Theatre is the beating heart of the UK’s thriving creative industries, internationally renowned for nurturing some of the world’s best talent, both onstage and behind the scenes. This innovative degree will allow you to gain the skills you need to build a portfolio career in the arts.
Our highly practical course, which is taught by industry experts, gives you the freedom to follow your passions and discover your talents as an actor, designer or director. Plus, our London location means you'll benefit from the city's buzzing theatre industry, from the world-famous West End to working with established venues and companies as part of your degree.
You can choose to specialise in the following:
This is a practical degree – everything you learn you'll be able to put into practice in our theatre spaces and at external partner venues, with a large-scale production every year and many more practical projects.
You’ll learn all the performance, design, technical and dramaturgical skills you'll need to stage your work, as well as how to collaborate and communicate with others to bring all your different skills and interests together. You’ll also learn how to reflect on and contextualise your practice through presentations, portfolios and written tasks.
You'll gain exposure to the industry through placements, external projects and seminars, and learn how to negotiate a career in the fast-changing creative industries.
Over 85% of our graduates are in full-time employment or further study within 15 months. Others choose to train further at drama school or start their own businesses.
This innovative degree will allow you to gain the skills you need to build a portfolio career in the arts. Our practical theatre courses are designed in collaboration with the industry to put you centre stage.
We offer outstanding hands-on training in acting and performance, design and technical theatre, directing and producing for theatre. You'll have the flexibility and creative freedom to test your creative powers in our theatre spaces on campus as well as partnering with venues and companies across and beyond London.
Depending on your chosen specialism, you can graduate with one of three pathways, BA Theatre (Acting), BA Theatre (Design) or BA Theatre (Directing).
By choosing our Theatre BA, you'll be able to:
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Here is the a guide to what you will study for each year:
You will discover the essential foundations of making theatre, with introductory modules in performance and theatre design. You'll go on theatre trips to experience theatre in different forms, and you'll take part in a large-scale production.
You will deepen your knowledge of theatre practice in your chosen areas (acting, design and/or directing), and begin to encounter more specialist forms, such as solo performance and writing. You'll learn industry and employability skills such as workshop leading, and work on a semi-independent performance project.
You will learn advanced theatre practices such as stand-up comedy, performance art, immersive theatre, physical training or propose your own independent projects. The final year will prepare you to enter the industry by learning a range of employability skills, such as freelancing and marketing. Your degree culminates in a theatre festival of original graduate work to be presented in a small-scale tour of London venues.
This module introduces you to key principles of acting and performance, including practical approaches to performance, devising and directing. You'll develop skills in physical and vocal performance, devising, textual analysis and collaborative working through a series of practical workshops and group projects.
This module introduces you to key principles of theatre design and technical production through practical workshops and group projects. You will develop an understanding of the role of the theatre designer within a collaborative process, and examine key processes and approaches to designing for live performance.
This module introduces key contexts, debates and critical frameworks relevant to theatre and performance practice. You'll develop your understanding of a range of research methods, and develop your ability to analyse and critique live performance. The module combines self-directed study supported by a range of online resources with live seminars and theatre visits.
This module gives you the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge you have encountered throughout the first year to develop and realise a collaborative production. Working in a collaborative company of staff and students, you'll participate in all of the creative and production elements necessary to realise a fully-staged piece of theatre.
This module aims to enhance your critical consideration of the social, political and ethical implications of engaging with an audience through your practice. You'll develop employability and workshop-leading skills, and enhance your awareness and consideration of who theatre is for, why, and how this can impact the work from initial concept through to its practical realisation.
The module allows you apply the skills that you have encountered on other modules in a collaborative performance project. You'll work with students from across your programme to conceive and realise a collaborative project, working to a shared brief and contributing to the overall thematic and contextual aims of the production.
The module focuses on the relationship between actor, director and play text. You will develop skills in text analysis, speaking text, and staging/performance through a project-based approach. Further, you will engage with a range of acting and performing systems, including training of voice and body. In this module you will investigate more closely the respective roles of the actor and the director working in rehearsal with a play text and engage in close analysis of action. You will also develop your ability to reflect on your practice, learning and personal development.
This module builds on key principles that were introduced in year 1 by exploring and interrogating a range of approaches and interpretative strategies employed by key practitioners. You'll examine developments in contemporary theatre design and strengthen your ability to generate, develop and communicate ideas and concepts effectively; and to execute these concepts through a range of practical tasks and projects.
This module will allow you to experience a range of solo performance practices, through workshops, seminars and independent study. Each form will be examined through a consideration of socio-historical and contextual lenses and will be enhanced by an exploration of key practitioners and practices, culminating in your own performance-making.
This module aims to develop your critical understanding and application of a range of techniques for dramatic writing and dramaturgical intervention. Through the practical exploration of elements of dramatic structure, it aims to equip you with the tools to conceive of and develop a written project throughout the module, developing your understanding of the dramatic form as a tool to communicate your ideas.
