- Undergraduate
Contemporary Theatre and Performance (Applied Acting and Devising) with Foundation Year BA (Hons)
Overview
Why study at the University of West London?
- Ranked 30th university in the UK - The Guardian University Guide 2025
- Number 1 London university for overall student satisfaction - National Student Survey 2024**
- Best university for Student Experience and Teaching Quality in the UK - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
Why study this course?
This practice-focused course aims to equip you with the skills you need to be an applied arts professional. Taught predominantly through practical activities, you will learn skills in performing, creating, facilitating and producing your own performance projects.
The modules are designed to nurture your creative potential and individual artistic identity. You will explore performing arts practices from a wide range of global and local contexts and learn inclusive and diverse approaches to theatre-making.
Additionally, you will learn how to use new technologies in performance as well as stage performances in unconventional places and digital spaces.
By the end of the course, you will have set up your own company, staged your own theatrical performances, gained an LCME-accredited certificate in teaching performing arts and prepared a professional portfolio in preparation for entering the arts industry.
View some of our students' recent work.
Foundation Year
The foundation year course is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to continue onto your Honours degree. You will study a range of subjects that will underpin your future study and also gain valuable experience of university life, with full access to campus facilities. Successful completion of the year allows you to progress straight onto Level 4 of this course. Please note that a £2000 Path to Success bursary is available to all UK foundation year students, which is non-repayable.
Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:
Start date:
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Why study Contemporary Theatre and Performance (Applied Acting and Devising) with Foundation Year with us?
What our students say…
Course detail & modules
This course develops your skills as a performer, theatre-maker and arts facilitator.
You will learn about different genres and modes of performance to equip you with the skills to develop your own innovative work.
Across the modules, you will engage with processes of acting, movement, storytelling and writing for performance.
This course enables you to consider and gain experience in curating performance events for a wide range of audiences, particularly within community settings.
Each level of the programme has a project that involves creating and staging a performance. Y
ou will have the opportunity to collaborate with other areas of the London College of Music and will meet a range of visiting artists and organisations from the performing arts industry.
Facilities
During your course, you will have access to:
- flexible performance spaces with lighting and sound equipment
- a dance studio
- rehearsal rooms
- professional theatre venues beyond the university.
See our facilities page to find out more.
Foundation year
There are many reasons for joining a foundation year course; you may not have the exact subjects or grades at A level to meet the entry requirements, you may have been living abroad or want to change direction with your career. Whatever your starting point, the foundation year offers a firm grounding in the skills and knowledge that you will need to get the most from your studies and thrive at University. Successful completion of the foundation year allows you to progress straight onto Level 4 of this course.
Compulsory modules
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Drama/Theatre/Performance
This module will discuss the importance of concepts, genres, and terminology.
Beginning by focusing on the similarities and differences between drama, theatre and performance, and the tendency to interrelate these terms, the module then investigates dramaturgy in its broadest context and its increasing importance in the discipline today, particularly in terms of socio-cultural, political, and socio-geographical contexts.
The module is taught through seminars and lectures, and you will be encouraged to read short articles or chapters to discuss in the taught sessions.
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Drama Workshop
Working through practical workshops, this module will encourage you to create a community of practice that develops your skills in creative collaboration, group creativity and team innovation. You will develop skills in communication, concentration, cooperation, collaboration, and commitment.
The module further focuses on structuring drama. You are encouraged to reflect critically on your development. This module establishes the fundamentals of workshop practice and the collective essential for the next levels of your course and career.
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Performing Texts
This module will look at the various approaches to analysing texts in preparation for performance. You will look at a variety of texts from varying genres, historical periods, and geographic locations. You will be encouraged to work with texts that affirm your identity, drawing from the rich heritage of work.
The module encourages you to explore and develop an understanding that will prepare you for advanced work further in your studies. The work on this module dovetails with your work on Preparation for Performance, giving an overarching foundation to acting.
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Preparation for Performance
In this module, you will explore a range of approaches to actor training. The module will work with an integrated approach to voice and movement, working towards embodying performance. The module encourages you to explore different approaches and to evaluate in terms of establishing your practice.
The module evolves from the sense of the self and identity and allows you to use this as the frame to explore your practice. The work on this module dovetails with your work on Performing Texts, giving an overarching foundation to acting. The module will look at these approaches at a foundational level preparing you for the advanced work later in your studies.
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Socially Engaged Theatre
This module encourages you to create a socially conscious performance using your workshop and acting skills. The topic is dependent on the demographic of the group and topical issues.
