BA (Hons) Performing Arts | University of Cumbria

Welcome to Performing Arts. We are very much looking forward to working with you, and are sure that your time here is going to be engaging, challenging and fun.

Welcome Week will allow you to meet all the students on your course and within the Performing Arts Department. We will introduce you to life as a performing arts student, so expect games, rehearsals, mini-lectures and performance opportunities.

We will also take you on a first visit to Muncaster Castle, where you will be undertaking a unique residential project in October.

There are some items of clothing and books that you will need to buy. Please read the list below. If you require any help or want to know anything before you arrive, please get in touch via the details at the end of this page.

Timetables

Welcome Week timetable

Pre-course Preparation

Being fit and healthy will allow you to cope with the demands of the course more effectively so spend some time exercising and building up your resistance to the pesky Freshers Flu.

We recommend that students visit as many performances (amateur or professional) as possible. Please read reviews of shows, and get an idea of what is happening in the theatre world. We will be working on music reading, so please revise what you know. If you are an absolute beginner, it would be helpful to learn the names of the notes!

Equipment

Please note you are required to wear all-black clothing for your classes.

Essential Equipment:

Neutral black trousers and/or tracksuit bottoms
Neutral black t-shirts (high neck lines please)
Neutral black long-sleeved baggy tops or sweatshirts (no hoods)
Neutral black socks
Neutral black flat jazz shoes (no split heels)
Neutral black leggings and leotard
Steel Toe-Capped Boots (For technical theatre work)
Protective rigging gloves
Work trousers with cargo pockets
Personal Care Kit (useful items include: inhalers, personal medication, plasters, instant cold compress, deodorant)

If you are struggling to source any of these items, please get in touch. We have experience suggesting sources for some of the less readily available items and are happy to help.

For performances or additional projects, you may be required to buy specific equipment or clothing. Your tutors will give you sufficient time to source these. It is recommended to keep approximately £100 resource budget available per-year.

Note

If you own any sort of musical instrument, please bring it with you (even if you consider yourself a poor player). Please bring all of your music theatre scores and recordings.

Pre-course Reading

It would be really useful for you to start reading some of the set books for each module as listed below. Some of these are available for free through our online library catalogue, which will be introduced to you during Welcome Week. Please set about £100 aside for book purchases for throughout the year.

For now, please buy the following:

Improve Your Sight Singing
Dance Studies: The Basics
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen – Methuen Drama Edition – ISBN 978-1408106020

Theatre Visits and In-House Productions

During your time on the BA (Hons) Performing Arts course it is essential that you watch as much live (and recorded) performance as possible, in a broad range of styles and genres. It is therefore advisable to reserve a small portion of your finances to buy tickets to see shows throughout the year. Stanwix Theatre offers a Membership Scheme for all students, allowing you to buy cheaper tickets for all shows in the Stanwix Theatre & Topping Studio Spaces.

The cost for this membership card is around £10.00 per year (exact price tbc) with shows then typically discounted to £2 - £8 per ticket.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about your course, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our Admissions team.

Contact Us

Have a question about your course? Then get in touch with us using the contact details below.

For all Programme-related queries, please contact:

John Pearson

Email: john.pearson@cumbria.ac.uk

Tel: 01228 588476