If you want to become a professional playwright, dramaturg, theatre critic, director, playmaker, theatre educator, drama therapist, researcher, arts manager, theatre/performance activist, performance artist, or are interested in pursuing studies at the graduate level (MA/PhD), then PERFORMANCE CREATION  IS FOR YOU!

It is expected that students in PERFORMANCE CREATION, including those in the two-and-a half-year sequence of Theatre Survey courses, will acquire, and be able to demonstrate:

1. Sound knowledge of the history of theatre and performance, the forms and practices and social contexts of theatre through the ages and in different cultures, including knowledge of influential critical formulations, manifestos, and theoretical frameworks;
2. Understanding of the ways in which theatre and performance have mattered and had meaning in different societies and eras, and of the ways in which it can matter and have meaning here and now;
3. Familiar working knowledge of, and ability to analyse, a substantial number of plays and performance texts, including plays from outside the western tradition, together with the ability to write about performance critically and appreciatively;
4. Vivid imaginative realization of the potential in dramatic scripts for the production of new meanings in contemporary performance;
5. Ability to apply knowledge and research capacity to the task of serving as dramaturg on new plays and the productions of plays from earlier epochs;
6. Active and detailed knowledge of the history and present state of theatre, drama, and performance in Canada.

Second year

Required courses:

• THEA 2200 6.0 History of Theatre and Performance
• THEA 2210 3.0 Theatre and Social Justice

PLEASE NOTE – Course offerings may vary from year to year, often on a rotation basis.

For more information on actual course offerings, please consult the online course timetable at https://w2prod.sis.yorku.ca/Apps/WebObjects/cdm.

Third year

Required courses:

• 1 (one) 3.0 credit 3000 or 4000 level Theatre Studies seminar course

Theatre Studies courses in areas of specific interest are the focus of third and fourth years. It is expected that some students will also have begun to pursue interdisciplinary interests, combining theatre with such other fields as Education, Psychology, Anthropology, English or Religious Studies. Students in second year can take 3000-level courses.

Third year is an important transition year for Theatre and Performance Studies students. Those looking to pursue a graduate degree (MA/PhD) in Theatre and Performance Studies or prepare for a professional career as a playwright, dramaturg, playmaker, theatre critic, theatre/performance activist, performance artist, or theatre educator, are strongly encouraged (and in some cases, required) to take specialized seminar courses in their areas of interest.

In addition, students may take courses from 4000 level offerings, with the appropriate prerequisites.

All students must complete either THEA 3150 3.0 Theatre Management or THEA 4150 3.0 Theatre Career Management in order to graduate.

Fourth year

The fourth year is an exciting culminating year for Theatre Studies students. By the end of the fourth year, students have a firm grasp on a wide range of skills that will prepare them to enter the professional theatre world or graduate studies. Those looking to pursue a graduate degree (MA/PhD) in Theatre and Performance Studies or prepare for a professional career as a playwright, dramaturg, theatre maker, theatre critic, or theatre educator, are strongly encouraged to take seminar courses in their area of specialization.

For further information on the Performance Creation BFA, see this page.

Playwriting

PLAYWRITING—a series of courses in the BA/BFA in Performance Creation that specialize in playwriting.

THEA 3290 “Introduction to Playwriting” is a practical, interactive workshop where students begin to develop the craft of playwriting centering the idea of process rather than product. Through research, readings and exercises, students will explore and discover individual sources of inspiration for content, experiment with form and structure with a variety of materials, and learn and apply methodologies to share, develop and critique their work in generous, honest and constructive ways.

Please let either Danielle Howard (howardd@yorku.ca) or Keira Loughran (loughran@yorku.ca) know if you have any questions.

