Theatre, made well, changes us. Whether you want to focus on performing, directing, playwriting, or applied theatre, join us to shape the theatre industry of the future. You will combine practice and theory to support your creative risk-taking and develop an original voice through your own innovative practical work.

Why Lancaster?

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

Tailor your studies by specialising in your chosen area of theatre such as acting, scenography, scriptwriting, directing or applied and community performance

Enjoy a practical course where you can bring your theoretical ideas to life in imaginative ways in our studios

Take advantage of regular networking opportunities with professional theatres and arts organisations in Lancaster and beyond

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

The future of theatre

In this course, we look to the future. Theatre can take place in front of large audiences in dedicated performance venues, but it can also happen all around us – on the street, in community centres, in prisons and schools. When done well, theatre can have a transformative impact on individuals, communities and society. And you can be part of that.

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 engage in collaborative group performances throughout the course, allowing you to specialise in what you enjoy the most. You might choose to focus on acting, building your confidence on stage, perfecting your characterisation and portraying that character through performance. You could opt to work in pre-production, playwriting or script writing, or even scenography, designing sets and scenes that bring your production to life.

You may see yourself behind the scenes, directing those on stage and managing production from start to finish. You can make this course your own.

As you progress through the course, you will be able to choose thematic areas of focus, for example, theatre for social change, intermedial theatre, text-based performance, and environmental performance. You will also be trained on topics such as sustainability, inclusivity, and creative entrepreneurship – equipping you with vital skills that will help you to shape the theatre industry of the future.

The freedom to perform

The performance work you create will span a wide array of forms and styles. Most of your learning will be practical, collaborating with others to create projects such as performance pieces, practical presentations, creative portfolios, and contemporary writing and communication projects such as blogs and podcasts. At other times, you will learn through lectures and seminars given by our expert team. Through this, you will develop your knowledge of recent theatre developments and learn to critically evaluate the impact of theatrical performance on global societies.

You will also have the option to study aspects of the Creative Industries, learning essential skills such as project management and funding applications, and how to ensure theatre is accessible and inclusive.

You will often work in professional theatre venues, including the Nuffield Theatre on the University campus. At other times you might be creating work in the natural environment surrounding campus, or within the urban landscapes of the city of Lancaster.

You will also have opportunities to participate in applied and community-based projects, working with socially and economically disadvantaged groups in the Lancaster region. For some students, this is the most inspiring part of the course.

A creative community

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.

You will have the opportunity to work with emerging and established experts in the industry through the programme of performances and workshops offered in the professional theatre venue on campus. In the past, we have had campus visits from theatre makers including theatre companies Forced Entertainment, and Imitating the Dog, and artist and activist Bobby Baker. You will also have opportunities to join staff-led theatre trips to important productions – both locally and further afield.

Your department

School of Arts

Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

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Download the course booklet to find out more about Lancaster University, how we teach Theatre and Performing, and what you'll study as a Theatre and Performing student.

Theatre and Performing subject guide

Creative Arts Facilities at Lancaster University

Whatever creative arts subject you choose, you’ll find we have specialist spaces and equipment to inspire your studies.

Annual Degree Show

Every year our final year students showcase their designs in a major degree show exhibition, which is open to the public.

Your year abroad

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Study abroad

The study abroad option is an exciting opportunity for anyone who is thinking of working abroad during their career or who simply wants the experience of living and studying overseas as part of their degree.

Often study abroad students describe the year abroad as a “transformative experience”, as it can shape your future career path as well as having a positive impact on your personal development.

Study abroad - Lancaster students

Experience and skills

On a study abroad course, you'll spend two years at Lancaster before going overseas in your third year to study at one of our international partner universities. This will help you to

develop your global outlook

expand your professional network

increase your cultural awareness

develop your personal skills.

You’ll return to Lancaster for your final year of study in year four.

Host universities

During your year abroad, you will choose specialist modules relating to your degree and potentially other modules offered by the host university that are specialisms of that university and country.

