Curious about studying World Performance - BA (Hons)at University of Essex? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
University of Essex
Full Time
Oct 2026
3 Year
BA World Performance is a unique, creative and challenging course that offers an intense training in western and non-western acting techniques, performance and devising skills, and the advanced study of global theatre traditions. You will develop the tools required to become both a performer and theatre maker, able to work in many fields, anywhere in the world. Throughout the course, you study a variety of acting styles, voice, movement, dance-drama, clowning, masks, storytelling, world music, singing and a range of global performance techniques. You devise, create and perform projects reflecting the range of influences and styles encountered during your studies, while simultaneously developing skills in media, writing and directing.
This module provides students with a grounding in the development of theatre and performance throughout the world, and approaches to studying and analysing theatre movements and events in their specific social, political and cultural contexts. It includes a survey of the development of theatre and performance from pre-literate oral cultures to the present day, as well as an introduction to historiography and key theories and methodologies related to the study of performance. The module also develops research, reading, writing, time-management and organisation skills. It introduces the use of relevant IT and Library resources and provides specific learning on study skills including the form and use of citations (references), footnotes and bibliographies. The module will also provide guidance on avoiding plagiarism and other academic offences. This module has been designed to enable students to integrate their subject knowledge with an understanding of sustainable development, acquiring the skills and competencies essential for addressing the urgent sustainability challenges of the 21st century.
Warm-up and preparation techniques: This unit teaches and practises a range of sound techniques for preparing the body and voice for performance or class work. Anatomy and physiology for the performer: Offers an overview of the basic science underlying movement and vocal production. Vocal skills: The development of your vocal capability, with attention to fitness, breathing, and clarity; and a study of the ways in which the speaking voice may be used creatively in performance. Singing: The development of your singing voice, allied to vocal skills (above). Exploration of individual singing range and introduction to ensemble and harmony skills and basic music theory. Development of individual singing warm-ups. Movement: Development of your fitness, balance, and body-awareness, and a study of the creative use of movement in performance.
This module introduces students to a wide range of theatre forms from around the world and equips the students with all the skills necessary to document, research, recreate and probe the cultural context of these diverse theatre traditions In addition to approaching topics in intercultural theatre and the study of world theatre in general, this module equips students at the outset of the degree with essential techniques and knowledge which they will be able to draw on and develop further in the final two years of study.
Western musical performance: May include an examination of opera, music hall, choral performance, the Broadway musical, etc. Study is through both lectures and workshop sessions. Asian musical performance: May include study of, for example, Gamelan, Kabuki, Noh, Kathakali, Chinese Opera, etc. Study is through both lectures and workshop sessions. African or South American musical performance: May include the study of, for example, African drumming, Samba, Calypso, etc. Study is through both lectures and workshop sessions. Performance project: A group practical project, led by a tutor, which allows you to develop, select, and apply musical elements in a specific performance form.
Defining ritual in and as performance: Building on Year One work in Theatre Anthropology, and introducing the work of Richard Schechner, a consideration of the ritual roots of much World Performance and the interpretative implications of this complex interrelation. Case study one: sacred performance: An examination and practical exploration of one or two performance forms situated within or arising from an explicitly sacred context (eg Balinese Temple Dance, Ancient Greek tragedy, African spirit dance, Native American hunting dance, etc). Case study two: ritualised performance: A study, including particular attention to training methods, of one or two performance forms in which recognisable ritual is a major element of both the creation and the spectation of the work (eg Noh Theatre, Chinese Opera, Carnival, Javanese Shadow Puppetry, etc). Group practical project: Working under the guidance of tutors and in groups of four or five, students create a short ritual or religion influenced presentation, demonstrating understanding and skills derived from one of the case studies.
This module introduces hands-on skills in camera use and editing as well as writing for the camera. In addition, you receive an introduction to stage management and production skills and an introduction to the basic principles of lighting for performances. You learn in workshop and studio settings. The module emphasises an understanding of the technical processes underlying your own practical work. The module includes the development and production of a short film (3-5 minutes long) from conception, to final completion of script, shooting of the script and post-production (editing) of the film for final screening. It also includes workshops in stage management and lighting, leading to a technical analysis of a theatrical production.
Context: Seminar and workshop sessions, supported by your own independent research, to introduce the specific context of the visiting company’s work. Workshops: Practical workshops with members of the visiting company, supported by East 15 tutors where appropriate, to develop your performance skills and to create the assessed performance.
The module engages you in a study of two or three mask-based performance forms, with an overview of interpretative and performative issues in mask work.
This second year BA World Performance core module delivers an overview of the historical relationship of storytelling to contemporary performance, a study of two or three storytelling performance forms and study of the relationship of the storyteller to character and audience. The module also develops students' understanding of narrative and the transmission of stories through theatrical presentation. In addition, students will develop writing and devising skills, culminating in a collaborative devised presentation and a scriptwriting project
This module offers you an exploration of different manifestations of Comedy, through case-studies of two or three comic performance forms, including verbal and physical comedy, from a range of cultural backgrounds. You gain an understanding of the universality of comedy across multiple cultures through one or two case studies. The emphasis is on the understanding, development, selection, and application of performance skills.
This module offers a theoretically-informed study of manifestations of character role types in performance, exploring cultural prescriptions and attitudes in relation to character and performance in a variety of social and historical contexts, and case studies of two or three performance forms where character role types are highlighted (eg Kabuki, Chinese opera). There is specific attention to performance skills appropriate to the case-studies.
Overview: theatre and society: A survey of forms of theatre and performance which refuse to be, or seek to be more than, entertainment and has agendas beyond the aesthetic. Case study one: core theatre: An in-depth study of one form (e.g Ancient Greek theatre festivals, Passion Plays, initiation rituals) in which the performance is an essential event in the life of the community that produces it. Case study two: engaged practitioners: An in-depth study of one form (e.g Brecht, Agit-Prop Theatre) in which practitioners stage for an audience material with an explicitly radical socio-political content. Case study three: engaging the audience: An in-depth study of one form (e.g Boal’s Forum Theatre, Invisible Theatre, or Theatre of the Oppressed, Worker’s Theatre, 1960s ‘Happenings’) which rely for their effect on the active involvement and participation of the spectator.
Students work with professional directors to create a production using specific intercultural techniques acquired over the previous two years. Students work with professional directors to create a production using specific intercultural techniques acquired over the previous two years.
This module provides you with the necessary skills and preparation to launch your professional careers. You receive specific training in audition and interview technique, in marketing skills such as web design, CVs and letters of introduction and legal and financial issues affecting professional actors. Opportunities are provided for workshops, meetings and lectures by and with industry professionals such as agents and casting directors, as well as with working actors and directors. Throughout the module students will be given practical assignments on which they will receive feedback from guest lecturers and industry professionals. In addition, this module provides you with the necessary professional preparation and skills to launch your acting career. You will develop the ability to understand and apply critical self-assessment in order to improve performance and employability.
Rehearsals and production meetings: By negotiation, tutors attend rehearsals and production meetings to support, guide and advise you. The majority of rehearsal time is untutored. Production: Performance of the finished piece for an audience. Tutors offer feedback to inform your reflection on the finished work.
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