Drama and Theatre / International Relations

Drama and Theatre with International Relations is an unusual and intellectually stimulating combination that examines human creativity and global politics side by side. Drama and theatre is a discipline concerned with performance, storytelling, and the ways in which art gives form to experience. It explores the historical and established forms that have shaped theatre from ancient drama through the Renaissance to contemporary devised and experimental work, and develops both theoretical understanding and practical performance skills.

International relations examines the structures and forces that shape how states, organisations, and peoples interact across borders, addressing questions of security, conflict, cooperation, and the governance of a complex world.

At Aberystwyth University, this three-year, full-time programme offers a distinctive approach to both disciplines. You will explore drama and theatre from an international perspective, examining how theatre works across cultures and what it can reveal about global politics, conflict, and identity. In parallel, you will develop your understanding of international relations through a cultural lens, considering how performance, narrative, and artistic expression illuminate the forces that drive global events and the human realities behind political abstractions.

Aberystwyth's long-established reputation in international politics and its strong arts provision make it a distinctive setting for this combination.

Graduates of Drama and Theatre and International Relations pursue careers in theatre, arts administration, journalism, international organisations, public affairs, education, and the cultural sector. The combination of creative and analytical skills is valued in diplomacy, media, policy, and community arts. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in theatre, international relations, cultural policy, or related fields, building specialist expertise for academic or professional careers.

The ability to combine artistic sensitivity with rigorous political analysis is a genuinely unusual and valuable graduate profile.