Drama and Creative Writing

On the Drama side, you will have the opportunity to study many aspects of theatre from classic to contemporary texts, and to explore themes in drama such as gender, identity, tragedy, human rights, immersive theatre, devising and playwriting. You will gain skills in technical theatre, design and stage management, and will be assessed in a range of ways from essay-writing, to performance, devised work, solo projects and group work. In Creative Writing you explore the urge to create and build new worlds, to share language and stories with others. On our course you work on the craft of writing through a multi-genre approach, through and across a variety of writings from fiction and poetry, to non-fiction, psychogeography, performance writing and beyond. At Essex we offer an unusual approach to the practice of writing, combining innovative and traditional methods in order to develop your writing skills and abilities to judge your work critically, while expanding your knowledge across different modes and genres. In the Centre for Creative Writing we encourage a culture of experiment and creativity, enabling you to feel part of a community of writers. In addition, you will gain transferable skills in research, essay-planning and writing, and you will be offered careers guidance and training.

• Type: Optional

• Duration: 12 Months

• Fees: Contact us for up-to-date information

Our graduates are also ideally prepared for careers in the media, education, publishing, and the film and theatre industries. Two particular areas in which our graduates have had recent success are publishing and the theatre. One of our former students is now in charge of editorial at a large publishing house, and another has just taken over running one of the country’s major theatres.

Work while you study

You can also work on a UK student visa, from 10 to 20 hours per week during the academic year, 40 hours per week or full-time during vacations.

Partnerships

Most universities in England have partnerships with different companies and organisations to ensure their students get enough professional training as students. In addition to increasing their students' chances to get hired by one of the universities. University of Essex has partnerships with the following companies: