What you'll study
Throughout this course, the emphasis is on innovative and ensemble practice, rooted in a robust understanding of existing practices and theories.
You will train in a range of techniques and methods from European theatre practices, investigating and building your capacity as a performer and maker. You will also explore the role of director and designer.
You will develop your ability to situate these practices in a variety of theoretical, historical and socio-cultural contexts. You will have the opportunity to spend part of your time studying/training abroad.
Why choose this course?
Build your unique creative skill-set
Acquire a wide range of skills and techniques, from clowning to devising, though rigorous training as a contemporary performer. Empowering you to build on your own interests and innovate to craft a personal artistic voice
Expert training
Explore a wide range of European practices, closely tutored by an international team of experts. And investigate contemporary performance collaborating closely with visiting industry professionals
Create, collaborate and innovate
Perform in small-scale and large-scale ensembles, exploring devised and text-based theatre. Collaborate with other performers, designers and technical specialists to present original work
Study abroad
Spend a semester at one of our European partner institutions which currently include EESTI MUUSIKA (Tallinn), ESAD (Murcia), EIOLA (Barcelona), Janácek Academy of Music and Performing Arts (Brno), AST National Academy of Theatre Arts (Wrocław), RESAD (Madrid), and Divadlo Continuo (Southern Czechia). Additional costs are likely to be incurred for the international placement that is a part of this programme.
Grow your network
Build a professional network for the future making industry connections while you study and training alongside innovative theatre-makers from all disciplines
Working graduates
Recent graduates are performing with a wide range of companies, forming their own successful companies working with venues like Battersea Arts Centre, Barbican Theatre, National Theatre and Icelandic National Theatre as well as performing at Festivals
Course breakdown
Course content is regularly reviewed, to make it relevant and current. Course modules are therefore subject to change.
Year 1
You will be introduced to the academic and intellectual skills that you will need for study and professional development.
You will begin to learn a range of performance skills and contextualise these in developing your understanding of theatre making through a European perspective.
- Demonstrate a range of physical and vocal performance skills
- Integrate these various skills and techniques into performance related to your study
- Engage with and identify collaborative processes within theatre-making
- Identify key concepts and ideas of major theorists and practitioners of European theatre
- Plan and prepare for seminars, workshops and rehearsals
- Demonstrate an independent imaginative response to your interpretation of text and performance
- Demonstrate an awareness of professional discipline towards the work
- Study productions illuminating key periods of European theatre history
Year 2
You will further develop your skills towards a level appropriate to professional work and experience performance in collaboration with other disciplines.
- Employ diverse physical and vocal performance skills in a range of performative contexts
- Evaluate critically the processes of the performer, director and designer within theatre making
- Analyse the inter-relationships between the performer, director, designer and the audience in the creation of the theatre event
- Articulate and engage critically with the principles, concepts and ideas of writers and practitioners in a European and wider international context
- Apply a range of analytical, reflective and communicative skills informed by an understanding of practices inherent in theatre making
- Initiate projects and lead seminars, workshops and rehearsals
- Demonstrate creativity and originality in the study and presentation of material
- Take some responsibility for the development and assessment of your own professional skills
Year 3
- An introduction to research in practice
- Final public collaborative productions
- Final practical projects and dissertations
- Professional preparation and research on different European theatre companies
Teaching and assessment methods
- In your first year, you will complete around 510 hours of indicative scheduled learning and teaching activities and 540 hours of independent learning on projects, productions, placements or self-directed study. Assessment will be through: Performances; Coursework, presentations and portfolios; Continuous practical assessment
- In your second year, you will complete around 510 hours of indicative scheduled learning and teaching activities and 540 hours of independent learning on projects, productions, placements or self-directed study. Assessment will be through: Performances; Coursework, presentations and portfolios; Continuous practical assessment
- In your third year, you will complete around 510 hours of indicative scheduled learning and teaching activities and 540 hours of independent learning on projects, productions, placements or self-directed study. Assessment will be through: Performances; Coursework, presentations and portfolios; Continuous practical assessment
Programme specification
Get a flavour
Your future career
We aim to create graduates who are adaptable and rigorous performers, makers and practitioners, able to innovate in their own practice and shape their own career pathway. Many go on to have portfolio careers, including performing with established cutting-edge companies and forming their own companies, and producing or directing work. Other destinations for graduates include teaching, establishing theatre venues, writing, producing and more.