The module encourages you to have a voice and to use it effectively. Projects could, for example, focus on marginalised communities, human rights, gender, and identity. You will be guided through working from stimulus texts and ideas, shaping narratives and the dramaturgical work in preparing the piece for performance. You will develop your rehearsal etiquette and discipline. The module also gives you the opportunity to perform to an invited audience.
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The Actor’s Instrument
The module works with you to introduce the fundamentals of voice and speech, and movement for the actor. An integrated workshop approach allows you to work on each aspect separately and then integrate them to enhance and embody your practice.
Compulsory modules
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Theatre Histories
This module introduces you to contexts and histories which shape contemporary theatre-making, focusing on the development of theatre and performance as a practice and as a discipline.
It offers a historiographic approach to field using performance forms as cultural phenomena and a lens to view the world. You will begin to identify and critique historical sources and information as you begin your journey into developing your own creative voice as recipients of the legacies of theatre and performance around the world.
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Improvisation and Devising
Improvisation and Devising module introduces you to various methods and approaches to inventing and rehearsing creative ideas.
Through practical workshops, you will develop your acting technique, explore movement and learn how to work as an ensemble. You will learn how to generate creative ideas collaboratively and use methods of devising to formulate performance work.
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Creative Storytelling
This module introduces you to the art of storytelling. You will explore a variety of approaches to developing and performing stories. Through practical exercises, you will experiment with form, ritual and narrative, as well as examine a rich array of cultural practices, including folktales, oral histories and epic tales.
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Directed Project
The emphasis of this module will be focused on developing an understanding of how to create a performance from page (text) to stage. You will be led by an industry professional, learning appropriate rehearsal strategies and ensemble performance methods to prepare a play script or cultural text for performance.
There will be an opportunity to stage the performance in either a conventional performance space or in an external site or venue, depending on the nature of the project. You will learn how to work as a team, develop your acting skills as well as having the opportunity to gain experience in other aspects of staging a production.
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Performing Site and Place
This module explores concepts of space and place to understand how these ideas can be re-imagined, disrupted or invented through performance. With an emphasis on performance practice, you will be invited to explore site and place creatively.
There will be a particular focus on place practices associated with the urban environment (urban arts), environmentalism (ecological theatre) and forms of community identity.
Learning activities will take place in a range of settings, including the studio and outdoor locations. There will be a group trip to a location in London. By the end of the module, you will have created a scratch performance (a piece in early development) or planned a site/place project.
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Immersive Performance
This module will explore the interconnection between concepts of immersive performance and forms of participation in a theatrical experience. It will emphasise active exploration of the practices by which participation is facilitated and will look both at and beyond the Eurocentric immersive theatre genre that has become popular in the UK.
Through practical workshops, you will explore forms of participatory performance, including Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed techniques, as well as examine how new technologies can be used. You will reflect on ideas of audience and interaction within a performance.
Compulsory modules
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Socialising Performance
Theatrical performance has the potential to address social issues, connect communities and support processes of social change. In this module, you will be introduced to examples of experimental theatre practice that are socially-engaged.
You will study the features of these forms of performance and the concepts of ethics, culture and representation that influence how this work is created. You will develop an understanding of some of the ideas from cultural theory that enable performance-makers to address stories about society, past and present.
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Working with Communities
In this module, you will learn practical strategies in how to facilitate arts activities in community contexts. During practical workshops, you will encounter examples of practice currently happening in the industry and will learn about the work of successful organisations and artists who create performances with, by and for a range of different kinds of communities and social settings.
You will learn how to create performances with participants from a range of ages, backgrounds and identities. By the end of the module, you will be able to design and lead your own arts workshops.
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Performing Identities
Performing Identities introduces you to the various approaches to exploring identity in performance-making. You will develop an understanding of key concepts about identity, including discussions around gender, sexuality, disability, race, ethnicity and class.
You will examine a variety of performance forms that engage with identity and will reflect on how you might apply these concepts and practices to your own performance work.
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Staging Stories
Staging Stories module introduces you to the various shapes, structures and forms stories from around the world, through space and time.
It equips you with the dramaturgical skills necessary to develop effective and inclusive storytelling techniques. You will learn how to structure and frame your own performances.
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Writing for Performance
Writing for Performance is a module that focuses on integrating your creative thoughts and ideas in a text-based format. You are guided through a writing development ‘roundtable’ process akin to script development workshops.
You will have the opportunity to develop drafts in class with ‘cold readings’ and use these to prepare an open staged reading on campus or in a venue and community of your choosing, in collaboration with other students as actors, directors and so on.
