Introduction to our Drama degree
Explore different modes of performance and drama practice and develop skills for the stage and screen, with our BA (Hons) Drama degree in Cambridge.
Drama student success
David Alade wrote and performed Fox Hunting at ARU: then developed it for a professional 3 week run at the Courtyard Theatre, London. He also starred in The Fisherman, Trafalgar Studios. Both had 4 star reviews or more.
"The Mumford is a beast of a stage. Now that I have left and seen more and more theatre in London it has been a real eye opener, so I'm quite privileged to have trained and performed on it."
Performing is at the core of our Drama degree at ARU.
With our BA (Hons) Drama degree, we’ll help you to grow into a confident, versatile and exciting drama practitioner with transferable skills to suit the field you want to work in.
With a strong focus on performance, you’ll get to work on public productions as well as smaller-scale projects, exploring practices from the 20th century onwards and devising your own productions.
We’ll encourage you to create innovative and daring performance practice as you develop expertise in group collaboration alongside your own solo performances. You’ll also get the chance to weight your studies to suit your interests, be that drama practice, specialising in backstage production or even theatre administration.
Key facts
Seachange
An adaptation of Shakespearean classic The Tempest by graduating BA (Hons) Drama students.
January 2019
Rossum's Universal Robots
An English adaptation of Czech writer Karel Čapek's acclaimed 1920 science fiction play R.U.R.,
An operetta
Paul Bunyan
The story of the mythical Paul Bunyan as a metaphor for the human struggles of the emerging New World and the personal struggles of the central character Johnny Inkslinger.
Entry requirements
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Fees and paying for university
Facilities and showcase
Professional Facilities
As part of your studies at ARU, you’ll have access to all of our creative industries facilities including:
- Dedicated drama studio, with highly flexible black-box performance space
- Full-size on-campus professional Mumford Theatre
- Large rehearsal space with audio playback facilities, piano, LED lighting rig, portable dance mirrors, gym mats and rostra/modular staging
- Students’ Union-run dance studio
Futures Lab and workshop equipment
Our new digital workshop includes a variety of computer aided manufacturing machines, helping you learn up to date manufacturing and design processes as well as supporting many traditional techniques. These technologies include:
- 3D printers and scanners - FDM printers; material-specific extruders; SLA Formlabs printers; SLS Formlabs Fuse1; structured light 3D scanners
- 2D printing and cutting machines - laser cutters; Roland BN20 vinyl printer & cutter; Gerber substrate cutter; Mimaki TX300P sublimation printer.
Opportunities
During your time at ARU, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- develop your technical and production skills.
- put on productions on campus, in our Mumford Theatre, and at a commercial venue in Cambridge
- volunteer with our Anglia Ruskin Community Theatre Company, and experience being part of a professional ensemble
- gain valuable work experience through placements and live briefs.
Take a closer look
Our Creative Showcase shines a spotlight on what makes ARU creative and cultural – our spaces, places and people. Find out more about our community, the difference we make, the stories we tell, and the things that inspire us.
Meanwhile, Present is an exhibition that you curate for yourself. Explore the work of our graduating students in this eye-catching virtual degree show.
Heather Lilley
Course Leader for BA Drama, Drama and English Literature, Drama and Film and Acting; School Lead for Learning, Teaching and Assessment in CSCI
Sue Wilson
Deputy Head, Writing and Performance
Careers
Not only will you develop your performance skills during your time at ARU, our BA (Hons) Drama degree will give you practical experience as a stage technician, and the academic understanding you need to be a director or a teacher.
We work with employers to make sure you graduate with the knowledge, skills and abilities they need. They help us review what we teach and how we teach it – and they offer hands-on, practical opportunities to learn through work-based projects, internships or placements.
Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our MA Dramatherapy. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.
LAURA MACKIE
I took part in Anglia Ruskin Community Theatre Company's 'Theatre in Education' Production... creating a performance for primary-age students and working with a professional director. I have learnt many valuable skills as a result
LAURA MACKIE
BA (Hons) Drama
Laura's storyWant to talk to someone?
Do you have a question that we haven't answered so far? Talk to our application experts. You can also ask our Student Ambassadors about life at ARU.
We're here Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm (please note we close at 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday of the month for staff training), and Friday 9am-4.30pm.
Life in Cambridge
Our friendly, bustling campus is a stone’s throw from the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.
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Applying for one of our music or drama courses? Get information and insider tips on preparing for your audition.
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