This module aims to develop your ability to apply your skills in areas such as design and technical theatre, project management and audience engagement to a collaborative project. The module takes advantage of existing partnerships both within and beyond the University, while also responding to current practice and opportunities to develop new partnerships, in which you will act as creative ambassadors. You will extend and challenge your understanding of collaboration, working with artists/practitioners to push at the boundaries of conventional theatre practice, and there will be opportunities to work on projects led by other creative disciplines beyond theatre. You will be introduced to a range of approaches that enable effective and ethical collaborations with audiences and will consider ways of engaging with individuals and agencies in order to create projects in a professional context. You will explore your role as collaborator and will develop an insight into the considerations of designing and implementing theatre activities, events and performances in a variety of external contexts.
This module provides the opportunity to engage in a range of externally-facing projects, placements and/or critical investigations into professional practice. You'll develop your knowledge of professional skills and theories around areas such as producing, fundraising, artistic policies and audience development as well as refining methodologies, attitudes and competencies for seeking work in a professional context.
This module provides the opportunity to work in and across groups to create and contextualise collaborative projects which are curated and presented as a collective Theatre Festival. You'll produce the Theatre Festival as an outward-facing public showcase, encouraging you to consider your work in a professional context and apply the practical making skills taught in other modules, alongside the producing skills taught in this module.
The module aims to extend your abilities in physical performance. You will engage with a variety of training systems, create material and improvise scores, leading to a final performance of original work. You will also encounter training regimes that focus on physical skills and mind/body connections.
This module enhances your design practice through the exploration of approaches and methods used by key contemporary scenographers. You’ll learn about significant developments in theatre design and explore current trends and technological developments. You’ll further develop your skills and approaches in designing through space, initiating a practical design-led project.
This module aims to extend your individual performance practices in one of two pathways: Stand-up Comedy or Performance Art. You'll develop practical skills and contextual knowledge in one of these forms, applying appropriate performance theory and/or performance philosophy to the development of a live performance in a professional comedy venue, or the exhibition of a work of performance art.
This module will extend your critical and practical skills in theatre directing. You'll initiate a series of directing projects enabling you to take a nuanced approach to developing and analysing your professional identity as a director of theatre and/or live performance, and you'll consider where this practice intersects with other skills and disciplines you have engaged with on your programme.
This module aims to allow you to identify a particular site of exploration and experimentation and to engage in a practice-led Research and Development project relevant to the chosen area. The module incentivises risk and experimentation, encouraging you to consider the practical research process as an end in itself, and introduces you to preliminary skills relevant to Practice as Research study at postgraduate level.
To find out more about this highly regarded course, please download the full Theatre BA Hons specification (PDF).
We have some of the best theatre facilities in the UK - the five studios include multi-purpose teaching, performance and rehearsal spaces and the best lighting, sound, PA and projector systems.
We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability Advice and Support service.
Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.
Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above.
You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.
We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.
Employability and career development is embedded at every stage of your course including the two Theatre Industry modules.
A large number of graduates go on to form their own companies, collectives and arts organisations, while many also opt to continue studying at postgraduate level, including at drama schools and conservatoires.
Our course can help you progress to a career in areas such as acting and performance-making, directing, dramaturgy, producing and arts management, scenography-related careers in set, lighting, sound, costume and video design, art direction, technical and production management.
Industry reports describe Theatre as an excellent subject area for academic study, with highly transferrable professional skills such as collaboration, communication and problem-solving. Creative careers are some of the most future-proof in the economy, and they account for 2.3 million jobs in the UK. (Source: Creative Industries Council).
Because of its focus on teamwork, problem-solving and communication, theatre is uniquely positioned as an excellent gateway to other creative careers, and over 80% of theatre graduates have also worked in related creative fields.
Our Careers & Employability Service, MDXworks will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.
Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has put us in the top 10 UK universities for students who want to be CEOs and entrepreneurs (Hitachi, 2021).
Want to be your own boss? You'll have the chance to pitch your business to gain mentoring and grants of up to £15,000.
Our location in London helps us connect you with over 1,000 industry partners to develop your future employment prospects. And we have unique work and study opportunities at our campuses in Dubai and Mauritius. You’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. And after you graduate, we'll still support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.
Placements and internships can greatly improve your future job prospects after you graduate. They usually boost your confidence and academic results by giving you the opportunity to practice what have learned in a professional setting.
You could gain industry experience through a placement at one of our many partner venues and companies, including the National Theatre, Royal Opera House and Jackson's Lane.
Or you could lead your own professional project and have your work seen at one of our partner venues including Camden People's Theatre, Artsdepot, OPEN Ealing, Downstairs at the King's Head, Teatro di Roma (Rome) and many more.
Our specialist Employability Service will also help you find placement opportunities.
The fees below are for the 2024/25 academic year:
Full-time: £9,250
Part-time: £77 per taught credit
Full-time students: £16,600
Part-time students: £138 per taught credit
The following study tools are included in your fees:
The following course-related costs are not included in the fees, and you will need to budget for these:
These costs are not included in the fees. Find out more about our accommodation and student life on a budget.
