Theatre and Performance (PhD, MPhil) at University of Bristol

The Department of Theatre offers supervisory expertise in a wide range of subject areas, including early modern theatre and performance practices; 18th, 19th- and 20th-century theatre and performance histories and practices; contemporary British theatre; adaptation and translation of and for theatre and performance; contemporary performance practices; performance archives; dance histories and practices; the role of the body in performance; voice studies; virtual and augmented reality; immersive theatre; audience studies. The department has particular strengths in historical research, digital and immersive theatre, and practice-as-research. We offer the opportunity for practice-based projects as well as projects based in the archives of the Theatre Collection , an accredited museum and archive service housed in the department.

Faculty: Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences  |  Department: School of Arts  |  Duration: MPhil: one year full-time, two years part-time. PhD: up to four years full-time, up to eight years part-time  |  Study mode: full-time, part-time  |  Intake: January 2027, September 2027, January 2028.  |  Location: Bristol, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

MPhil: a standalone, one-year (full-time) research degree. Students will undertake their own research project, concluding in the submission of a 25,000-word dissertation. Students may have the option to audit units from our taught master's programmes if they are relevant to their research.

Career pathways

A large number of graduates from this programme develop careers in higher education or work on high-level research projects in the field of theatre and performance. Some graduates take up careers in directing and producing.

Official programme page