Applied Theatre and Intervention

Explore the application of theatre practice as an interventionist tool, and discover how to use theatre to effect social change.

This course allows you to investigate current issues, debates and theories around applied theatre in the diverse contexts of education, health and mental health, community work, and the criminal justice system.

You’ll gain a critical understanding of issues relating to applied theatre, such as ethics, boundaries, and evaluation, alongside structures of good practice. You’ll also develop your own creative practice, honing your facilitation skills with expert guidance from established practitioners.

Throughout, you’ll have opportunities to apply your learning through workshops and practice-led research. You can also deliver a project in collaboration with an external partner, allowing you to focus on a particular issue such as intergenerational arts or asylum seeker integration.

Leeds has a thriving cultural scene, and we have partnerships with many organisations that are engaged in applied theatre practice including Leeds Playhouse, Red Ladder Theatre Company, and theatre in education company Blah Blah Blah. We also work closely with local institutions like schools, hospitals, and Leeds City Council, as well as a range of third sector organisations.

Career Opportunities

Applied theatre is a wide field that is constantly developing in response to social and economic changes, and there is a growing jobs market in learning and participation in cultural organisations worldwide for freelance practitioners and for full time employees.

This course will equip you with a range of skills within the area of applied theatre. You’ll have an understanding of applied theatre and its use as an intervention as well as advanced skills in communication, collaboration, presentation, analysis and research.

You’ll be able to set up, lead and facilitate workshops as an applied theatre practitioner with diverse groups of people in a variety of health, social and community contexts.

You may decide to apply your learning in the context of arts administration or arts policy work. You may wish to further your understanding by undertaking specialist professional training in areas like the arts therapies. Graduates from this degree would be well suited to teaching, or to pursue research interests at PhD level.

You’ll study compulsory modules designed to give you a solid base of theoretical knowledge and high level research skills.

You’ll also choose from a range of optional modules, giving you the ability to tailor your studies to suit your interests and career ambitions.

Depending on your optional module choices, you’ll also have the chance to apply your learning in context by constructing your own project in collaboration. Outcomes could be creative workshops, toolkits of best practice, or performance processes with participants. This can be with an organisation engaged in applied theatre, or in a setting where applied theatre is practiced.

As you progress through your studies, you’ll apply what you’ve learned in an independent research project on a topic of your choice. This can be a written dissertation or a piece of practice-led research with a written commentary.

Compulsory modules

• Research Project
• Applied Theatre Practices
• Critical Concepts in Applied Theatre and Intervention
• Research Perspectives (Applied Theatre & Intervention)

Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

• Engaging the Modern City: The Civic Researcher
• Individual Project
• Creative Work
• Performance and Collaborative Enterprise
• Cultural Policy
• Audience Engagement and Impact

Entry requirements

A bachelor undergraduate degree with a 2:1 (hons) or higher. We may also consider applicants without a degree if you can demonstrate significant relevant industry experience.

English language requirements

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) an overall band of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each component skill
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) of 92 with no less than 21 in listening, 21 in reading, 23 in speaking and 22 in writing
• Pearson (Academic) of 64 overall with no less than 60 in any component
• Cambridge Advanced English (CAE), or C1 Advanced, of 176 overall with no less than 169 in any component
• Trinity College Integrated Skills in English of a Pass in ISE II or above (if taken in the UK)
• GCSE English Language or Cambridge IGCSE English as a First or Second Language at grade C

Documents and information you'll need

• A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts, or partial transcripts if you're still studying (please submit an official English translation if necessary)
• Evidence of your English language qualifications, if English is not your first language
• A personal statement outlining your interest in and suitability for the course
• A full up-to-date CV

Next steps

We usually invite candidates for interview whenever possible – if you’re an international student, this can be done by phone.v

Learning and teaching

On this course you'll benefit from a variety of teching methods, including practical workshops, group learning, lectures, seminars, tutorials and fieldwork. You'll also undertake significant independent study, which will help you to develop your research skills and build up what you learn in the taught components.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed using a range of methods including practical assessments, written work, presentations and reflective logs. This diversity allows you to begin to integrate theory and practice, develop a range of skills and become a reflective practitioner.