General information about applying for our undergraduate courses and the interview process.
The visiting lecturers were very helpful for us – we met artists who are creating work in applied theatre and learnt about what we could do after we graduate. We were in a small group during the first year learning the theory and techniques of writing. In the second year we started to do more creative writing, developing our style and discovering what kind of writing we could bring to the applied theatre world.
Azania Hammond-Dallas
Graduated BA DATE: Writing for Performance in 2018
General information about applying for our undergraduate courses and the interview process.
Information for home, EU, and non-EU students.
Find out how your course will be delivered.
Find out about upcoming open days at Central.
We run small group tours every Wednesday at 2pm.
Information on studying and living in London for students from outside the UK.
Download our Prospectus to find out more.
Come and talk to us at an exhibition near you to learn more about our courses, scholarships and bursaries, and life at Central.
Discover Central's Drama, Applied Theatre, Study and Social spaces on our VR tour.
3 years full-time, October start
Institution code: C35, Course code: W470
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Contemporary Performance Practice
On the Writing for Performance course, you can:
You will work with a variety of high profile writers, arts practitioners and directors, encountering a diverse range of innovative performance practices that use writing for performance in different ways.
Commencing with an exploration of classical dramaturgical approaches to writing and moving on to explore practices such as stand-up comedy, writing for communities and solo performance, you critically interrogate the role of the writer within the creative process. You will examine how this is historically constructed and how it changes in different eras and within different performance contexts.
Through an engagement with a series of practical writing projects, you will learn about different genres of writing for performance, exploring areas such as collaborative approaches to writing, political theatre, verbatim and testimonial theatre, and writing for live art and digital media.
A key component of the course is an emphasis on collaboration leading to engagement with many performance practices. You will work with key practitioners and writers within the field of theatre, drama and performance and with diverse participant groups and communities. You will have the opportunity to participate and create projects in collaboration with other students and explore the role of the writer within different community-specific creative projects.
Central works closely with major organisations internationally and in the UK and has formed partnerships with professional new writing organisations and many innovative and cutting-edge practitioners and writers. Organisations include the Royal Court Theatre, National Theatre, Headlong, York Theatre Royal, Clean Break, Shakespeare’s Globe, Talawa Theatre Company and London Bubble Theatre Company, as well as community based theatre organisations such as Scene and Heard, Little Fish Theatre Company and Apples and Snakes.
Find out more about how The Leverhulme Trust is providing major funding for the many exciting Applied Theatre student projects .
You can still apply for this course and be considered through UCAS despite them classing your application as 'late'. You can also register your interest in 2020 entry here and our Admissions Team will then contact you about interview options and further details.
Throughout the three years of study, you will encounter a wide range of learning and teaching styles and engage with learning through practical workshops and theatre making, as well as lectures and seminars.
Assessment methods used include presentations, practice, drama and writing workshops, research projects, traditional essays, a dissertation and the creation of new writing, some of which will be viewed by professionals working in the industry.
Our standard academic entry requirements range between 120 and 96 UCAS tariff points. You can see how many tariff points your qualifications would gain on the UCAS Tariff Calculator. International qualifications and others not covered within the UCAS tariff can also be accepted. Please email us if you need further clarification.
Please note that we may make lower offers (including unconditional) to exceptional candidates and those who have alternative or prior experience to offer. All candidates are invited to interview, which is a key factor in determining who is accepted on to the course.
For details of admission with academic credit see Undergraduate Applications.
We look for these qualities in applicants:
We particularly encourage applications from groups currently under-represented in higher education, such as students with disabilities and members of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups. Find out more information on Central’s commitment to equality and diversity.
Find out more about the interview process for this course.
Each year Central hosts a number of interviews outside of the UK, with a team of tutors from Central travelling to meet applicants. The international interviews are designed to replicate the London-based interview experience in every aspect (other than a tour of our site!). See our Event Finder for listings of upcoming interview locations and dates.
Visit the International Students section to view details of English language requirements for Central's courses.
Throughout the degree students have the opportunity to work in collaboration with industry professionals, from visiting lecturers, professional playwrights and workshops by leading practitioners and academics in the field of theatre and performance, to creating projects and performances with professional companies and artists.
The pathway nurtures relationships with local, national and international community and educational arts organisations, from Rewrite in south London (which uses drama to bring young people together and support young people for whom English is an additional language) to SNEHA in Mumbai (an NGO supporting mothers and children across India).
Your experience with industry will vary from masterclasses with some of the country’s leading theatre practitioners and playwrights, to interaction with small scale, innovative companies.
Professional companies are invited to create new practice with you, either on-site at Central, on tour in various parts of the UK, or at off-site theatre venues and performance spaces.
For example, in previous years, students have worked with a number of different theatre companies at the Minack Theatre Cornwall, including Cartoon de Salvo and Twisting Yarn.
Students have also participated in staff-led research projects and workshops led by artists from companies such as Graeae Theatre Company, Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah, Ice and Fire Theatre Company, Punchdrunk Theatre Company, National Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre.
All students participating in placements will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a mandatory government safeguarding scheme for all those seeking to work in any capacity with minors or vulnerable adults.
Alecky Blythe, Playwright (London Road), Rachel De-lahay, Playwright (The Westbridge, Routes), Bola Agbaje, Playwright (Gone Too Far!, Off The Endz), Tanika Gupta MBE (The Waiting Room, Sugar Mummies), Ola Animashawun, Artistic Associate, Royal Court Theatre, Professor James Thompson, author (Performance Affects), Professor Helen Nicholson, author (Applied Drama: The Gift Of Theatre), Jenny Sealey MBE, Artistic Director, Graeae Theatre Company, Rob Watt, Youth Programme Manager, National Theatre, Peter Higgin, Enrichment Officer, Punchdrunk Theatre Company, Terry O’Leary, Associate Artist, Cardboard Citizens.
Dr Amanda Stuart Fisher, BA, PGCE, MA, PHD
