Drama & Theatre Studies
About
The Department of Drama & Theatre Studies at Mary Immaculate College was established in June 2015 with Dr Michael Finneran as the founding Head of Department. At undergraduate level, we offer our unique flagship single honours programme - the BA in Contemporary and Applied Theatre Studies (MI001); this is dedicated to the study of all aspects of drama and theatre studies, with particular emphasis on the contemporary ways of making and receiving theatre and how drama can be used in a range of settings beyond the stage. We also offer Drama & Theatre Studies to full degree level on the joint honours BA in Liberal Arts (MI002) programme.
We are currently developing a taught postgraduate programme at MA level and we are home to an ever-expanding range of research at PhD level.
Our full-time faculty conduct and supervise research in a number of aspects of drama and theatre studies, particularly in contemporary theatre and performance practices, applied drama and theatre, theatre for young audiences, gender and performance and practice as research.
Mary Immaculate College has rapidly become one of the most desirable places in Ireland to study drama at third level. Our campus is rich in artistic provision, and our relationship with visiting artists and our two linked professional venues (Lime Tree Theatre and Belltable) is central to our teaching and research. Our drama programmes are designed to accommodate all students passionate about drama, including those who wish to pursue a career in performance.
Check out our social media pages for all up to date information about us and events in the department:
Subject Overview
Undergraduate Programme Modules
BA in Contemporary & Applied Theatre Studies (MI001)
Full programme details, including entry requirements, can be found on the MI001 programme page.
| Semester 1 (Year 1) |
|---|
| DT4711: Introduction to Drama, Theatre and Performance (6 Credits) |
| DT4712: Movement, Voice and Body in Theatre (6 Credits) |
| DT4713: Introduction to Technical Theatre (6 Credits) |
| DT4714: Contemporary Irish Theatre 1 (6 Credits) |
| DT4715: Ensemble and Devising in Theatre (6 Credits) |
| Semester 2 (Year 1) |
|---|
| DT4721: The History of Theatre and Performance (6 Credits) |
| DT4722: Social & Applied theatre (6 Credits) |
| DT4732: Masks and Puppetry in Performance (6 Credits) |
| DT4742: Ensemble Performance 1 (12 Credits) |
| Semester 3 (Year 2) |
|---|
| DT4713: Theatre for Young Audiences (6 Credits) |
| DT4723: Critiquing Theatre (6 Credits) |
| DT4733: Contemporary Irish Theatre 2 (6 Credits) |
| DT4743: Ensemble Performance 2 (12 Credits) |
| Semester 4 (Year 2) |
|---|
| DT4714: Contemporary European & World Theatre (6 Credits) |
| DT4764: Writing for Theatre (6 Credits) |
| DT4734: Storytelling & Poetry in Performance (6 Credits) |
| DT4744: Community Theatre (6 Credits) |
| DT4754: Performance & Music (6 Credits) |
| Semesters 5 & 6 (Year 3) |
|---|
| DT4715/DT4716: Placement 1 & 2 (30 Credits per semester) |
| and/or |
| DT4725/DT4726: Study Abroad 1 & 2 (30 Credits per semester) |
| Semester 7 (Year 4) |
|---|
| DT4717: Scenography, Costume & Lighting Design (6 Credits) |
| DT4727: Cultural Policy & Administration (6 Credits) |
| DT4737: Research Skills/Practice as Research (6 Credits) |
| DT4777: Directing for Theatre (6 Credits) |
| DT4757: Undergraduate Research Project 1 (6 Credits) |
| Semester 8 (Year 4) |
|---|
| DT4718: Drama Education (6 Credits) |
| DT4728: Contemporary Performance Theory (6 Credits) |
| DT4738: Ensemble Performance 3 (12 Credits) |
| DT4748: Undergraduate Research Project 2 (6 Credits) |
Drama & Theatre Studies is also offered as a full subject on the BA in Liberal Arts (MI002)
Full programme details, including entry requirements, can be found on the MI002 programme page.
| Year 1 |
|---|
| DT4711: Introduction to Drama, Theatre and Performance (6 Credits) |
| DT4714: Contemporary European & World Theatre (6 Credits) |
| Year 2 |
|---|
| DT4715: Ensemble and Devising in Theatre (6 Credits) |
| DT4714: Contemporary Irish Theatre 1 (6 Credits) |
| DT4722: Social & Applied theatre (6 Credits) |
| DT4754: Performance & Music (6 Credits) |
| Year 3 |
|---|
| OC4310: Off Campus Placement Programme 1 (30 Credits) |
| OC4320: Off Campus Placement Programme 1 (30 Credits) |
| Year 4 |
|---|
| DT4733: Contemporary Irish Theatre 2 (6 Credits) |
| DT4747: Directing & Writing for Theatre (6 Credits) |
| DT4767: Undergraduate Dissertation 1 (6 Credits) |
| DT4728: Contemporary Performance Theory (6 Credits) |
| DT4734: Storytelling & Poetry in Performance (6 Credits) |
| DT4758: Undergraduate Disseration 2 (6 Credits) |
Staff
Past Conferences
Irish Society for Theatre Research (ISTR) Annual Conference 2019
Mary Immaculate College hosted the 2019 ISTR Conference.
The conference theme: Conversations Through Time: Intersectional, Intergenerational, Interdisciplinary
Keynote Speakers:
- Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick, University of Ulster
- Dr. Emilie Pine, University College Dublin
Theatre and performance practices have often been called upon as ways to understand contemporary discourses. Now more than ever academics and theatremakers need to use art and the analyses of various mediums to explore and explain the world in which we live. This conference sought to provide a platform for discursive practise to allow for conversations on how we engage with, and interpret given narratives, through the broad spectrum of theatre practice and performance types. Through promoting such conversation this conference sought to generate new links between theatre and performative practice in light of the current international discourse.
Full more about the 2019 ISTR Conference click here.
Irish Women Playwrights and Theatremakers Conference
Mary Immaculate College hosted the Irish Women Playwrights and Theatremakers Conference in 2017.
Keynote Speakers:
- Ursula Rani Sarma, playwright
- Dr. Cathy Leeney (UCD)
- Dr. Melissa Sihra (TCD)
- Dr. Mária Kurdi (University of Pécs)
The conference was organised to highlight the vital, frequently overlooked contributions that women have made to Irish theatrical life from the eighteenth century to the present.
Full details about the Irish Women Playwrights and Theatremakers Conference available here.
Departmental Assistantships
Departmental Assistantships in Drama & Theatre Studies 2023
Details of the competition for Departmental Assistantships in Drama & Theatre Studies 2023 here.
The deadline for receipt of application is 5pm on Wednesday 31 May 2023.
Please forward all queries to the Head of Department, Dr Michael Finneran: Michael.Finneran@mic.ul.ie
Departmental Handbook 2022-2023
- About
- Subject Overview
- Staff
- Past Conferences
- Departmental Assistantships
- Departmental Handbook 2022-2023