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Outreach Project
This module will be delivered as an intensive creative project, delivered over approximately 7 weeks. You will be guided by an arts professional to design, rehearse and either perform or facilitate a project for an external audience. Projects may entail working in schools, with elders, in health and wellbeing contexts or in local community venues.
You might be involved in creating a polished performance for a particular community venue or facilitating workshops with participants within a community context. You will be applying your previous learning, into practice on the concepts and practical skills involved in socially-engaged performance.
Compulsory modules
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Professional Practice Placement
This module will consist of a professional placement which will take place during the first six weeks of the autumn semester. As far as is possible, you will be matched to a work placement which supports the development of your experience and skills for employment in the arts sector.
During the placement, you will observe a particular type of practice, which may include theatre-making with a theatre organisation, facilitating drama in schools, arts administration, or creative producing. By the end of the module, students will have collated a portfolio of they experience and will be able to reflect on how their developed a specific skill within a real-life context.
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Autonomous Project
Through this module, you will develop an understanding of how to carry out your own research to examine or experiment with an aspect of performance. You will select a topic, theme, or performance method that you wish to explore closely.
You will be guided in how to conduct your inquiry, through lecture materials on methods of performance research and one-to-one tutorials.
You will have a choice of two options:
- research and analyse the practice of a particular arts organisation or artist and complete a fully written dissertation
- conduct an experiment in performance practice which could involve documenting a workshop process, writing a play text, or creating a short, experimental performance. The inquiry of the practice experiment will be explained in a short-written dissertation.
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Enterprise and Professional Development (incl. LLCM)
This module will provide you with the practical skills needed in your professional development such as:
- how to set up a company
- designing and pitching a project proposal
- applying for funding and facilitation training
- teaching certifications.
You will have sessions with guest speakers from theatre companies and industry professionals in the UK and abroad to gain real-world insight into what theatre-makers face today. You will have the opportunity to complete a London College accredited certificate in teaching performing arts.
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Reflective Practitioner
This module will guide you to reflect on practice and begin forming an ethos for your work as you look back on your degree, what you have learned and how you can take this forward and apply it.
It will involve guided prompts and groups discussions where you lead on a particular issue you would like to discuss with the group, such as casting politics or funding.
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Company Project
In this module, you will form your own theatre company with peers in your year group. The emphasis will be on independent practice and collaboration whereby you apply the knowledge and skills learned across the course to create your own performance for an audience, venue, and theme of their choice.
You will design, devise, rehearse and perform a performance project from scratch. You will be encouraged to show innovation in how you use performance to address a contemporary issue and/or experiment with a particular form of practice. You will also take on responsibility of all aspects of the production, dividing roles and responsibilities appropriately within the group. This module will culminate in a sharing of the performances created by each Company as part of a scratch festival.
Entry requirements
These can include:
- A Levels at grades B and B (if you have two A levels) or grades C, D and D (if you have three), or above
- BTEC Extended Diploma with Merit, Merit, Pass
- Access to HE Diploma
- T Levels
You also need GCSE English and Maths (grade 9 - 4 / A* - C) or Level 2 equivalents
Looking for BA (Hons) Contemporary Theatre and Performance (Applied Acting and Devising) without Foundation Year?
You may be eligible for a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees, or a maintenance loan. Additional funding is available to some types of students, such as those with dependants and disabled students.
Looking for BA (Hons) Contemporary Theatre and Performance (Applied Acting and Devising) without Foundation Year?
You need to meet our English language requirement - a minimum of IELTS 5.5 for each of the 4 individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening). Visit our English language requirements page for information on other English language tests we accept.
You also need academic qualifications at the same level as UK applicants. In some countries where teaching is in English, we may accept local qualifications. Check for local equivalents.
We offer pre-sessional English language courses if you do not meet these requirements.
Looking for BA (Hons) Contemporary Theatre and Performance (Applied Acting and Devising) without Foundation Year?
You may be eligible for a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees, or a maintenance loan. Additional funding is available to some types of students, such as those with dependants and disabled students.
Looking for BA (Hons) Contemporary Theatre and Performance (Applied Acting and Devising) without Foundation Year?
Fees & funding
Please note:
- Fees for the 2026/27 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.
- Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year.
- If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
- If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.
Funding your studies
You may be eligible for a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees, or a maintenance loan. Additional funding is available to some types of students, such as those with dependants and disabled students.
Foundation year bursary
If you are a UK student joining a foundation year course with UWL, you will receive a £2000 Path to Success bursary to support your studies. This is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. You will receive £500 per year subject to your attendance, engagement and progression through your studies.
