General Information

The main info point about Theatre and Performative Practices at: https://www.ucc.ie/en/ck112

General information about how to apply can be found at: https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/how

Applications are processed by the Central Applications Office (CAO). Visit their website for more information at http://www.cao.ie

For Disability Support Services (DSS) please visit https://www.ucc.ie/en/dss

For Pre-Entry Support you can also visit http://accesscollege.ie for information on HEAR and DARE access routes (Higher Education Access Route - HEAR - and Disability Access Route to Education – DARE)

Information about the Music Audition process is available here: https://www.ucc.ie/en/music-theatre/music/faq/applicants

Application Process

Who can I contact for general application queries?

You can contact the Central Admissions Office regarding your application process. Click here for contact information:http://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=contact

Click here to find out more information about the UCC application process: https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/how

Do I get accepted onto the course through workshop or CAO points?

You must pass the workshop process and get the required CAO points - there are additonal CAO points available for passing the workshop process. 

What are the CAO points?

The CAO points for CK112 change from year to year - they are generally between 350-400. 

Audition Process

Applicants will be invited to a workshop day at the department where they can meet staff members and other prospective students.

How can I prepare for the workshop?

The workshop will be presented on the day by Theatre staff. There will be performative and creative, individual and group elements involved the workshop with practical activities and games, allowing you to interact with other prospective students. It is always best to be well rested, to bring water with you (and perhaps a healthy snack) and to arrive early so you have time to arrive and put aside personal belongings. Once you arrive we want you to relax and enjoy the experience and use the time to get to know us too.  

What clothes should I wear?

It is important to wear comfortable clothing that you can move freely and easily in. Fabric such as denim is not recommended. You will also be required to remove outdoor shoes in the studio. There are private spaces available where you can change if needed.

How long will the workshop day last?

Around 1 and a half hours. This includes meeting and greeting and chatting about various aspects of the course. There will also be time for you to ask us any questions you may have and to meet and work with other prospective students.

How many people will be there on the day of the workshop?

A maximum of 8 – 12. We aim to provide a friendly environment where everyone present will feel included.

When will I find out my results after the workshop day?

The department aims to contact you within 2 weeks regarding whether you have passed the audition process. Official course acceptance is handled by Central Admissions Office thereafter.

Who can I contact if I have queries about the workshop day?

Course Contact:   Fionn Woodhouse

Email:                 theatre@ucc.ie

Telephone:           +353 (0)21 490 4229

Website:              https://www.ucc.ie/en/music-theatre

What should I do if I pass the workshop day?

You will receive more information shortly about what to do next from the Central Admissions Office (CAO). 

About the Course

What is the course duration?

3/4 years full time.

At this point there is no option for part time study due to the nature of the course requirements and examinations.

What are the course fees and costs?

Please visit https://www.ucc.ie/en/financeoffice/fees for more information on fees, including information on fees for Non-EU students. 

How many students will be on the course with me?

24 maximum. 

How is the course structured?

This will depend on which pathway you have chosen: Single Honours, Joint Honours, International or With Music.

There are four core Theatre and Performative Practices subjects. Elective subjects (your chosen subjects) are then added depending on your pathway choice.

Visit https://www.ucc.ie/en/ck112 and scroll to the About section to find out more.

When do I choose Joint Honours/ Single Honours pathway?

You choose this pathway in the end of first year/ beginning of second year. This will be explained to you closer to the time by the department faculty.

When do I choose the International Pathway?

This may be chosen before you enter the course in first year, or it may also be decided at the beginning of second year in the case of a change of heart.

Is there an internship/placement available?

In the summer of second year before your final year commences, you have the opportunity to take a module where you seek out internships with drama and theatre based organisations and engage in professional work in the industry. There are also insemester internship options during Final year. Finally there is a College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences work placement module open to all students. 

How many hours of lectures on average do we have a week?

This depends very much on the modules taken and also Arts subjects taken with Theatre and Performative Practices, so it is unique to each individual student.

What kind of examinations can I expect on this course? How often?

There will be a variety of course examinations for Theatre and Performative Practices to ensure the best learning experience for you. These range from continuous assessment based on class participation, group work, practical performance assessments, theoretical study including essay and report writing and possibly a final year showcase in year three (depending on your chosen electives). Other examinations are dependent on your pathway/elective choices and will be detailed by the respective departments.

There will be a final year showcase? What’s that?!

Yes! If you have chosen this module as an elective, in your third year you will work with your fellow classmates to develop a performance piece, such as an adaptation of a poem or novel, to present in a professional local theatre venue. This performance is open to the public and celebrates three years of creative learning by our students, allowing them to demonstrate their creative skills and abilities to the professional arts industry and public arena.

What required equipment do I need for the course?

Comfortable clothes for studio work, such as loose trousers and a T-shirt.

Notebooks and pens/pencils for workshops and seminars.

Your student card, to gain entry to specific campus buildings and resources.

Computers, printers and other essential equipment are available to use at different campus locations including the Boole library. You will be given a student log-in and card upon matriculation which will give you access to these facilities and more.

Other equipment will be module specific and you will be notified by the respective departments.

Do I have a full acting degree by the end of it?

Theatre and Performative Practices gives all round training and experience for all aspects of theatre, however it is not specifically an actor training course. There is plenty of opportunity to perform but acting is not the primary focus of the course.

Will this course teach me how to teach acting?

Modules may be available in this area, for example ‘Applied Theatre’, that may be applicable to teaching acting but this may change year to year. You will acquire a range of transferrable skills that you can use in educational/workshop settings.

