Specialization in Theatre and Development - 60 credits

The Theatre and Development (TDEV) program, formerly called Drama for Human Development, focuses on the history, theory and practice of theatre from the perspective of art's capacity to inform and to effect personal and social change. At the level of the individual applications such as developmental drama, drama in education, and drama therapy are examined for their educational, therapeutic, and rehabilitative efficacy. At a broader social level, the program seeks to challenge prevailing notions of the arts as a luxury with little relevance to the daily lives of most Canadians. Collective collaborative and multidisciplinary approaches including street theatre, environmental staging, popular, participatory, and celebratory theatre are studied within the contexts of community building and development, cultural democracy, and historical and contemporary relationships between art and activism.

TDEV prepares students to assume entrepreneurial roles within the Canadian theatre milieu. Classes take place in a studio setting that emphasizes the development of interpersonal and group leadership skills in an atmosphere of active learning. Fully integrated with the other programs in the department, TDEV provides students with access to a wide range of practical classes in acting, directing, playwriting, design, administration, and production.

In the upper years, TDEV supports field work in areas of personal specialisation such as working with populations having diverse or special needs, apprenticeships with community based theatre companies, and developing large and small scale community arts projects.

TDEV is vitally concerned with the relevance and integration of the arts in society. The program welcomes applications from individuals who are interested in a vision of theatre that engages with Canada geographic, cultural, racial and ethnic diversity.

Courses

For a list of required courses, please download the Program Guide according to your year of entry and refer to the Undergraduate Calendar for course descriptions.

Schedule for courses are available on the class schedules website.

Admission requirements

A letter of intent, photograph (for identification purposes only), and audition are required for admission. For guidelines, see admission requirements.