Undergraduate Study in the Centre for Drama & Theatre Studies

• Introduction
• Bachelor of Arts (DTS Major)
• Bachelor of Performing Arts
• Some Advice for Prospective Students
• Further Enquiries

Related pages

• Undergraduate Units Offered by the Centre

Introduction

Students can take a major in Drama & Theatre Studies (DTS) as part of two degrees on the Clayton campus, either as part of the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree or as part of the Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA) degree. Each course offers a substantial range of units using different approaches to theatre.

There are opportunities for performance in both courses and these include projects for assessment as well as course-related productions and public productions presented in the Centre's Drama Theatre. The BPA offers in addition a core Performance stream of PER units.

All the units of the Centre for Drama & Theatre Studies reflect the premise that an understanding of performance processes and an active engagement with them is essential to the reading of dramatic texts or theatre history. Some have a clear performance focus, and several culminate in a full production; none though are skills-based in the way that vocational training in acting, directing or backstage work would normally be. Our course aims to strike an appropriate balance between exploration through performance and academic study, and the latter will always be an important part of your program.

Bachelor of Arts (DTS Major)

The Centre for Drama & Theatre Studies at Monash offers a wide range of subjects in the making and analysis of theatre and performance. Subjects are typically both practical and theoretical. Pathways of study include:

• Experience in performance work
• A broad study of the history of theatre
• An introduction to a range of production skills
• An exploration of contemporary theories of performance

The programme aims to cater for the diversity of student interests and to create an exciting environment for them all.

Students have the opportunity to pursue specialised studies in a number of forms of theatre, such as:

• Theatre history
• Theatre theory
• Music theatre
• Movement
• Directing
• Technical aspects of theatre
• Script writing
• Design

A Drama & Theatre Studies major as a component of Arts, Arts/Law or Arts/Business degrees can lead to potentially interesting career opportunities in non-performing areas of the theatre industry, such as arts administration, planning, community arts, arts journalism, broadcasting, programming, etc.

A number of graduates with a Drama & Theatre Studies major will go on to further research (academic and/or creative projects), others will become specialist teachers and performers. A few will become writers, directors, composers, experimenters in different ways.

Bachelor of Performing Arts

The Bachelor of Performing Arts is an in-depth programme of study of how to make and interpret performance. The course is both practical and theoretical, and there are numerous opportunities for students to participate in directed and devised productions and projects. The aim of the degree is to generate graduates with a range of knowledge and skills relevant to careers as informed and independent theatre practitioners.

The BPA offers students the opportunity to pursue specialised studies in a number of forms of performance, such as:

• Devised performance
• Play production
• Performing
• Directing
• Script writing
• Theatre history & theory
• Technical aspects of theatre
• Design
• Music theatre
• Movement

Graduates have embarked on a range of careers including: working in the Theatre Industry (as administrators, stage managers, technicians, actors, directors, performance makers, and musical directors); entering vocational Drama Schools; becoming Drama teachers; and proceeding to further study.

The combined degree in Performing Arts/Law offers another distinctive and fruitful range of career options.

Some Advice for Prospective Students

In thinking about which course might best suit your interests, you will need to weigh up the disciplinary breadth of the Arts degree against the more narrow and specialised program of the BPA; normally students in the latter degree will take a minor sequence in Music, Visual Arts, or Film & Television Studies, and there will be little room for other kinds of study.

To find out more about the Undergraduate Study in the Centre for Drama & Theatre Studies including, entry requirements, fees etc please refer to the relevent pages in the Faculty of Arts Handbook and future students website .

Further Enquiries

If you have any further queries about the Drama program, please contact us.