都柏林圣三一学院

What is Drama?

Drama exists on and off the stage that we call theatre. It happens in our everyday life, and is the basis for story-telling and other forms of performance within the creative arts. It has its origins in sacred ritual and remains central today as part of our sense-making as we negotiate our place in the world. As with other creative arts, Drama and the insights from studying performance can be applied in the fields of medicine, politics, education and more.

Theatre Studies encompass all the arts that make up the live experience we call theatre – including costume, lighting, sound, and devising, directing, design, dramaturgy and playwriting. We also study the meaning behind theatre, analysing culture and politics, space and place, the presence of audience and performers, and the use of digital technology.

The study of drama and theatre is a study of the human condition as explored and expressed through these creative arts.

Drama: The course for you?

All Drama pathways explore the relationship between the theory and practice of Drama and Theatre to discover how and why they work.

The strong developmental emphasis of the courses requires a particular blend of practical and academic skills. In addition to a high level of analytical ability and creativity, you will need to possess resourcefulness and self-motivation.

Teaching is by lecture, seminar and workshop, with a strong emphasis on experiential learning and practice-based research through theatre laboratory and production opportunities. This leads to a relatively high number of contact hours with other students for group projects, as well as the regularly timetabled taught classes. You will need to be a team player to succeed on this course.

Drama @ Trinity

Drama at Trinity is housed in the purpose-built Samuel Beckett Centre, home to the Samuel Beckett Theatre, the Players Theatre, a dance studio/rehearsal space, seminar rooms and offices.

All our full-time staff have theatre-making experience and are published academic writers, active both nationally and internationally. Some third and fourth year modules are taught by visiting specialists, including award-winning designers, directors, performers and playwrights many of whom are alumni from the course.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

Many of our graduates seek employment in theatre or related professions and a large percentage of today’s Irish theatre-makers are alumni. Some graduates opt to take further training or apprenticeships, whilst others go straight into working in specialist areas of theatre, film, or television (such as directing, acting, design, playwriting, management, community drama and teaching). Some have formed their own theatre companies; many have won awards. Others have chosen research careers beginning with further study at postgraduate level. Even for graduates who decide not to pursue theatre as a career, the core skills of research, writing, organisation, collaboration, and interpersonal communication that they gain on the course last a lifetime.