Jonathan Golub |
PP1RP | Radical Philosophy | PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford |
TY1HGC | History of Graphic Communication | DR Rob Banham |
TY1PRI | Printing and printmaking | DR Rob Banham |
TY1WTF | What the font? Making and using typefaces | DR Rob Banham |
These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they鈥檙e informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
FT2IPC | Identity, Performance and Culture | DR Matt McFrederick |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
FT2ACR | Academic Research Skills (20 Credits) | DR Sarah Bartley |
FT2CCP | Community and Collaborative Practice | DR Sarah Bartley |
FT2EE | Extended Essay | DR Tonia Kazakopoulou |
FT2FFC | Film Forms and Cultures | DR David Foster |
FT2PE10 | Placements and Employment Skills (Ten Credits) | DR Lucy Tyler |
FT2PE20 | Placements and Employment Skills (Twenty Credits) | MR James Kenward-Abdollahyan |
FT2PS | Performance Skills: Acting and Directing | DR Lisa Woynarski |
FT2SSC | Screen Storytelling and Criticism | DR Adam O'Brien |
FT2SSCB | Screen Storytelling and Criticism B | DR Adam O'Brien |
FT2TCC | Television and Contemporary Culture | DR Faye Woods |
FT2WD | Wildlife Documentary: Ecology and Representation | DR Adam O'Brien |
AR2F17 | Forensic Archaeology and Crime Scene Analysis | PROF Mary Lewis |
AR2M8 | Medieval Europe: power, religion and death | DR Gabor Thomas |
CL2AE | Ancient Epic | DR Doukissa Kamini |
CL2CGH | Greek History: Persian Wars to Alexander | PROF Emma Aston |
CL2DR | Ancient Drama | PROF David Carter |
CL2RO | Roman History: From Republic to Empire | DR Tim Penn |
IL2GICC | Intercultural Competence and Communication | MRS Daniela Standen |
IL2GMB | Modern Britain: Society, History and Politics | DR Lucy Watson |
LS2LAT | Introduction to English Language Teaching | DR Erhan Aslan |
LS2LNM | Language and New Media | PROF Rodney Jones |
ML2GF | Science, perversion, and dream in global fantastic literature | DR Alice Christensen |
ML2STA | Society, Thought, and Art in Modern Europe | DR Athena Leoussi |
MM2101 | Founder Dilemmas | PROF Norbert Morawetz |
MT2CC | The Science of Climate Change | PROF Nigel Arnell |
PO2AMG | American Government and Politics | DR Graham O'Dwyer |
PO2GPH | Global Politics and History | DR Kerry Goettlich |
PO2MIR | Modern International Relations | DR Joseph O' Mahoney |
PO2PWS | Politics of the Welfare State | DR Christoph Arndt |
PO2THI | Political Thinking | DR Maxime Lepoutre |
PP2EA1 | Ethical Argument 1: Philosophy and How to Live | DR Luke Elson |
PP2GP1 | Global Philosophy 1 | MISS Michela Bariselli |
PP2HKW1 | Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein 1 | DR Sev.J. Schroeder |
PP2IDR1 | Ignorance, Doubt, and Relativism 1 | DR Walter Veit |
PP2MM1 | Meaning and the Mind 1 | DR Walter Veit |
PP2OID1 | Oppression, Inequality, and the Enemies of Democracy 1 | DR George Mason |
These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they鈥檙e informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
FT3AD | Adaptations across Stage and Screen | DR Tonia Kazakopoulou |
FT3ATMP | Advanced Theatre Making Project | DR Matt McFrederick |
FT3CAS | Cities on Screen | DR Faye Woods |
FT3CD | Contemporary Documentary | DR Adam O'Brien |
FT3CST | Cinema, Spectacle and Technology | PROF Lisa Purse |
FT3DISS | Dissertation: Film & Theatre | DR David Foster |
FT3IAA | Identity, Agency, Advocacy: Diversity and Representation in Film, Television and Theatre | DR Simone Knox |
FT3IE | Independent Essay | DR David Foster |
FT3PAR | Practice as Research Project | PROF Teresa Murjas |
FT3PD | Performance & Design: Site, Scenography and Installation | DR Matt McFrederick |
FT3PL20 | Work Placements and Profiles (20 Credits) | DR Lucy Tyler |
FT3SSS | Scriptwriting for Stage and Screen | DR Lucy Tyler |
FT3TFW | Television: Exploring Fictional Worlds | DR Tonia Kazakopoulou |
FT3WCC | World Cinema: Creative Peaks | PROF Lucia Nagib |
FB3LNPA | Lifestyle, Nutrigenetics and Personalised Nutrition | DR Vimal Karani |
GV3CC | Climate Change | PROF Maria Shahgedanova |
GV3ESM | Ecosystems Modelling | DR Shovonlal Roy |
GV3TRC | Tropical Rainforests, Climate & Lost Civilisations | PROF Frank Mayle |
LS3IC | Intercultural Communications | DR Erhan Aslan |
LW3CRY | Criminology | PROFESSOR Jo Phoenix |
ML3IC | Identity and Conflict in Modern Europe | DR Athena Leoussi |
ML3LP | Language and Power | PROF Federico Faloppa |
MM302 | Entrepreneurial Project | DR Matteo Borghi |
PO3FPT | Feminism and Political Theory | DR Maxime Lepoutre |
PO3GAP | Gender and Politics | DR Alice Baderin |
PO3IPE | International Political Economy | DR Jonathan Golub |
PO3USF | US Foreign and Defence Policy since 1950 | DR Graham O'Dwyer |
These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they鈥檙e informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Fees
New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,535 per year for 2025/26 then fixed per year at this fee for the standard duration of your course.
New international students: £25,250 per year for 2025/26 then fixed per year at this fee for the standard duration of your course.
Tuition fees
To find out more about how the 澳门六合彩开奖记录 sets its tuition fees, see our fees and funding pages.
Additional costs
Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. In addition to university-wide scholarships, the department offers the Bulmershe Bursary that supports eligible students with £1,000 towards the costs of university life. It is open to all full-time UK or EU undergraduate students studying degrees offered by Film, Television, and Theatre including our joint honours programmes. Students can apply in semester 1 of each year. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
Careers
On our BA Theatre and Performance course, you will be supported to develop your knowledge as a theatre-maker and scholar, learning how to make creative practice with a purpose. You’ll develop both your critical and practical skills to open multiple employability avenues or prepare you for postgraduate study.
95% of graduates from Film, Theatre and Television are in work or further study within 15 months of the end of their course.*
Graduates of this degree have gone on to work in:
- theatre-making
- teaching and education
- community arts
- arts management and administration
- academia
- publishing and media
- theatre criticism
- advertising and marketing.
Past UG graduates from the Art department at Reading have gone on to work for employers such as:
- Delfont Mackintosh Theatres
- Pocket Motion Pictures
- Sky
- Bloomsbury Publishing.**
*Three-year average, based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2022-2024, Graduate Outcomes Surveys 2019/20-2021/22; includes UK Domiciled, Full-time, first degree responders only.
**Based on HESA data © HESA 2020 - 2024, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18 - 2021/22; includes BA Film & Theatre respondents.