Lancaster University undergraduate open day
27 Jun 2026, 08:00
Lancaster
Theatre, made well, changes us. Whether you want to focus on performing, directing, playwriting, or applied theatre, join us to shape the theatre industry of the future. You will combine practice and theory to support your creative risk-taking and develop an original voice through your own innovative practical work.
Why Lancaster?
Benefit from a forward-thinking curriculum that is firmly based on the skills and knowledge that will be needed in the theatre industry in years to come
Tailor your studies by specialising in your chosen area of theatre such as acting, scenography, scriptwriting, directing or applied and community performance
Enjoy a practical course where you can bring your theoretical ideas to life in imaginative ways in our studios
Take advantage of regular networking opportunities with professional theatres and arts organisations in Lancaster and beyond
Choose a course that expertly combines practical skills with contextual knowledge, giving you a strong understanding of 21st century theatre and how it can impact society
The future of theatre
In this course, we look to the future. Theatre can take place in front of large audiences in dedicated performance venues, but it can also happen all around us – on the street, in community centres, in prisons and schools. When done well, theatre can have a transformative impact on individuals, communities and society. And you can be part of that.
Focusing on the emerging trends and innovations of 21st-century theatre and performance, we will teach you the building blocks of performance making, whilst supporting your ability to develop highly creative, challenging and impactful work.
You will engage in collaborative group performances throughout the course, allowing you to specialise in what you enjoy the most. You might choose to focus on acting, building your confidence on stage, perfecting your characterisation and portraying that character through performance. You could opt to work in pre-production, playwriting or script writing, or even scenography, designing sets and scenes that bring your production to life.
You may see yourself behind the scenes, directing those on stage and managing production from start to finish.
As you progress through the course, you will be able to choose thematic areas of focus, for example, theatre for social change, intermedial theatre, text-based performance, and environmental performance. You will also be trained on topics such as sustainability, inclusivity, and creative entrepreneurship – equipping you with vital skills that will help you to shape the theatre industry of the future.
The freedom to perform
The performance work you create will span a wide array of forms and styles. Most of your learning will be practical, collaborating with others to create projects such as performance pieces, practical presentations, creative portfolios, and contemporary writing and communication projects such as blogs and podcasts. At other times, you will learn through lectures and seminars given by our expert team. Through this, you will develop your knowledge of recent theatre developments and learn to critically evaluate the impact of theatrical performance on global societies.
Study abroad
You will study in your third year at one of our international partner universities where you will choose specialist modules relating to your degree.
The places available at our overseas partners vary each year, but destinations have previously included Australia, USA, Canada, Europe and Asia. If you are not offered a place to study overseas, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent standard 3-year degree scheme and would complete your studies at Lancaster. Lancaster University cannot accept responsibility for any financial aspects of the year abroad.
Important Information
For the most up-to-date course information and more details, we recommend that you revisit our website before submitting your application.
The following entry points are available for this course:
Discover what it's like to study Theatre and Performing (Study Abroad) at Lancaster University: insights on the course, making friends, personal statement tips, uni prep, and recommended books, podcasts, and videos.
At Lancaster, we are committed to widening access to higher education for all. As part of this we take a holistic approach to reviewing applications, taking into account exceptional circumstances and potential as much as we can. We run a Contextual Offer Scheme which incorporates a reduced grade offer for applicants that meet our eligibility criteria. For more information on the scheme, and other widening participation activity such as the Lancaster Access Programme, please visit our website.
This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
For information on our fees, please see www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding.
Bailrigg
Lancaster
LA1 4YW
Email:ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk
Phone:01524 592028
At Lancaster University