English and Theatre Studies

BA (Hons) English and Theatre Studies
Mode: full-time

The BA in English and Theatre is a distinctive course composed of strands in literature, creative writing and theatre making that enhances your self-development in terms of articulacy, cultural scale of reference, imaginative engagement, and creative thinking.

The course develops these skills and knowledge through a programme of study focusing on language, text and performance.

You will engage with a wide range of texts and ways of understanding these texts, from the major modes of literature to films to videos of performances to actual live performances. At the same time you will have the opportunity of acquiring skills in the making of these texts: this will include creative writing, acting, directing, devising and community-based theatre work.

Additionally, the third year offers an opportunity to produce a dissertation through creative practice, in either performance making or creative writing.

Delivered within a vibrant, creative department, the course builds upon the strengths gained from a long tradition of teaching English and Theatre at Bedford, but also incorporates contemporary changes within the subjects.

English and Theatre staff have diverse research interests that range from American, African and Irish drama to directing and performance practice to playwriting and screenwriting to experimental performance and physical theatre. Many articles and books have been published by staff and, as a result, teaching on the course is well supported by the latest research within the subject area.

Teaching will take place in brand new, on-campus facilities including a spacious performance auditorium, drama studio and a suite of dance studios.

Why choose this course?

• Excellent facilities, including a new 280-seat theatre and studio theatre.
• Small, friendly campus with a lively Performing Arts Students' Union Society.
• Small-group supportive teaching.
• Teaching informed by research.
• Media-related courses ranked 3rd in the UK, according to the Guardian 2007.

Career Opportunities

Our recent graduates have gone on to pursue successful careers in journalism, teaching, community arts practice, youth work and performance.

Every year a significant number of our graduates elect to do a Postgraduate Certificate in either Primary or Secondary Education, while others have opted to continue their studies either on our taught Masters programme or through degrees based on independent research at the University of Bedfordshire and other universities.

Teaching/learning methods and strategies

Teaching is delivered through a variety of methods including lectures, seminars, workshops and individual tutorials.