BA (HONOURS) Acting and Performance at Sheffield Hallam University

Course summary

• Develop your skills as an actor and performer
• Create digital materials to showcase your work
• Research, plan and execute a wide range of performances at a professional level
• Use performance to engage with communities and challenge real-world issues.

You’ll be immersed in the creative process of making and presenting theatre and performance in a range of styles and across a range of platforms (such as stage, screen, audio and digital/new media). You will develop your acting skills and contribute to our own festival, The Change Makers Festival.

On this practical course, you’ll take part in interactive lectures, seminars and workshops and have the opportunity to work with industry partners on live projects.At the end of your second year, you’ll travel abroad to see performances made and presented in a different context.

You learn through 

• practical workshops
• working in an ensemble
• going to see performances
• independent study
• undertaking real-life projects for external clients
• lectures and seminars

Work placements

In your second year, you’ll have the chance to collaborate with external partners, undertake a work placement or develop your own enterprise idea. 

You’ll work both independently and in groups, bringing your ideas to life in response to real briefs.

Live projects 

We work with a range of local organisations (theatres, film makers, theatre companies and arts organisations) on live briefs, with staff often producing work for local festivals. You’ll be invited to participate in these projects, giving you the chance to work alongside industry professionals. 

Field trips 

You will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of trips throughout your time on the course. We are ideally located close to Sheffield Theatres and regularly see performances there, but you will also travel to see work in other cities in the north, nationwide, and where possible, internationally. In past years, students have attended international theatre festivals and/or performed work in Prague, Venice, Berlin and Paris.

Networking opportunities 

We have excellent links to local actors, companies and venues, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet and talk to people from the industry.

Future careers

Our students have gone on to rewarding and fulfilling careers in

• the acting profession
• the creative industries
• film production
• marketing, communications and media
• education
• creative arts facilitation
• the charity sector
• public facing professions such as HR, training and customer service
• and a number have set up their own companies

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for

• The Royal Shakespeare Company
• Blowfish
• Forced Entertainment
• Third Angel
• GrowTheatre
• Sheffield Theatres