The places available at our overseas partners vary every year. In previous years destinations for students in the Faculty have included Australia, United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.

Alternative option

We will make reasonable endeavours to place students at an approved overseas partner university that offers appropriate modules. Occasionally places overseas may not be available for all students who want to study abroad or the place at the partner university may be withdrawn if core modules are unavailable.

If you are not offered a place to study overseas, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent standard 3-year degree scheme and would complete your studies at Lancaster. Lancaster University cannot accept responsibility for any financial aspects of the year abroad.

Next button

Developing your professional skills is at the core of this course. Our programme is very highly regarded in the profession and our graduates are sought after within the theatre and performance sector. Providing valuable critical thinking and creative skills, this programme will open up many opportunities for working not just in the theatre industry, but in many other sectors too.

Our graduates have gone on to pursue successful careers in theatre as:

Performers

Directors

Dramaturgs

Producers

Technicians

Administrators

Theatre facilitators

Prison theatre workers

A significant number of our graduates also go on to set up their own theatre companies or small businesses.

Other graduates have gone on to pursue careers in:

Television

Digital media

Community arts and drama

Journalism

Publishing

Teaching

Social work

Charities

International organisations

Each year some of our graduates progress to postgraduate study by taking a master’s either at Lancaster or elsewhere. Others successfully gain places on Drama School programmes, developing the creative skills and passions they have discovered during their time with us.

Careers and employability support

Our degrees open up an extremely wide array of career pathways in businesses and organisations, large and small, in the UK and overseas.

We run a paid internship scheme specifically for our arts, humanities and social sciences students, supported by a specialist Employability Team. The team offer individual consultations and tailored application guidance, as well as careers events, development opportunities, and resources.

Whether you have a clear idea of your potential career path or need some help considering the options, our friendly team is on hand.

Lancaster is unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which recognises activities such as work experience, community engagement or volunteering and social development. A valuable addition to your CV!

Find out more about Lancaster’s careers events, extensive resources and personal support for Careers and Employability.

Find out about some of the careers our alumni have entered into after graduation.

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.

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A levels

BBB . 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

24 Level 3 credits at Distinction plus 21 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 DM, or A level at grade C plus BTEC(s) at DD, or A levels at grade BC 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

30 overall with 15 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

Merit 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.

Help from our Admissions team

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.

We also have more details on our website about:

Other qualifications we accept

International qualifications

How to apply and what happens afterwards

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with Lancaster University International Study Centre, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the Lancaster University International Study Centre for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Where the course offers optional modules, they may not all be available every year.

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Making Theatre 1: Acting, Directing and Collaborating

Explore the foundations of theatre and build on your skills as we support your journey to becoming a professional theatre practitioner.

Through practical workshops and a sequence of small group projects, you will have the opportunity to explore multiple professional roles such as actor, director, scenographer, playwright or dramaturg. The skills you gain through these roles will be used in the development of short, original, student-led productions that follow models of practice established by influential 21st century theatre makers including:

Intermedial theatres

Post-dramatic theatre

Applied theatre

Environmental performance

Your knowledge of significant and emerging practices will be fostered through weekly readings, viewings, lectures and workshops, helping you develop the essential skills needed to support you in your theatre career.

Living Theory

Building on Raw Materials of Performance, this module introduces influential theoretical perspectives that will help you to create impactful theatre productions.

You will take ‘theory’ out of the realm of the written word and move it into the context of our own everyday lives. Through a series of practical workshops, you will engage in dynamic activities that illustrate the ideas of prominent social, cultural and political theorists. You will explore theoretical concepts relating to the politics of representation, cultural traditions and norms, and the social construction of spaces, places and identities.

We will encourage you to practically engage with these theories through in-class creative activities, allowing you to experience how you can make concrete use of theory in your own creative practice, whilst understanding and intervening in the world around us.

