In this course, the stage will be your world as you explore a range of important theatrical, performative and dramatic texts. These works will challenge you to hone your skills in acting, writing, production and design.

You’ll learn how dramatic texts and performances function in a range of different historical, social and cultural contexts. There will be numerous opportunities for you to develop your skills, both on and off stage, in a diverse range of performance modes and styles. And you’ll develop the professionalism and the confidence to create and produce work for public performance.

You’ll work in the Nexus Theatre and Studio 411, our two on-campus teaching and performing venues. This professional theatre space also hosts community, musical, cultural and theatrical events, which will provide you with additional opportunities for work experience. You can create your own work under the guidance of mentors, practitioners and academics, and you can gain valuable experience through an internship.

The course seeks to equip you with a range of skills to enable you to be a versatile and innovative theatre artist.

6 reasons to study Theatre and Drama at Murdoch

• You will work in The Nexus Theatre, an on-campus teaching and performing venue. This professional theatre space also hosts community musical, cultural and theatrical events, which could give you extra opportunities for work experience.
• Gain work experience through our Work Integrated Learning program. Some of our students have interned with The Blue Room, Heath Ledger Theatre and WA Fringe Festival.
• You can create your own work under the guidance of mentors and academics, with the opportunity to learn through a range of extra-curricular training workshops. You can also have your own writing produced through our energetic student theatre companies.
• Our theatre and drama studios (Nexus Theatre and Studio 411) are used by Fringe World and we often host events from all over WA here.
• Showcase your creative work through theatre festivals and competitions. Our students have had their writing published and won local and national theatre awards, such as the Robin Helpmann Award, and Perth Fringe Festival and Blue Room awards. They have acted in movies, television and theatre, are writing for Black Swan and starring for the Sydney Theatre Company.
• Combine your degree with a minor in Radio and Creative Writing or study two majors in 3 years and graduate with two or three specialisations, further enhancing your career prospects. You can also combine your Theatre and Drama course with a degree in Law and use your performance and oral skills to win legal cases.

What you’ll learn

Build the knowledge and skills you need to meet your career or study goals. Here are some of the things you’ll learn:

• acting and producing for the stage
• acting and performance
• theatre and society
• making contemporary theatre
• writing for performance.

When you graduate you could work in the television or film industry, teach Drama or explore roles in the entertainment industry, theatre or events management or in the creative arts.

Careers could include:

• Actor or Performance Artist
• Director or Producer
• Script Writer
• Stage Manager or Theatre Technician
• Theatre Arts Administrator.