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Study Theatre Studies at Otago

    Explore human experience and imagination through the dynamic study of theatre. You’ll investigate all aspects of theatre – from acting, playwriting and screenwriting to directing, backstage skills and theatre design.

    Why study Theatre Studies?

    Theatre Studies at Otago offers students the unique opportunity to engage in specialist study through collaborative theatre practice.

    You’ll delve into a wide range of practices including acting, directing, devising, playwriting and screenwriting, dramaturgy, backstage skills, performance design, and theatre history/theory.  

    Create your own shows in our unique Lunchtime Theatre programme held in the iconic Allen Hall Theatre. Opportunities to work on professional shows and industry secondments are offered, enabling students to become part of a supportive creative community.  

    Students often combine their passion for theatre with another subject such as English, Music, Dance, Anthropology, Film and Media, Psychology, or Māori Studies. You can also pair Theatre with degrees in Law, Marketing, or Education, allowing you to blend your creativity with a professional pathway.

    Career opportunities

    Theatre Studies teaches skills highly regarded by employers including creativity, teamwork, big-picture thinking, confidence, and practical research capabilities. A Theatre Studies degree can be a foundation for careers in a range of fields including:

    • Theatre
    • Film
    • Teaching
    • Arts administration
    • Scriptwriting
    • Journalism
    • PR
    • Event management
    • Museum curation and more

    How you will learn

    Theatre Studies classes are a dynamic mix of practical workshops, lectures, tutorials, and seminars, designed to foster hands-on learning and encourage intellectual curiosity. You’ll have the opportunity to bring theatrical concepts to life as you experiment with ideas in a practical context.

    Lectures, tutorials and seminars are interactive, encouraging students to ask questions, collaborate on theatre-based problems, and work with classmates on creative projects. Because most classes are small, there are plenty of opportunities for interaction with both lecturers and fellow students.

    Recommended high school subjects for undergraduate study

    Those new to Theatre Studies thrive alongside those with prior experience. Our introductory courses ensure that students are comfortable with the material and skills regardless of their theatre background. We are dedicated to creating a challenging and supportive space. Auditions aren’t required for entry to the programme.

    Choose a study option

    Whether you're embarking on your academic journey with our comprehensive undergraduate programmes or aiming to reach new heights through our advanced postgraduate offerings, Otago is here to support your aspirations.

    Undergraduate qualifications

    For new and current students studying towards a Bachelor's or other first degree. Explore undergraduate qualifications at Otago, designed to build a strong foundation in your chosen field, preparing you for a successful career or further study.

    Note: this subject can also be studied as a minor.

    Ready to apply?

    Take the first step towards your future in this subject.

    Further study opportunities

    Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.

    testimonial-image

    I was interested in theatre during secondary school and had been highly involved in the local community theatre scene. At the time – and still now – there wasn’t one part of theatre that interested me in particular, so the Theatre Studies programme at Otago suited me well. It allowed me to engage in all areas of theatre – learning about theatre history, behind the scenes work, acting, writing, directing – the whole shebang.


    Tabitha Littlejohn

    Bachelor of Arts and Science (Majors: Theatre Studies, Physics)

    Make the world your stage

    You’ll have access to excellent facilities, including our modern performing arts building and the famous Allen Hall Theatre, which has been the starting ground for many of Aotearoa’s leading theatre and film professionals. Dunedin’s wider performing arts community also makes use of our facilities, connecting students, professional theatre artists, community groups and arts organisations.  

    Our lecturers are leading theatre practitioners, talented teachers and internationally recognised researchers. Their networks can help you build industry-wide connections in Aotearoa and the world.  

    Most people will have up to seven careers in their lifetime, meaning the choices you make now could go a long way to setting you up for success. Theatre Studies will provide you with important personal and professional skills – like self-confidence, teamwork, communication, big picture thinking, and creative expression. You’ll graduate well prepared to work both within and far beyond theatre and the performing arts.

    Programme details

    Compare programmes for this subject.