To find out more, explore our Undergraduate scholarships and bursaries page.
Please note:
- Fees for the 2026/27 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.
- Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year.
- If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
- If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.
International students - funding your studies
We offer scholarships for international students including International Ambassador Scholarships.
Further information about funding and financial support for international students is available from the UK Council for International Student Affairs.
Teaching staff
Dr Cathy Sloan
I am a specialist in applied and socially engaged theatre. My doctoral research (completed at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama) documents and theorises performance practices engaged with recovery from addiction. This builds upon my previous practice as Artistic Director of Outside Edge Theatre Company, developing my expertise in collaborative theatre making with people affected by particular social issues, including addiction, homelessness, the criminal justice system and mental wellbeing.
I contributed to the first edited collection on performance practice focused on addiction, entitled Addiction and Performance (Cambridge Scholars 2014), and am currently working on a monograph that examines recovery-engaged contemporary performance practice. My publications address the ethical and political dimension of applied performance, offering a philosophy of performance practice framed as an affective ecology.
I am also an experienced educator and practitioner trainer, having taught at Guildford School of Acting (University of Surrey), Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and Mountview Academy. Previously, I was Head of Drama at a secondary school in Northern Ireland, where I am from.
I am a specialist in applied and socially engaged theatre. My doctoral research (completed at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama) documents and theorises performance practices engaged with recovery from addiction. This builds upon my previous practice as Artistic Director of Outside Edge Theatre Company, developing my expertise in collaborative theatre making with people affected by particular social issues, including addiction, homelessness, the criminal justice system and mental wellbeing.
I contributed to the first edited collection on performance practice focused on addiction, entitled Addiction and Performance (Cambridge Scholars 2014), and am currently working on a monograph that examines recovery-engaged contemporary performance practice. My publications address the ethical and political dimension of applied performance, offering a philosophy of performance practice framed as an affective ecology.
I am also an experienced educator and practitioner trainer, having taught at Guildford School of Acting (University of Surrey), Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and Mountview Academy. Previously, I was Head of Drama at a secondary school in Northern Ireland, where I am from.
Study & career progression
Career progression routes upon successful course completion include employment in the wider arts community and education sectors.
You can also pursue further study at a postgraduate level. See our LCM courses.
How to apply
Head to the UCAS website where you can apply using:
- our institution code - W05
- the UCAS course code (below)
Want to ask us a question first? We would love to hear from you. Contact us free on:
- 0800 036 8888
- courses@uwl.ac.uk
You will be invited to attend a workshop and an interview at the university. You will also take part in a group activity and interview online.
Find out more about the audition process and what happens on the day.
Apply for this course
- Institution code
- W05
- UCAS code
- currentVariantData.field_p_cv_ucas_code
Next steps after making your application
We aim to make a decision on your application as quickly as we can. If we need any more information about your qualifications, we will be in touch.
In the meantime, come and visit us and find out more about what studying at UWL is like. Sign up for an open day or join a campus tour.
Visit us and see for yourself
Talk to our tutors and find out about our courses and facilities at our next open day or join a campus tour.
Our prospectus
All of our courses in one place - download now or order a hard copy.
We're here to help
Any questions about a course or studying at UWL? We're here to help - call us on 0800 036 8888 (option 2, Monday – Friday 10am-4pm) or email us on courses@uwl.ac.uk.
You can apply to us in two ways:
- on the UCAS website you will need our institution code (W05) and the UCAS course code (at the top of this page)
- directly on our website – follow the ‘apply now’ link below
Want to ask us a question first? Our dedicated international students’ team would love to hear from you.
- Ask the International Recruitment Team a question
- learn more about international student applications
- find out more about why you should study in London at the Career University.
Apply for this course
Next steps after making your application
We aim to make a decision on your application as quickly as we can. If we need any more information about your qualifications, we will be in touch.
In the meantime, come and visit us and find out more about what studying at UWL is like. Sign up for an open day or join a campus tour.
Visit us and see for yourself
Talk to our tutors and find out about our courses and facilities at our next open day or join a campus tour.
Our prospectus
All of our courses in one place - download now or order a hard copy.
We're here to help
Any questions about a course or studying at UWL? We're here to help - call us on 0800 036 8888 (option 2, Monday – Friday 10am-4pm) or email us on courses@uwl.ac.uk.
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Student life at UWL
Important notes for applicants
Disclaimer
*Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.
**The National Student Survey 2023 and 2024 - Average of answers to all questions by registered student population. Excludes specialist institutions.
Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.
Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.
Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming. In some cases a new Course Leader has joined the University since the video was filmed.
Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, this is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.