Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, BA (Hons), Community Drama

Year 1: Students develop their acting skills; using improvisation, students devise original material and discover new approaches to the art of the performer and learn about the practical processes involved in running workshops, including how to assess the most suitable format for different groups; in contextual studies, students look at key social, cultural, political, economic and technological developments in the participatory arts over the last 50 years; students also develop report writing, research and evaluation skills and choose an elective. Year 2: students build on their skills in directing workshops, through classroom-based teaching, projects and practical experience in professional community projects; students develop their ability to plan and manage small-scale projects and by the end of the year, they should feel comfortable running and evaluating a series of sessions over a number of weeks with a community group; students also take part in a largescale public performance project, developed and run in conjunction with a specific community group and also undertake a group performance workshop with students from other disciplines and can choose a second elective. Year 3: students put into practice all the skills they have gained in devising and managing by producing and realising community-based projects through self-directed activity; students will investigate an area of contemporary practice through the final practical project; an in-depth written research project concludes students studies; alternatively, students can choose to write a substantial dissertation; students will develop knowledge about fundraising, project implementation and management to enable them to work effectively as a freelance community drama practitioner.