Theatre & Performative Practices (BA (Hons)) at University College Cork

The Department of Theatre is a dynamic centre for creativity, diversity and intellectual growth, and one of the leading drama departments in Ireland.

The department forms part of the School of Music and Theatre and is committed to excellence in teaching and research. It has a vibrant learning community dedicated to theory and performance practice, as well as historical, interdisciplinary and cross-cultural understanding of theatre and performing arts.

We offer courses on a full range of theatre theory and practices. The Department of Theatre has close links with leading theatres abroad, and at local level with Cork Opera House, Everyman Theatre, Triskel Centre and Firkin Crane, among others. The department is located in the Connolly Complex, near to the Granary Theatre, and has close relations with DRAMAT, one of UCC's oldest student societies (founded in 1905). 

Students study either a single or joint subject degree and engage in public events, performances and research collaborations with creative artists through our interdisciplinary research centre.

The degree in Theatre and Performative Practices:

• offers a joint honours and single honours degree in Theatre and Performative Practices and another Arts subject such as English, Music, Languages, Maths, etc.

• is committed to excellence in teaching and national and international research, housing an interdisciplinary research centre in performance practices

• is dedicated to the teaching of theatre and performative practices alongside theoretical and critical approaches in the field

• has use of excellent facilities alongside UCC's main campus (comprising the Granary Theatre, studio space, drama lab and seminar rooms)

• has close connections with local, national, and international theatres as well as national and international cultural organisations. Our graduates are pursuing careers in the theatre, television and film industry and also in the field of applied theatre, including community theatre and education.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

Study abroad: If you are studying through the BA International, you will spend Year 3 studying at one of our numerous partner universities in Europe, North America and Asia. 

Work placement: Following completion of Year 2, and before the commencement of Year 3, students have the option of completing an approved practical internship/work placement, amounting to four weeks full-time or equivalent, with an approved theatre company, performing arts organisation or theatre performance group in Ireland or abroad.

Assessment for this module will be based on satisfactory completion of the internship and on a presentation and portfolio of documentation completed during the first teaching period of Year 3 (see module description for further details).

If you study through the BA or the BA International, you will have the opportunity to avail of a work placement in Year 2. You can find out more here.

Skills and Careers Information

UCC has a long and established theatre tradition.  Associated with this tradition are the outstanding achievements of, for example:

▪     Fiona Shaw (actor)

▪     Cillian Murphy (actor)

▪     Graham Norton (TV presenter/actor)

▪     Thomas Conway (Druid Theatre Co.)

▪     Tom Creed (Festival, Theatre and Opera director)

▪     John Crowley (theatre & film director)

▪     Oonagh Kearney (film director)

▪     Ray Scannell (composer/actor Abbey Theatre)

▪     Pat Kiernan (Corcadorca)

▪     Jessica Reagan (National Theatre, London)

▪     Stefanie Preissner (Writer/Actor/Director)