Raw Materials of Performance

Every piece of performance, big or small, uses the same foundational ‘raw materials’. Explore these and more as you develop your critical, aesthetic and theatrical vocabulary by examining the formal building blocks of performance, such as the body, space, time, text and media.

Through a combination of practical workshops and seminars, you will learn how these building blocks are used to construct a variety of performance forms including:

Traditional stage plays

Live art

Performance art

Physical theatre

Site-specific or immersive theatre

By analysing specific examples of these performance forms, your studies in this module will complement the projects undertaken in Making Theatre I, helping you progress in your learning.

Accessibility and Inclusion in Creative Industries

Explore how the creative industries can benefit everyone, as we train you to become a skilled professional in developing inclusive and accessible events.

Building your skills in a range of techniques, this module will help to ensure that all forms of creative practice are open for everyone to enjoy, regardless of abilities or backgrounds. You will learn the necessary skills to create welcoming and adaptable event spaces, understand sensory enhancement techniques such as subtitling, closed captioning and audio description and engage with challenging questions about equity and representation within the creative sectors.

Through practical workshops, lectures and seminar discussions, you will examine innovative examples from multiple disciplines to better understand the creative possibilities that accessible practice generates.

Optional

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Art Histories and Contexts

Providing you with a solid grounding in art history, this module will take you on a journey, from the modernist period to the present day.

Beginning with the emergence of Modernism in Europe, you will follow its impact in the United States, China, India, South America and beyond. You will learn about alternative and under-represented histories that challenge mainstream thought, whilst exploring how artists have responded to pressing societal issues such as:

Post-colonialism

Equal rights

Gender identity

Digital revolution

Environmental crisis

These movements will be explored through a range of themes that relate to creative practices such as time, space, light, text and juxtaposition, helping you develop your ability to write for a range of art contexts.

Re-Making Tradition

Develop your critical reading skills, become a more reflective writer and work on being an effective communicator. We'll journey through genres (such as fantasy, tragedy and life writing), explore the social, cultural, aesthetic, political and economic importance of each one, and discuss the possibilities offered by different approaches.

The focus here is on reflective work, while you will produce more creative work in your other modules. You will build your confidence and critical vocabulary, as you experiment with a range of genres, forms and methodologies.

British Cinema

Britain is one of the most successful and influential film industries in world cinema. In this module you will explore the key films, filmmakers and traditions that have shaped British cinema over the past century. Through a study of major genres, styles, filmmakers and themes, you will consider how British cinema has evolved and reflect on historical cinema-going habits.

Alongside this historical overview, you will engage with critical debates. You’ll examine the relationship between national identity and cinema, the role of realism and recurring preoccupations with emotional repression, race, gender and social class. You will also explore how British cinema captures and shapes ideas of ‘’Britishness’’.

Each week, screenings of case-study films by influential British directors will be paired with key readings, providing a foundation for discussion. By the end of the module, you will have developed a critical understanding of British cinema’s distinctive characteristics and its role within film history and culture.

World Literatures

Look beyond the boundaries of traditional courses in English Literature and explore a wide and exciting range of literatures in English and translation from antiquity to the present day. Discover texts that have influenced the development of literary English, from the Bible and classical figures such as Ovid and Homer, through Medieval and Early Modern authors such as Dante and Rabelais to contemporary world authors in translation such as Kafka and Rushdie.

Making Theatre 2: Beyond the Stage

Advance your performance-making skills in this year-long module. Through project-based explorations of how theatre can inspire audiences and the wider society, you will learn to think beyond the stage.

To begin this module, you will undertake skills-based workshops on aspects of socially engaged theatre making, resulting in a group practical ‘pitch’ for a proposed performance project. As you progress, you will be allocated to a project group based on shared interests, working together to engage with specific demographic groups in the local area and produce a piece of theatre that showcases the viewpoints of an under-represented community.

Collaborating to devise an original performance in a style and genre of your choosing, you could create a staged theatre production or an alternative form of performance such as site-specific theatre, audio performance or an applied theatre workshop.

