Drama at Queen’s combines history, theory and practice in an integrated and multidisciplinary approach, to discover why and how theatre works. Performance workshops and productions enable students to draw upon their reading of literary, cultural, historical and sociological studies to inform their practical understanding of performance. Students are also required to attend professional performances, and benefit from our exceptional links with the theatre sector in Northern Ireland and beyond. Visiting professionals lead workshops in specialist areas.
Drama Degree Highlights
Global Opportunities
Queen's University Belfast is committed to providing a range of international opportunities to its students during their degree programme. Details of this provision are currently being finalised and will be available from the University website once confirmed.
Industry Links
Students have the opportunity to undertake a work placement in Year 3. This is a significant learning and employability enhancement opportunity. Drama at Queen’s has unparalleled links with the local theatre sector and collaborates extensively with leading arts organisations and theatre companies, such as the Lyric Theatre, Prime Cut Productions, Kabosh, Tinderbox and Bruiser theatre companies as well as Belfast Festival and the Linen Hall Library, all of whom have helped us develop a vital professional practice dimension as part of our overall provision.
World Class Facilities
Our main teaching space, the Brian Friel Theatre (www.brianfrieltheatre.co.uk), is one of the best-equipped theatres in Belfast with a 120-seat studio theatre, rehearsal room, dressing rooms, green room and workshop, housed in the Drama and FilmCentre which also comprises the Queen’s Film Theatre.
Internationally Renowned Experts
Our staff expertise encompasses both professional and scholarly aspects of Drama and theatre practice, with many of our team acknowledged internationally as experts working at the cutting edge of research in their fields. Our Chair of Drama, Professor Richard Schoch, is a leading scholar of Shakespeare engaged in research collaborations with the Folger Library and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. Richard has won various awards including the 2013 Oscar Brockett Essay Prize from the American Society for Theatre Research (ASTR) and his books have been shortlisted for the Barnard Hewitt Award (ASTR) and the Theatre Book Prize (Society for Theatre Research, UK).
Student Experience
Extracurricular performance opportunities are offered by the Tyrone Guthrie Society and the student Drama Society, which have taken productions to student festivals in Ireland and the UK. Productions have also been taken to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and to festivals in Belgium and Italy.
