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

All applicants are required to pass the audition workshop.  Applicants will be invited to a workshop day at the department where they can meet staff members and other prospective students. All students are expected to attend in person.  International applicants may be afforded an online interview.  The course is taught full in person and in group settings. Group work is a core part of our programme so attending in person also gives you an introduction to working in a group setting.  

What if I am an international student?

For international students who are unable to attend the in person workshop, please contact the department about online option. 

How can I prepare for the workshop?

No preparation is required. 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 80-90 minutes. 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 the outcome of the workshop. You must pass the workshop to particpate in the course, but, please note: - passing the workshop does not guarantee entry - you will still need to meet Central Admissions Office (CAO) requirements

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?

The international pathway is chosen when you register in second year as planning begins that year for travel in the follow year.  Note you must achieve a minimum of 60% in your first year to proceed to the International pathway.

Is there an internship/placement available?

There is a module available in the summer before final year commences, in which you have the opportunity to complete an internship with professional arts organisations. This internship can be completed with local theatre organisations, such as the Cork Opera House or the Everyman Theatre, or you can choose to look for internship opportunities in other locations. For international students, this may mean completing an internship at a theatre company in your home country. There is a similar in-semester internship module available during Final Year. Additionally, there is a College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences work placement module (PX3001) open to all students. 

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

For Theatre and Performative Practices, you can expect to have approximately eight hours of Theatre lectures per week in your first year. For your other subjects you should have a similar amount of contact hours. There may also be tutorials, rehearsals, etc - students are expected to have circa 50-60hrs per week of college related work.  

However, your total lecture hours depend on the modules that you choose so each student’s schedule and time commitment is unique. 

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

There will be a variety of assessments for Theatre and Performative Practices, which range from in-class participation, group work, practical performance assessments, theoretical study including essay and report writing and, depending on your chosen electives, a final year showcase. Other examinations are dependent on your pathway/elective choices outside of Theatre and will be detailed by those respective departments. 

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

Yes! If you have chosen this module as an elective, in your final year you will work with your fellow classmates to develop an original performance piece adapted from another art form, such as short stories, poetry or visual art, to present in a professional local theatre venue.  

This performance is open to industry professionals and the public and celebrates the skills and abilities you have cultivated over the course of your degree. 

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, including acting, and students are provided plenty of opportunity to perform; however, it is not specifically an actor training course. 

Will this course teach me how to teach acting?

The Applied Theatre modules, which are available most years, teaches a range of transferable skills that can be used in educational and workshop settings, and is highly recommended for those who have an interest in teaching the new Leaving Cert course in Drama, Film, and Theatre Studies. 

Will dance and singing be part of the Theatre course?

Although this course does not offer training in specific types of dance or singing, there is a strong emphasis placed on embodied forms of movement and voice. 

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 UCC Maps.

Are there any other certifications available with this degree?

Upon graduating from 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?

Study is shared between practical and theoretical work in order to allow students to thoroughly understand and engage with all aspects of theatre. Alongside the theoretical work that is done in modules, students have the opportunity to engage in different active roles within theatre productions. Within the Department of Theatre, these productions often involve multiple year groups in different roles, including performance, backstage/technical support, and marketing, amongst others.  

Each year of there degree there is an opportunity to take part in performance.  

What careers can be pursued after completing my degree?

Students who complete a degree in Theatre and Performative Practices at UCC are well-suited to careers in many aspects of theatre because of the comprehensive training that the degree provides. Since you will be entering the professional world as a well-rounded theatre maker, the path that you will take after graduating from this course is entirely dependent on your own strengths and interests. 

Link to UCC Careers - CAREERS FOR THEATRE GRADUATES  

Why Choose CK112?

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

Theatre and Performative Practices at UCC offers students an exciting, creative and highly personal learning experience. As a student you can expect to gain high quality, industry standard skills and knowledge that will enable you to follow your passions and pursue a career in the Arts sector. 

We have access to excellent facilities, including the Granary Theatre, studio space, theatre lab and seminar rooms. 

We offer joint honours and single honours degrees in Theatre and Performative Practices, allowing you to enrich your studies with other Arts subjects such as Music, English, world languages, etc. 

We are committed to excellence and dedicated to discovering new and exciting creative practices, leading to innovative, theoretical, critical, and practical approaches to theatre and 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, community theatre and education, and other creative vocations. 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 help me set up connections with professionals to help with my career after this course?

Absolutely! Every year, students get the chance to take part in workshops led by industry professionals, and there are also several internship/work placement opportunities available to students who want to apply their learning to a professional setting. 

What other resources are available during my studies?

We have an ongoing collaboration between UCC and the Cork Opera House. Whilst some opportunities are at postgraduate level, there are spring and summer internships available. 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/fmt/collaborations/operahouse/  

The Department of Theatre also hosts regular free events, seminars, and conferences throughout the academic year where students can engage with local, national and international arts practitioners and academics on a range of topics.  

Click here to see our most recent events: https://www.ucc.ie/en/fmt/theatre/news/ 

We also host evening classes that are open to the public, which 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:  

Evening Classes | University College Cork 

UCC Societies also hosts the award-winning Dramatic Society (Dramat), founded in 1905. Dramat is accessible to all UCC students regardless of degree program, but many Theatre and Performative Practices students choose to join Dramat to further apply their learning outside the classroom. The Dramat Society produces several student-written productions, improv workshops and shows, and other theatrical events each year, allowing members to engage in directing, performance, writing, technical theatre (such as lighting design, sound design, costuming, etc.), and administrative tasks related to live theatre production. Dramat also takes part in the Irish Student Drama Association (ISDA) competition each year alongside other National Universities, providing members with the opportunity to perform for judges and receive feedback, experience what it’s like to go on tour with a production, and meet other like-minded theatre makers.  

Visit their Instagram page for more information: @uccdramatsociety 

There are also a range of other Arts related Clubs and Societies in UCC such as Musical Theatre Soc, Pop Culture, Choral Soc, An Chuallacht, UCC Dance, etc  

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 on-campus 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 Arts Management and Creative Producing – in collaboration with the Cork Opera House 

We also have a range of higher postgraduate opportunities such as Masters by Research, PhD in Creative Practice, etc.  

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

Theatre is a form of knowledge; it should and can also be a means of transforming society. Theatre can help us build our future, rather than just waiting for it. 

 - Augusto Boal