Devised Theatre

Production/Design

The Production/Design Area offers the interested, capable, and committed student the opportunity to study in the areas of Theatre Design (set, costume, lighting, sound and media/projections); Construction (costume, scenery, and props); Management (production management, technical direction and stage management); and Technology (electrical, audio, and video systems and control). The Production/Design area also prides itself on its commitment and leadership in training students about issues of sustainability in performance. The required series of Production Practicum assignments provide opportunities in all aspects of production and design for live performance, themed environments, and exhibition. Please note that students are expected to participate in more than one specialization. This allows both intense study in a specific discipline and broader exposure to other disciplines within Production and Design. Required courses are listed below. Students pursuing design are required to take co-requisites courses in the area. All students are encouraged to consider the complementary In-Faculty/Out-of-Major courses. For additional details, please consult the Department of Theatre Handbook.

Second Year

Stresses skills in a number of areas and responsibility for specific areas of crew work.

Required courses:

• Any 2nd year Production Practicum course (THEA 3101 suggested)
• THEA 2110 6.0 Stagecraft
• THEA 2200 6.0 Theatrical Worlds in Transition
• THEA 2410 6.0 History of Visual Sources for Theatrical Design

Third Year

Further acquisition of basic skills and the start of exploration into design for the theatre. There will be some separation and development of ability and talent.

Required courses:

• Any 3rd Year Production Practicum Course
• THEA 3200 3.0 Modern Theatre and Society

Additional 6.0 credits in 3000 or 4000 level courses, of which at least 3.0 credits must be in the Production/Design Area.

All students must complete either THEA 3150 3.0 Theatre Management or THEA 4150 3.0 Theatre Career Management in order to graduate.

Fourth Year

Required courses:

• Any 4th Year Production Practicum Course

Continuing a pursuit of excellence, students may concentrate in any or several production/design disciplines. Students may be given major production assignments as part of the Production Practicum.

Production Practicum is required of any third- or fourth-year production student. Production Practicum requires production meetings of two hours per week, plus evening and weekend crews as assigned.

CHANGE OF DEGREE FROM BA TO BFA

Students who proceed in Production/Design are required to complete the online Change of Degree request to switch from Honours BA to Honours BFA. This request is available at http://myacademicrecord.students.yorku.ca/program-change. Change of degree requests must be submitted no later than June 30 to take effect the next fall/winter session.

Performance Program (Acting & Devised Theatre)

In order to audition for the Second-Year Performance Program, students must have successfully completed THEA 1010 3.0 Introduction to Acting I (i.e. not received an ‘E’ or an ‘F’ grade). 

Offers of placement are conditional, pending final grades of the 2023 winter term, based on a satisfactory C+ academic average and meeting the requirements and deadlines of the Department of Theatre.   

Please note:

Offers for the BFA Hons Acting & Performance “focused” Program is limited to 20 students maximum.

Offers for the BA or BFA Hons Performance Creation “flexible” Program will be limited to 16 students in order to preserve space for Devised Theatre students who are not in the Performance Program.

The audition process is confidential. Panel members (including THEA 1010/1011 instructors and Acting Area faculty participants) will not provide feedback or discuss the rationale for placement with candidates.

If you do not receive a placement offer, you did not do anything wrong in the audition process—there is simply a large field of talented practitioners for a limited number of spots.

Students may re-audition for the Acting Program the following year.

Students in the Performance Program must maintain a “B” or higher in each course of Voice, Movement, Acting, Devised Theatre and related skills classes each term in order to be allowed to advance to the next term.

Anyone leaving the Performance Program for a period of one year or more, for whatever reason, even if in good academic standing, will be expected to re-audition to re-enter the Area unless a statement to the contrary has been received in writing from the Area at the time of withdrawal.

For further information on the Performance Program and/or DT, please see the Performance Program page and the Devised Theatre page in the Upper Years section of the website.

CHANGE OF DEGREE FROM BA TO BFA

Students who proceed in the Second-Year Acting & Performance Program are required to complete the online Change of Degree request to switch from Honours BA to Honours BFA. This request is available at http://myacademicrecord.students.yorku.ca/program-change. Change of degree requests must be submitted no later than June 30 in order to take effect the next Fall/Winter session.