    LevelPapersPoints
    100-level THEA 152 Theatre Technology   18
    THEA 153 Voice and Movement 18
    THEA 154 Staging Worlds: Theatre and Performance 18
    Note: THEA 152 should normally be taken in the first or second year of the programme. 
    200-level THEA 221 Theatre: Ancient to Contemporary 18
    Two further 200-level THEA papers 36
    PERF 205 The Creatives Industries may be substituted for one THEA paper  
    300-level Four 300-level THEA papers 72
    PERF 305 The Creative Industries may be substituted for one THEA paper  
    Plus 180 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. 180
    Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts  
    Total 360

    A minor subject can be included in many of our undergraduate degrees. To earn a minor, you typically must complete a minimum of 90 points in that subject, with at least 18 points at the 300-level.

    Your minor can be a subject more commonly taken for a different degree. For example, a BCom majoring in Marketing can include Japanese as a minor subject. To include this subject as a minor in your application, first find a major subject through our Subject Search or Study Match.

    You can check what’s required to receive the minor accreditation in the programme details below.

    Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

    LevelPapersPoints
    100-level

    THEA 154 Staging Worlds: Theatre and Performance

    One further 100-level THEA paper

    18

    18

    200-level Two 200-level THEA papers

    36

    300-level One 300-level THEA paper

    18

     PERF 205 or PERF 305 may be substituted for one THEA paper  
    Total   90

    Note: This minor subject is not available for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA).

    Papers

    View a list of all related papers below.

    THEA papers

    Paper Code Year Title Points Teaching period
    THEA152 2025 Backstage for Theatre and Performance 18 points Semester 1, Semester 2
    THEA153 2025 Voice and Movement 18 points Semester 2
    THEA154 2025 Staging Worlds: Theatre and Performance 18 points Semester 1
    THEA221 2025 Exploring Worlds Through Theatre and Performance 18 points Semester 1
    THEA241 2025 Writing for Stage and Screen 18 points Semester 2
    THEA252 2025 The Actor 18 points Semester 2
    THEA253 2025 Theatre, Culture and Identity in Aotearoa 18 points Not offered in 2025
    THEA256 2025 Design for Theatre and Performance 18 points Semester 2
    THEA257 2025 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2025
    THEA322 2025 Theatre of Australasia 18 points Not offered in 2025
    THEA323 2025 Performance Research 18 points Not offered in 2025
    THEA324 2025 Aspects of Contemporary Theatre and Performance 18 points Not offered in 2025
    THEA341 2025 Advanced Writing for the Stage and Screen 18 points Semester 1
    THEA351 2025 Performing Shakespeare 18 points Semester 1
    THEA352 2025 Directing 18 points Semester 2
    THEA354 2025 Creating Theatre 18 points Not offered in 2025
    THEA356 2025 Design for Theatre and Performance 18 points Semester 2
    THEA357 2025 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2025
    THEA358 2025 The Working Dramaturg 18 points Semester 1
    THEA422 2025 Theatre of Australasia 30 points Not offered in 2025
    THEA423 2025 Performance Research 30 points Not offered in 2025
    THEA424 2025 Aspects of Contemporary Theatre and Performance 30 points Not offered in 2025
    THEA441 2025 Advanced Writing for the Stage and Screen 30 points Semester 1
    THEA451 2025 Advanced Directing 60 points Full Year
    THEA452 2025 Advanced Production Project 30 points Not offered in 2025
    THEA453 2025 Directed Project in Theatre 30 points Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year
    THEA454 2025 Special Topic 30 points Not offered in 2025
    THEA455 2025 Shakespeare Text to Performance 30 points Not offered in 2025
    THEA456 2025 Trauma and Violence in Performance 30 points Not offered in 2025
    THEA457 2025 The Working Dramaturg 30 points Semester 1
    THEA480 2025 Research Project 30 points Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year
    THEA490 2025 Dissertation 60 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period (28 February 2025 - 20 February 2026), 2nd Non standard period (11 July 2025 - 3 July 2026)
    THEA580 2025 Studio Project in Theatre 60 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period (28 February 2025 - 20 February 2026), 2nd Non standard period (11 July 2025 - 3 July 2026)
    THEA590 2025 Research Dissertation 60 points 1st Non standard period (28 February 2025 - 20 February 2026), 2nd Non standard period (11 July 2025 - 3 July 2026)

    More information

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