Drama

Drama as a degree is not simply about performance, though performance is central to it. It is the study of theatre as an art form, a social practice and a cultural phenomenon, asking how theatrical works are made, what they mean, and how they have functioned in different historical and cultural contexts. It develops practical abilities alongside critical and theoretical understanding, and the most effective drama programmes move between making and reflecting on what has been made in ways that deepen both.

This four-year full-time degree at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh reflects that integrated approach. Whether you see yourself as a director, performer, playwright, deviser, stage manager, scenographer, workshop leader or producer, the programme develops the skills and understanding relevant to all those roles before asking you to focus on your chosen pathway. You will engage with an exciting and innovative blend of theory and practice, studying theatrical traditions and contemporary practice while developing your own creative voice.

The four-year structure allows for genuine depth, giving you the time to develop practical skills to a professional standard alongside a serious academic engagement with drama and theatre.

Graduates pursue careers across theatre, performance and the broader creative industries. Performing arts, directing, dramaturgy, arts administration, stage management, theatre education, community theatre and theatre in health and education settings are all destinations that drama graduates move into. Many also work in television, film, radio and the digital creative sector, where the performance, communication and collaborative skills the degree develops are directly applicable.

Postgraduate study in theatre, performance, applied theatre or drama education is a route for those who wish to develop specialist expertise or move into higher-level research and academic practice.