Sustainable Practice

Exploring groundbreaking projects that showcase how different artistic disciplines are tackling the challenges of the climate crisis, this module sheds light on sustainability in the creative industries.

Beyond using creative work to raise awareness of climate change, practitioners and producers from all disciplines are increasingly focused on finding practical ways to reduce the environmental impact of their work. From innovative models of touring to the use of revolutionary new materials, artists and makers are discovering that sustainability challenges can drive bold and transformative creativity.

Through lectures, seminars and practical workshops you will deepen your awareness of this emerging area and refine your own capacity to develop influential approaches within the creative sector.

Theatre and Society 2

How do complex social and political circumstances condition the production and reception of 21st century theatre practice? What specific aesthetic, formal, and ethical considerations are required to increase the efficacy of theatrical performance in specific social and political contexts?

This module is taught through lectures, seminars, group presentations and workshops. Supported by weekly assigned readings and viewings, you will be introduced to a new case study or set of case studies that illustrate a thematic area of practice each week. You will be briefly introduced to historical forerunners before focusing on performance examples from the 21st century, analysing the theatrical tactics employed by a variety of makers to address social problems in specific contexts. For example, weekly themes may include:

Theatre and Postmodernism

Theatre and Race

Theatre and Community

Theatre and Populism

Theatre and Fascism

Art Theories and Contexts

Building on the relationship between theoretical understanding and artistic practice, this module will introduce you to a broad range of theories and ideas relevant to contemporary art practice and thinking. You will explore ideas such as:

New materialism

Fourth and fifth-wave feminisms

Object-oriented philosophy

Posthumanism

The Anthropocene

Hauntology

The relations that exist between art and science

Join us as we combine intellectual rigour and curiosity with the freedom to confidently explore your creativity from an increasingly informed position. You will be encouraged to explore different forms of writing that enable you to develop ideas and express yourself in a range of appropriate formats.

Playwriting

Learn to write drama for the theatre and audio, and develop your awareness of the processes by which a written script makes its way to live performance and recorded production. You will be taught through weekly seminars/workshops in which you will explore the effects that different staging/recording approaches and performance strategies have on your scripts.

Over the course of the module, you will develop your own writing styles and gain an awareness of the professional requirements of playwriting for the stage and for radio and podcasts. Part of this course will be taught in situ at The Dukes Theatre in the city centre.

Screenwriting

This dynamic module blends theory and practice to immerse you in the craft of screenwriting. Through lectures and hands-on workshops, you will develop essential skills in narrative structure, character development and dialogue, while working towards a 15–20-page screenplay.

You will engage with the entire screenwriting process—from initial concept to final draft—receiving feedback through writing groups, table reads and peer critiques. The module emphasises both creativity and industry awareness, introducing you to funding opportunities, pitching techniques and the screenwriter’s role in film production. Alongside practical writing, you will refine your critical analysis skills by evaluating professional screenplays and developing confidence in presenting your work.

By the end of the module, you will have produced a professional-quality screenplay and gained a comprehensive storytelling toolkit, preparing you for careers in screenwriting, filmmaking and broader media industries.

Postcolonial Literature

Explore postcolonial literature across a wide historical span. Your study will move from the explosion of new national literatures in the era of decolonisation through to contemporary writing that interrogates the legacies of racism and imperialism in our globalised world.

You’ll read exciting major writers who defined the emergence of African, South Asian and Caribbean literature in English in the middle of the twentieth century. You’ll also encounter today’s new voices, grappling with the afterlives of empire.

Cutting through all our thinking will be the question of how literature serves, in Ngugi wa Thiongo’s phrase, as a means of 'decolonising the mind'.

Writing Fiction

Develop key techniques for writing fiction and hone the skills you need to write short stories and/or novels.

Through workshops, discussions, set reading from a range of contemporary writers and generative writing prompts, you’ll develop confidence in creating character, worldbuilding, establishing narrative voice, experimenting with point of view and constructing engaging structures and plot.

