Become one of the next generation of makers, thinkers and influencers in the arts. You study a broad range of modules which enable you to shape your degree around your own areas of interest. Our dynamic arts community is made up of students, graduates, academics, professional practitioners, and a team of technical specialists, so you are in the ideal environment to explore and develop your own distinctive style and creativity.

Our industry-standard facilities include three large workshop studios, a flexible black box theatre and a fully equipped professional theatre space seating 144.  In these spaces you explore and develop the skills and expertise equipping you for a future in the arts and creative industries.   

You benefit from the department’s close relationships with key local and regional arts organisations giving you the opportunity to enhance your practice in public. Our links with the profession are also reflected in our teaching staff, guest lecturers and opportunities for work placements.  

All our modules incorporate an exciting blend of practical work and academic study enabling you to develop your critical understanding alongside your performative skills.  Some of the many areas you can study are traditional text-based theatre, acting, comedy, puppetry, participatory and community performance, innovative contemporary performance, and gender and identity in performance.  

Our degree programme

At Kent we challenge the distinction between practical and theoretical study, which means that many of our modules include both written and performed assessments. 

First-year modules develop your key skills and core knowledge, and introduce you to a wide range of theatre practices. You take two compulsory modules focusing on approaches to making performance; single honours students choose a further two modules.

In your second year you choose four modules from a range covering areas such as acting, popular performance, Shakespeare’s theatre, musical theatre dance, theatre history, disability and the arts, and physical theatre.

In your final year you choose three modules from a selection, covering areas such as participatory and community arts, stand-up comedy, performing lives, performing classical texts, physical theatre, playwriting, theatre and journalism, and arts funding and policy.  You then either take a module in which you produce an original production in small companies, or you complete an independent written project.

You graduate from Kent with an understanding of theatre in all its forms and the creative competence to succeed in a future career in the arts or beyond.

Year of professional experience

It is possible to spend a year on placement gaining valuable workplace experience and increasing your professional contacts. You don’t have to make a decision before you enrol at Kent but certain conditions apply. 

Year abroad

Single honours and three-year joint honours students can apply to spend a year or a term abroad studying at a university in a range of locations around the world.

Study resources

Drama and Theatre students benefit from some of the best rehearsal, teaching, study and performance facilities in the UK, including: 

• industry standard Jarman studios with heated semi-sprung floors, lighting rigs and a spacious control box housing the latest equipment 
• the 120-seat Aphra Theatre 
• the Lumley studio 
• a fully equipped construction workshop 
• a sound studio 
• the 340-seat Gulbenkian Theatre, which offers industry placements on campus, as well as a year-round visiting professional programme of theatre 
• the University’s Templeman Library, which is renowned for its drama and theatre manuscripts, including collections of playbills, prints, programmes and other theatre ephemera 
• Digital Theatre Plus, which provides full-length films of British theatre productions, in addition to interviews with the cast and the creative and production teams. 

Extra activities

There are a whole range of student-run societies. In previous years, students have had the opportunity to join:

• T24 Drama – produces and puts on six shows a term
• Musical Theatre – produces musicals and musical showcase
• Circus – a collective of artists and creative characters
• Glee – a choir for people who love to sing
• Costume for Stage and Screen – design and sew costumes
• Music Society – orchestras, chorus, concert and big bands
• Sports Societies – over 45 to choose from and extensive facilities.

The School of Arts organises special events that you are welcome to attend. These may include:

• guest workshops and talks by professionals from the world of theatre
• symposia
• seminars
• conferences and exhibitions.

Professional network

The School of Arts has developed links with some of the major players in the industry:

• Bobby Baker
• C&T theatre
• Gulbenkian Theatre
• Little Bulb Theatre
• Marlowe Theatre
• Thomas Ostermeier
• Oily Cart
• Reckless Sleepers
• Shakespeare’s Globe.