Top Universities offering Theatre and Drama in the UK

Let us take you through the different eras of Theatre and Drama, from medieval theatre to Renaissance and Victorian and how we reached the theatre we know of today.

When we look back at the history of theatre and drama, the first people that come to our mind are the Romans. They were the ones who introduced the culture of acting and performance in auditoriums to the United Kingdom. Medieval theatre was mostly religious and biblical, with different styles known as mystery plays, morality plays,  farces (exaggerated comedy), and masques. Jumping forward to the Renaissance and Jacobean periods, history plays depicting the lives of kings became widespread along with genres such as tragedies, comedies, pastorals, tragicomedies. Some of the most notable people of that time were William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Dekker, and John Fletcher.

Later, in the 17th century, the theatres faced recession. The Puritans closed English theatres in 1642 due to religious reasons. However, in 1660, the monarchy was restored and Charles II opened London’s theatres. When he reintroduced theatre and drama, new genres were developed including heroic, pathetic, and Restoration comedy.  At this time the main focus of the plays was female suffering. 

In the Victorian era, playwrights like Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw wrote plays to address social problems on the stage.

In earlier times theatre and drama were the main source of entertainment as well as knowledge. From morality plays to pathetic comedy plays, and biblical plays, all were moulded according to the era and thus taught different lessons.    

Moreover, these plays acted as a medium to teach people communication, creativity, critical thinking, and the expression of all sorts of emotions. 

The top universities that are offering Theatre and Drama courses in the United Kingdom are:

• University of Manchester

• University of Exeter

• University of Nottingham

• University of St. Andrews

• King’s College London

• University of Warwick

• University of Glasgow

• University of Kent

• University of Edinburgh

• University of Birmingham

Apart from these Universities, there are some schools whose main focus is on Theatre and Drama. For instance

• Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)

• Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

• Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

• Guildhall School of Music and Drama 

The completion of this course opens the door to various career opportunities. For instance,

Actor/ Actress

The most common and desired field for theatre and drama graduates is acting. Whether in films, TV shows, commercials, or on stage.

Director

If you have a vision for what people want to see on screen, then you can enter this field. From production to casting, lights, sounds, and more, you will have the power to mould things according to your ideas. 

Playwright

For people who have a love for writing and want to make a significant change in society, becoming a playwright is a wise choice to make. There are no boundaries to your creativity, and you can write stories from your imagination as well as your personal.  

Stage Manager

A stage manager is responsible for coordinating all the aspects of production in theatre, which includes rehearsals, set design, and all technical work. 

Arts Administrator

After becoming an arts administrator, you can work in a theatre, museum, or at any cultural institution. The key roles to play are managing budgets, fundraising, and other business aspects. 

Event Producer

Love going to concerts? Then this is the job for you as you! You can be part of management and still enjoy all your favourite concerts. As an event producer you would have to plan and execute live events, for instance, concerts, festivals, and theatrical productions. 

Theatre Critic

Do you want to watch and review plays for a living? Theatre critics do that and more! Add your valuable insight and be part of theatrical literary debates.

To conclude, this course will not only benefit a person in their professional field but will also enhance an individual’s personality. Moreover, these days everyone values performing arts as a career, as it is a field that will continue to grow. So what are you waiting for? Kickstart your career by studying Theatre and Drama in the United Kingdom.

We hope that we have conveyed Theatre and Drama in the UK and its prospects. Get ready to start your journey to study in UK, and live a dreamy life. For deeper insight, we encourage you to speak with our expert counsellors at Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC). If you cannot travel to our office, you can avail of our free online counselling service via the website. Our team is filled with dedicated counsellors who will provide you with the best guidance and support so that you can enrol yourself at the UK’s top universities. Please do not stop yourself from contacting us at application02@meridean.org or call us at 1800-1230-00011.