You will draw on a range of techniques according to your own interests. In your reflective essay you will consider the various ways short fiction and the novel uniquely deploy these techniques.

Short Film Production

In this module, you will collaboratively develop, produce, and complete a short dramatic film while engaging with sustainable industry-standard production practices. The emphasis is on technical competence, creative problem-solving, and reflective collaboration.

At the start of the module, you'll form your own production groups and assign yourself one of the key creative roles within the team—Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Art Director, Sound Recordist/Designer, or Editor. Where needed, roles may be shared or doubled up to ensure all production responsibilities are met.

The module is supported by advanced technical workshops in camera, lighting, grip, sound, editing, and post-production workflows, preparing you to meet contemporary professional standards while reflecting on sustainability and resource-conscious filmmaking.

American Literature

What we call ‘American Literature’ and how we define America and ‘the American experience’ depends on who is writing and to whom. In this module you will encounter many different voices, many conflicting and contrasting views, a diversity of complex experience and a great range of writing in form and style.

You will explore such questions as: What role do different literary forms play in narrating the self? How does American writing seek to establish a new way of looking at the world? And how and why does literature help shape forms of protest and new critiques of modernity?

Taking an Idea and Making it Happen (Discovery module)

Explore how ideas can be developed into real-world projects with lasting value. Through hands-on collaboration and problem-solving, you will develop innovative projects, learn how to bring ideas to life and explore ways to sustain them.

Whether you are working in a team or individually, you will be encouraged to experiment with different approaches to making a difference in artistic, cultural, social and community spaces.

Employability, Purpose and Social Impact (Discovery module)

Hone a strong sense of purpose and gain the satisfaction of applying your skills and knowledge to a community, charity or student-led initiative.

Your challenge will be to take responsibility for arranging and completing a voluntary or fundraising activity—locally, virtually or during vacation periods at home. You will need to show that you have made a positive difference through this activity.

In class, you will be asked to reflect on this experience and explore the wider social impact of the work. In doing so you will build your confidence in your ability to contribute meaningfully to society through your future personal and professional path.

Your Year Abroad

In your third year you will study at one of our international partner universities. This will help you to expand your global outlook and professional network, as well as developing your cultural and personal skills. It is also an opportunity to gain a different perspective on your subject through studying it in another country.

You will choose specialist modules relating to your degree and potentially modules from other subjects offered by the host university that are specific to that university and country.

The availability of places at overseas partners varies each year. In previous years destinations for students in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences have included Australia, United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.

Making Theatre 3: Advanced Performance Project

Develop a fully realised theatrical production in a style and genre of your choice, as your reach the pinnacle of your practical theatre making studies.

Guided by staff with professional theatre-making skills, your work will be supported by advanced skills-based workshops in the areas of theatre you choose to pursue (e.g., acting, directing, scenography, etc). Through engaging in exploratory studio-based work, you will collaborate in groups to develop a coherent and theatrically compelling production concept, with a staff mentor who will provide feedback and guidance on a weekly basis.

Supported by professional technicians and staff, you will undertake independent project development and rehearsal sessions in our dedicated studio spaces, as you produce a show to be performed as part of the end-of-year degree festival.

Theatre Independent Project

Tailor your studies according to your own passions and curiosities with your independent research project.

Throughout this module, you will undertake a major piece of research on your chosen topic, supervised by a member of staff with relevant expertise. You may choose to undertake a traditional, written dissertation, or you can opt for practice-based research that combines solo practical work with an analytical essay.

Regardless of which mode you choose, you will be assessed on your research process as well as the final outcome. We welcome topics relating to any area of theatre or performance, from professional or applied theatre practice to popular culture, film or television.

You will develop an advanced ability to research and communicate knowledge in an area relevant to Theatre and Performing, whilst becoming an expert in an area of interest that you have developed throughout your degree.

Documentary Production

This advanced, practice-based module provides an industry-informed approach to documentary filmmaking.