Alumni success
Kane Husbands
Founder, The PappyShow
Nanna Gunnars
Co-Founder, Huldufugl; Festival Director, Reykjavík Fringe Festival
Dr. Jorge Lopes Ramos
Artistic Director of ZU-UK
Graduate Theatre Companies
Filskit Theatre; Sleepwalk Collective; Smoking Apples; Todos Theatre; Hikapee
Sophia Eleni
On Arriving, West End; 15 Heroines, West End; Call the Midwife, ITV
Sofia Danu
Moonknight, Disney+; Two Palestinians Go Dogging, West End; Prime Suspect, ITV
Venues founded by ETA Graduates
The Freezer, Iceland; Nonsuch Studios, Nottingham
Careers options
Graduate ready to build a successful portfolio career in the performing arts, working in the UK and abroad as a freelance performer and theatremaker. Studying an Arts related subject gives you a wide range of skills that can be put to use in many careers. Recent graduates have gone on to become:
- Actors, entertainers, musicians and presenters
- Arts officers, producers and directors
- Teaching and other educational professionals
- Special needs education teaching professionals
- Authors, Writers and translators
- Artists, photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting operators
- Vocational trainers and instructors
- Playworkers
- Leisure and travel service roles
Meet the staff
Programme Director - BA (Hons) European Theatre Arts and European Theatre Arts / Academic Coordinator for the Turing scheme
Read their profile
Programme Director - BA (Hons) European Theatre Arts and European Theatre Arts / Academic Coordinator for the Turing scheme
Thomas Wilson is Co-Programme Director for BA (Hons) European Theatre Arts. He teaches across the degree, specialising in approaches to devised and physical theatres, practical artistic research and the ‘training of training’.
Read their full profile Module Year Coordinator - European Theatre Arts
Dr Aphrodite Evangelatou studied acting at Drama Centre London and holds a PhD in Actor Training from Goldsmiths College, University of London. She has also trained as an actor at the Vakhtangov Institute (Moscow, Russia) and Delos Drama School (Athens, Greece).
Read their full profile Lecturer in Movement BA European Theatre Arts
Vanio Papadelli is a movement and theatre artist, educator, performer and maker. At Rose Bruford College, she has been teaching regularly movement at the BA European Theatre Arts (since 2011) as well as contributing to other modules, and has convened the Research Methodologies unit at the MA Ensemble Theatre from 2014-2018. She also teaches regularly at Goldsmiths, University of London and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and has worked in various other Higher Education Institutions including LAMDA and Middlesex University.
Read their full profileHow to join
Applications are now open for September 2025.
UCAS application deadline is 29th January 2025.
Institution code: R51
Course code: W422
UCAS Points
64 UCAS points*
This is equivalent to:
- Two C’s at ‘A’ level/AVCE,
- A Pass in a single AVCE Double Award at Grade C or above
- One Merit and two Passes at BTEC (QCF) National Diploma or equivalent,
- One Pass (D or E on the core) at T level or equivalent.
- Successful completion of the Access to HE Diploma in Production Arts
Auditions
Visit our Auditions page to learn more about the audition and interview process.
Course Summary
Duration
3 years
Mode of study
Full time
Start date
September 2025
Course Type
Undergraduate Course
Course Fees (2025 Entry)
UK/Republic of Ireland students (Fee per year)
£9535
International students (Fee per year)
£22800
