Theatre and Performance

Hone your performance skills and develop a holistic understanding of theatre.

Overview

Eligible Honours candidates can pursue a programme of study that includes: Performance Studies, Theatre Directing, Design and Production, Writing for live Performance, Arts Management, Physical Theatre, Film Studies. Students may specialise in any of these fields of study.

Curriculum

The BA Honours in Theatre and Performance requires each Honours student to:

  1. Enrol in TWO of the following professional courses:

    • Performance Studies (Acting) – this may require an additional performance audition

    • Movement Studies (Physical Theatre) - this may require an additional performance audition

    • Theatre Design – please provide a design portfolio which showcases your visual literacy, practical design/drawing skills and creative thinking

    • Writing for Theatre – please provide a creative writing sample (poetry, novel, script) to showcase your writing skills

    • Theatre Directing

    • Musical theatre - this will require an additional singing / choreography audition

    • Cultural Policy and Management


  2. Complete a Long Essay of 8000 words which will be supervised by one of our TAP staff members. The Long Essay can be research on a topic of your choice, as long as the research is focused within the field of Theatre and Performance. As part of your application, you will need to write a one-page expression of interest which should be written in academic language and should provide a brief overview of what you would like to DISCOVER or INVESTIGATE through the process of your Long Essay research. It should include your proposed research question (and sub questions), an expansion on your research topic and why it is important, and an initial bibliography with at least 5 readings you are engaging with currently as you prepare for honours study.

Entry Requirements

To qualify for this programme, a minimum of 65% must be obtained in a BA degree in Theatre and Performance, Dramatic Arts, Theatre Design, Acting, Creative Writing, Theatre History, Dance, Physical Theatre / Movement, Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies, Visual or Performing Arts or any other creative arts related field.

In addition to the application documents required by Faculty, the following supporting documents must be provided for consideration in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Theatre and Performance programme:

  1. All former academic transcripts of prior degrees

  2. All prior qualification certificates

  3. A comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages) detailing all professional experience and including all qualifications and/or training certificates. CV should also detail examples of achievement or recognition in the professional theatre and performance industry and/or formal or informal involvement in academic or research activities (including teaching, conferences and publications). Your CV should also include the names and contact details of two referees.

  4. A recent academic writing sample (for example, an essay or research report) which gives a good reflection of your academic writing capacity and your understanding of academic writing conventions such as providing comprehensive definitions, application of key terminology, case study analysis, in text citation and referencing etc.

  5. A short personal motivation (maximum 1 page) reflecting on why you want to apply for the BA Honours degree at Wits in the Department of Theatre and Performance and how this relates to your personal and career trajectory and history. Give us an idea of how this degree will develop your current artistic or creative practice. Please also include which TWO professional courses you would like to study and why – see below.

  6. An expression of interest (maximum 1 page) which details your intended research topic for your Long Essay

University Application Process

  • Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC). Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment. Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process.
  • Please apply online. Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal.
  • Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
  • Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.

Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

International students, please check this section.

For more information, contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits.

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.