Will dance and singing be part of the Theatre course?

Movement, dance and voice are offered as modules in Theatre and Performative Practices. 

Where on campus will my classes take place? 

Most Theatre and Performative Practices classes take place in the Connolly Buildings, situated between Mardyke Walk and Western Road – although classes may take place elsewhere on campus too, as well as elsewhere in the city.

Your chosen pathway (i.e. Single, Joint, International, With Music) will determine where other elective subjects are taught. This information will be provided by the respective departments.

Click here for a link to the Campus Map https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/academic/languagecentre/UCC_campus_map_Edition1_2010-new.pdf

Are there any other certifications available with this degree?

Upon graduating this course you will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Performative Practices. This will enable you to pursue postgraduate studies and other industry courses should you wish to do so.

Will my learning be 50/50 theory and practice?

In order to obtain a thorough understanding and engagement in theatre one must engage in all aspects of the training. Study is shared between theoretical and practical work. The emphasis lies on making you the most well-versed and well-rounded theatre practitioner that you can be.

Are there many opportunities to apply practice?

Each year students have the opportunity to produce productions and between all three year groups everyone is involved in the process. You will be given the opportunity to engage in acting, production, technical theatre as well as marketing and advertising.

What careers can be pursued after completing my degree?

Because of your thorough training you will be capable of pursuing a career in nearly all aspects of theatre depending on your own strengths and interests. Theatre and Performative Practices makes sure that you are a well-rounded theatre maker when entering into the professional world so that anything is possible.

Alumna Julie Kelleher, Artistic Director, Everyman Theater, Cork City.

Why Choose CK112?

Why should I choose a BA in Theatre and Performative Practices?

Theatre and Performative Practices offers students an exciting, creative and high quality learning experience. As a student you can expect to gain high quality, industry standard skills and knowledge that will enable you to pave your career in the Arts sector – future opportunities can involve professional employment in the Arts, education and your academic career at a postgraduate level.

We have access to excellent bespoke facilities, alongside UCC's main campus, including the Granary Theatre, studio space, theatre lab and seminar rooms.

We can offer joint honours and single honours degrees in Theatre and Performative Practices with Arts subjects such as Music, English, languages etc.

We are committed to excellence, housing an interdisciplinary research center in performance practices in the heart of Cork City.

We are dedicated to discovering new and exciting creative practices with our students and staff, leading to new approaches in performance practices alongside theoretical and critical approaches in the Arts.

We have connections with local, national and international theatres as well as national and international cultural organisations and arts practitioners.

You can follow in the footsteps of our graduates who pursue careers in theatre, television and film as well as in postgraduate studies, applied theatre, including community theatre and education, and creative practices. Our graduates work locally, nationally and internationally.

To find out more about why the Department of Theatre is the place to carve your career in the Arts visit our website at: https://www.ucc.ie/theatre

Will the course teach me practical and applicable performance and production skills?

Yes, the classes in are divided up so that you are exposed to both the performance and the production aspect of theatre. Having to produce your own pieces of theatre each year, the course demands that you engage with all areas of Theatre and Performative Practices.

Will the course help me set up connections with professionals to help with my career after this course?

Yes, students get the chance to meet with and take part in workshops with professionals in the industry each year. Working with one another within the course also creates alliances that will also prove beneficial in the professional world.

What other resources are available during my studies?

Our most recent and exciting project is a new collaboration between The School of Film, Music and Theatre and the Cork Opera House. Whilst some opportunities are at postgraduate level, there are spring and summer internships available and we hope to build on this new relationship into the future. Click here to read more about this amazing collaboration and how it will benefit our students, as well as the wider community: https://www.ucc.ie/en/music-theatre/operahouse

The Department of Theatre also sets up regular free events, seminars and conferences throughout the academic year where all students can engage with local, national and international arts practitioners and academics on a range of topics, performance genres and Arts sector discussions. This greatly benefits our student’s studies, allowing them to gain experience outside of the class environment. Click here to see our most recent events: https://www.ucc.ie/en/music-theatre/drama/news

We also host evening classes that are open to the public. Students are welcome to join as part of their extra-curricular studies. A fee is included with these classes. Click here to see more details: https://www.ucc.ie/en/music-theatre/drama/news/evening-classes-2018---sign-up-open-.html

UCC Societies also host the award winning Dramatic Society (DRAMAT) founded in 1905. DRAMAT is accessible to all UCC students. DRAMAT produce several productions and events each year, allowing members to engage in directing, performance, writing, technical and administrative tasks related to live theatre production. DRAMAT have a long list of awards and take part in the Irish Student Drama Association (ISDA) awards each year with consistently successful results. Click here for more information: https://dramatsoc.ucc.ie

UCC also offers a wide range of facilities for all students such as The Glucksman Gallery and Café, The Boole Library, The Mardyke Arena Health and Leisure Centre as well as cafés and student bars.

What Postgraduate options with the Department of Theatre will be available to me on completion of my BA Theatre and Performative Practices?

MA in Theatre and Performative Practices

MA is Arts Management and Creatve Producing – in collaboration with the Cork Opera House

Masters by Research (MRes)

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

Doctor of Philosophy - Theatre and Performative Practices (PhD)

Doctor of Philosophy - Creative Practice (PhD)

Click here to find out more about postgraduate options available with the department: https://www.ucc.ie/en/music-theatre/drama/courses/postgrad

"And it must never be forgotten that theatre is an art, a great art, that we are born with, one that we carry in the most noble part of our souls, and when we want to express the deepest things in our histories and of our being we do so by performance…"

 - Garcia Lorca.