Overview

Theatre and film shape how stories are told and experienced, and studying them together offers insight into performance across stage and screen, from its historical roots to its contemporary practice. The BA Theatre and Film at the University of Bristol is a joint honours degree combining critical study of theatre, film and television with hands-on practical work in both disciplines. Students benefit from strong industry connections and access to the Theatre Collection, a museum-accredited archive, alongside links to theatres, arts centres and media companies. The course suits students who want to build both academic understanding and practical craft, moving from broad foundational study toward more specialised, self-directed work in later years.

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What You'll Learn

• Historical, contextual and critical approaches to theatre, film and television

• Practice-based skills across both theatre and film production

• Analysis of performance in varied forms, from stage to screen

• Significant historical movements and contemporary practices in performance

• Theoretical concepts underpinning theatre and film studies

• Use of the Theatre Collection, a museum-accredited archive, in research

• Engagement with industry professionals, theatres, arts centres and media companies

• Final-year independent study options including group or individual performance, short filmmaking, a written dissertation, an industrial placement or an industry study

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyse performance across a wide range of theatrical and screen-based forms, drawing on historical, contextual and theoretical frameworks. They will be able to apply practical skills in both theatre and film, moving confidently between the study of performance and its creation. Through engagement with archival material and industry contacts, students will develop research skills alongside a professional understanding of how theatre and film work operates in practice. Graduates will be able to bring together critical and creative approaches in an independent final project, whether through performance, filmmaking, written research or industry-based work, leaving them well prepared for further study or careers across the creative and cultural sectors.