To help make uni affordable, we do everything we can to support you including our:
Find out more about undergraduate funding and all of our scholarships and bursaries.
1. UK Fees: The university reserves the right to increase undergraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
2. International Students. Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.
Josephine Machon (she/her) is the author of Immersive Theatres: Intimacy and Immediacy in Contemporary Performance, and is one of the UK’s foremost writers and practitioners in the fields of immersive and contemporary performance. She works in close partnership with leading practitioners such as Punchdrunk.
Rob Vesty (he/they) has a background in actor training, dance and improvisation, and performs regularly as part of the anthologyofamess performance collective as well as being a fully-qualified practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method.
Meg Cunningham (she/her) is an immersive designer whose practice spans theatre, installation and themed entertainment. Her projects include the Walking Dead attraction at Universal Studios, Hollywood and the Legitimate Peaky Blinders festival in Birmingham.
Joe Sims
Theatre graduate
Joe graduated from Middlesex University in 2002. In 2012 he won an Offie (People's favourite male performance) for his role as alleged Texan killer Lee Fenton in As We Forgive Them at the Arcola Theatre in London, and in 2013 he starred alongside David Tennant and Olivia Colman in ITV's critically-acclaimed Broadchurch. Joe has more than 50 radio credits to his name, including a run on the much-loved Radio 4 drama The Archers.
I chose Middlesex because it came with a formidable reputation. Middlesex was one of the universities where alumni went on and forged themselves successful careers in television and theatre, and that was what inspired me to go really.
The first year was a bit of everything, giving us a veritable smorgasbord of routes into the theatre and laying solid foundations from which to build our careers upon. As the course progressed it gave us the opportunity to specialise in what we really wanted to pursue. There are people from the course who have had successful careers in lighting design and stage management because we had to do all of those things. It also gives you a heightened respect and appreciation for all factors of the theatre, knowing each of the jobs that as an actor you often just see going on around you.
Middlesex provided a solid foundation and platform for me to spring from. What Middlesex gives you is the chance to be a better professional and it is far-reaching in terms of your subject knowledge. We learned a lot about the pragmatics of performing.
Rachel Wood
Theatre graduate
I've found the variety of subjects studied on this course, ranging from Solo Performance and Shakespeare in Performance, to full scale collaborative productions, very exciting and I've formed strong foundations in a number of areas I had not previously studied.
If I had to choose a particular piece of work I am especially proud of, it would be my performance in Simon Stephen's production of 'Pornography'. I am particularly proud of Pornography as it was recently taken to the Brighton Fringe Festival, Europe's third biggest Arts Festival, with Thrust Theatre Company, which I am now a part of along with several other Middlesex Theatre students.
Ryan William Funnell
Theatre graduate
The passion for the subject from the tutors was evident the moment I walked into the department. I immediately felt comfortable and confident that this was a supportive and enjoyable place to study, and that to me was really important.
I really like the way the course is put together, with opportunities to explore all aspects of theatrical production through practical, hands on work. I've been able to try my hand at different elements of production and the facilities to be able to do that at Middlesex are wonderful. The ability to then build a course of study over the three years that is unique to you as an individual is a great opportunity.
Zayd Wilson
Theatre graduate
The course has allowed me to network with people who have studied a wide range of theatrical processes. I have met stage designers, directors, actors, stage managers and sound and lighting technicians. To be successful in this industry you need to know a range of people if you wish to work. The fact that many of the tutors either taught or studied at the major drama schools particularly helps when it comes to facilitating this.
This year I produced an adaptation of Samuel Beckett's Endgame. It enabled me to take a concept that I had in my head and bring it to life. I directed and performed in this piece so the feel, emotion and the aesthetics reflected particularly upon me. I contributed a great deal to this and I'm really happy with how it turned out.
Zoe Sofair
Theatre graduate
The tutors here have been amazing, they are always willing to help you, one on one, and they are very supportive and keen to really integrate you into the industry. The tutors, many of whom are also currently working in theatre, clearly love what they do, and their own dedication is really great to see.
The skills I've learned on this course, especially as a stage manager or production manager, are transferable to many other industries, and vital for employment in the theatre industry. I am about to start my first job as a production assistant working on international theatre tours for a very successful theatre production company.
Henry Martin
Theatre graduate
This course is extremely vocational, and I have enjoyed the hands on approach to teaching by lecturers who are passionate about their craft. During this last year of study, I have even been involved in taking two of our shows to the Brighton Fringe Festival, as part of the theatre company, Thrust, which I feel could not have happened without the support that the University has provided.
I would like to go into acting professionally, and Middlesex has given me the knowledge to create my own opportunities. The course is fantastic in equipping us with the tools to form a company and create work of high quality. I have also learnt many new skills that I can take with me into the professional world, such as script writing and solo performance. It is here, also, that I discovered my passion for stage management, which I would not have considered before coming to Middlesex.
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
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