Working in small groups, you will research, develop and produce a short documentary, choosing either to pursue an independent concept or respond to a stakeholder brief. The module supports a broad range of documentary genres and styles, encouraging experimentation with form while maintaining professional standards.

Through workshops and practical training, you will refine your skills in cinematography, sound recording and editing, while gaining awareness of ethical considerations, industry expectations, funding opportunities and distribution strategies across traditional and digital platforms.

Collaboration is central to this module, requiring you to navigate real-world production challenges, from research and planning to post-production. By the end of the module, you will have created a completed short documentary and developed the technical, conceptual and professional skills essential for careers in documentary filmmaking and beyond.

Literature and Environment

Examining a wide range of texts and authors from early periods to the age of the climate crisis, this module will explore the many and various ways in which the non-human world is celebrated, championed and exploited by the literary imagination.

You will explore questions such as:

What do we mean by the ‘the environment’?

What experiences, meanings and values do we take from, or discover in our surroundings?

How have writers characterised the environment and in what ways might the literary imagination be significant for contemporary environmental concerns?

Confronting the Climate Crisis (Discovery module)

How might we engage with the implications of environmental transformation locally, nationally and globally? Where do we have agency and capacity to intervene?

This module brings together a range of perspectives—historical, political, philosophical and cultural—to explore the nature and severity of the effects of the climate crisis on our world.

Artistic Fusions (Discovery module)

What happens when radically different forms of art meet? How do these fused forms change our understanding of the world? We will draw on material from different periods and continents, to explore works of art where, for example, film meets history, poetry meets philosophy, fine art meets sociology, religion meets fiction, and theatre meets politics.

Festival of the Future

In this practical module you will conceptualise, design, and prototype innovative festival experiences that respond to emerging cultural, societal, technological, and environmental trends. Working in a team, you will develop festival concepts that explore innovations in audience engagement, sustainability, accessibility and digital innovation. In collaboration, you will undertake phases of concept development that may include:

Researching and ideating a future-facing festival concept

Design and branding

Creation of visual identities and marketing materials

Audience development strategies

Understanding market audiences through use of data

Technological integration

Experimenting with innovative digital technologies

Interactive installations

Sustainability and accessibility

Developing sustainable festive models with a focus on inclusivity

You will produce a festival proposal that will be pitched to industry professionals, who will provide feedback. The final project will be presented at the School of Arts Festival/Degree show, and your work will also make a contribution to the design and delivery of the event.

Film Industries, Practices and Movements

This module examines the evolving structures, practices, and challenges of film industries across different historical and global contexts. You will explore key industrial processes such as censorship, marketing, promotion and sustainability, while also engaging with major film movements that have shaped contemporary cinema.

Through case studies, you will analyse how national and transnational film industries adapt to technological, economic and political shifts. Topics may include digital cinema, green production initiatives and the role of institutions such as the BFI in shaping industry standards. The module also explores movements like Hong Kong and New Wave cinemas, assessing their impact on filmmaking practices and global circulation.

By the end of the module, you will have developed a critical understanding of the forces shaping film industries, equipping you with analytical skills applicable to film production, distribution and policy. This module provides a strong foundation for further study in film culture and industry practices.

Film Circulation, Exhibition and Audiences

Discover cinema as a dynamic socio-cultural institution, exploring how films are circulated, exhibited and received. You will analyse the role of mediators such as programmers, distributors and critics, as well as the spaces where films are consumed and preserved, including cinemas, festivals, archives and digital platforms.

Focusing on both historical and contemporary perspectives, the module considers how film cultures evolve within local and global contexts. Examples may include:

The introduction of movie theatres in colonial settings

The rise of multiplexes

The role of film festivals in shaping regional industries

You will also explore how exhibition and distribution shape audience engagement and film heritage.

By the end of the module, you will have developed advanced research, analytical and communication skills, enabling you to engage critically with film institutions and cultural industries. This will prepare you for further academic study or careers in film curation, distribution and exhibition.

Gothic and Science Fiction

Both the Gothic and science fiction emerged in response to the 18th century ‘age of reason’ and the Western world’s investment in logic and progress. The Gothic explores the terrors of the past and its return while science fiction imagines alternative futures; in doing so, both voice the concerns of the present.

You will study both classic literary texts and contemporary film and other media. Exploring what the Gothic and science fiction each do, rather than what they each are, you will consider how these genres address some of the most pressing questions facing contemporary Western culture.

Shakespeare

Ben Jonson claimed of Shakespeare ‘he was not of an age but for all time.’ This module, however, examines Shakespearean drama and poetry in its own time and as a platform in which early modern debates about agency and government, family and national identity, were put into play. The stage was and is a place in which questions of gender, class and race, gain immediacy through the bodies and voices of actors.

By examining texts from across Shakespeare’s career, you will explore their power to shape thoughts and feelings in both their own age and in ours. You will consider how, in the past and in the present, Shakespeare’s texts exploit the emotional and political possibilities of poetry and drama.

The assessment of this module normally concludes with either an essay OR a creative engagement (e.g. reading, performance, artwork) plus critical reflection.

Live Performance Criticism

This module offers a unique opportunity to bring your critical, reflective skills to bear on live performance. Whether you would like to become an influential theatre critic or are simply interested in expanding your critical and analytical writing skills, this module will consolidate your ability to identify and reflect on the specific elements that shape audience responses.

Throughout the term you will compose and revise a series of short reviews of live performances that you have personally attended – these can be selected from shows that you have seen independently, or from work seen on trips organised by Theatre staff throughout your course. You will learn through guided writing workshops and individual feedback tutorials, enabling you to develop your own distinctive, impactful critical voice.

Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting at the beginning of each academic year.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2027/28 are:

International

Fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Additional costs

Additional costs for this course

Students will be required to attend some performance events, either on campus or in the city of Lancaster. This will typically amount to less than £35 per year. There will also be opportunities to join organised Theatre-viewing trips in other UK locations; these trips are entirely optional and costs will be advertised to students in advance. It is likely that you will want to have appropriate clothing for practical classes and, depending on the scale of what you wish to do, there may be costs associated with your performances, such as costumes and props. We may be able to reimburse you for some or all of these expenses. It is also likely that you will want see theatre productions as part of your course both locally and sometimes further afield, and it is usually possible for you to get discounted tickets for these events.

There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.

Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.

College fees

Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small college membership fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.

For students starting in 2026 or 2027, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.

Computer equipment and internet access

To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.

The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.

Study abroad courses

In addition to travel and accommodation costs, while you are studying abroad, you will need to have a passport and, depending on the country, there may be other costs such as travel documents (e.g. visa or work permit) and any tests and vaccines that are required at the time of travel. Some countries may require proof of funds.

Placement and industry year courses

In addition to possible commuting costs during your placement, you may need to buy clothing that is suitable for your workplace and you may have accommodation costs. Depending on the employer and your job, you may have other costs such as copies of personal documents required by your employer for example.

What is my fee status?

The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.

Fees in subsequent years

Home fees are subject to annual review, and are liable to rise each year in line with UK government policy. International fees (including EU) are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about fees in subsequent years.

Fees for study abroad and work placements

We will charge tuition fees to Home undergraduate students on full-year study abroad/work placements in line with the maximum amounts permitted by the Department for Education. The current maximum levels are:

Students studying abroad for a year: 15% of the standard tuition fee

Students taking a work placement for a year: 20% of the standard tuition fee

International students on full-year study abroad/work placements will also be charged in line with the maximum amounts permitted by the Department for Education. The current maximum levels are:

Students studying abroad for a year: 15% of the standard international tuition fee during the Study Abroad year

Students taking a work placement for a year: 20% of the standard international tuition fee during the Placement year

Please note that the maximum levels chargeable in future years may be subject to changes in Government policy.

Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Fee status:

Any fee status

Home students

International students

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

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Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

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