BA (Hons) Acting and Community Engagement
Overview
What is the BA (Hons) Acting and Community Engagement?
East 15’s BA (Hons) Acting and Community Engagement is a three-year, industry-focused degree for aspiring performers who want to work across stage, screen, audio and digital media.
From 2026-27, this course will be based at our Colchester Campus, offering bespoke East 15 studio spaces and other specialist facilities within a creative university environment set in 200 acres of parkland.
Why this course
The BA (Hons) Acting and Community Engagement is a unique programme balancing intensive actor training with inclusive practice and community-focused theatre-making. It is designed for performers and theatre-makers who want to create socially engaged, inclusive theatre for, with and about communities.
You’ll develop as a skilled actor while gaining the facilitation, leadership and creative tools needed to make relevant and impactful work across a wide range of community and professional settings. Alongside rigorous performance training, you’ll learn how to collaborate ethically and creatively with diverse groups, responding to real social, cultural and political contexts.
Across the three years, your training progresses from core performance skills to large-scale participatory projects, professional collaborations, internships and touring work. You'll build critical thinking, production and leadership skills that enable you to initiate, manage and sustain professional theatre projects and companies. By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped to enter the industry as a versatile performer, facilitator and socially engaged theatre practitioner.
Students of this course gave it an 100% student positivity score for 'teaching on my course' in the National Student Survey 2026.
Who should apply
- Aspiring actors and theatre-makers interested in socially engaged and community-based performance
- Students who want to combine rigorous actor training with applied theatre, facilitation and outreach skills
- Ambitious performers who want comprehensive development of their physical, vocal and imaginative abilities
- Creative individuals committed to inclusive practice and using theatre as a tool for dialogue and change
- Performers seeking hands-on experience through community projects, professional collaborations and placements
- Artists motivated to build sustainable careers across performance, education and community arts
What you’ll learn
- Acting technique and performance skills: Develop strong skills in acting, movement, voice, singing, improvisation and character creation through intensive, practical training
- Community engagement and inclusive practice: Learn how to design, facilitate and deliver participatory theatre projects with a wide range of community groups
- Applied theatre and devising: Create original work using styles such as documentary theatre, verbatim theatre, forum theatre, object theatre, site-specific work and inclusive performance practices
- Creative leadership and production skills: Gain experience in project development, company-building, production, marketing and sustaining professional theatre practice
- Professional practice: Work with practising professionals through internships, collaborations and public-facing projects, preparing you for employment across the sector
Your learning experience
- Intensive acting training: Develop core performance skills through focused, practical training in acting, which are applied across a wide range of performance projects in Years 2 and 3
- Hands-on community projects: Apply your skills in real-world contexts, working with communities and professional theatre companies to create inclusive, socially engaged theatre
- Public performance opportunities: Perform devised and professionally directed shows for live audiences in community settings as well as East 15’s theatre spaces
- Industry-focused final year: Record showreels that are promoted in an Industry Showcase for agents, casting directors, theatre companies and film, TV and theatre directors
Careers and outcomes
A BA (Hons) Acting and Community Engagement prepares you for careers such as:
- Actor and performer in theatre, film and TV
- Community theatre practitioner
- Workshop facilitator, arts educator and outreach practitioner
- Playwright, theatre-maker and deviser
- Director or producer
Where have graduates go on to work?
Graduates from this course have built diverse careers in performance, facilitation, writing and directing.
Many alumni have established independent theatre companies that perform and deliver workshops nationally and internationally. Graduates regularly work across community, educational and professional theatre contexts.
Notable graduates
- Nathan Queeley-Dennis
- Maisie Adam
- Grace Duggan
What is Colchester Campus like?
- Green campus setting: Located within 200 acres of parkland, offering an inspiring environment for creative practice, just two miles from Colchester city centre
- Performance and study facilities: Home to the 200-seat Lakeside Theatre, the Albert Sloman Library, rehearsal spaces and creative study areas
- Student life: Cafés, restaurants, street food outlets, SU bar, social spaces, sports centre, gym and a weekly food market
- Accommodation: A range of University of Essex student accommodation options within walking distance of campus facilities
- Future-focused facilities: East 15 is developing bespoke studio spaces and specialist performance facilities at Colchester to support conservatoire-style training
- A unique programme balancing intensive actor training with inclusive, community-focused theatre practice
- Extensive hands-on experience through community projects, professional collaborations, internships and an Industry Showcase
- Strong preparation for diverse careers across performance, applied theatre and the wider creative industries
“This course doesn’t only teach you to be an actor/actress but also equips you with a very handy bag of tricks ranging from circus skills to clowning to Commedia. I have worked with a huge range of people from different theatre companies and with people in the community. I’ve also learned how you can put your own company together.”
Dale Curran, BA Acting and Community Engagement
Entry requirements
Clearing entry requirements
We currently have places available in Clearing across a range of our courses with most offers expected to be made at CCD - CDD (88 - 80 UCAS tariff points) or equivalent. A complete breakdown of expected Clearing entry requirements, by course, is available on our Clearing entry requirements page.
We consider each application individually and requirements may be lower for some of our courses, so please still get in touch if your grades are below those outlined.
English language requirements
If you do not require a student visa to study in the UK then we will assess your English language proficiency/ability at your interview or audition.
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.
Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
Pre-sessional English courses
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Structure
Course structure
We offer dynamic and unique courses for actors, directors, producers, technical theatre specialists and students of theatre practice. Training at East 15 draws upon 50 years of tradition combined with a keen sense of the world of stage and screen today.
Our carefully selected modules will give you the chance to explore and develop your specialist training.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.
Teaching
Year 1
Your first year focuses on introductory acting, voice, articulation, singing and movement. You explore individual creativity, self and responsiveness to other actors, as well as developing observational skills and improvisation, applied research and learning how to engage and collaborate with a range of different community groups. In addition you will:
- Create individual character study through text analysis into scene study, verbatim and Shakespeare
- Learn to re-create through reflection, research and improvisation
- Participate productively in shared group experience and larger community based projects
Your first year culminates in a unique ‘Living History Project', in which you study, understand and live the lives of others through a period of historical conflict.
Year 2
Your second year provides key practical and public experience. This includes working in partnership with practicing professionals to create documentary theatre based on real lives, devise and tour participatory performances, perform object theatre and understand and perform Forum theatre. You will also:
- Collaborate with young people to make new dramatic works
- Create and edit your own videos
- Develop workshop facilitation and leadership skills
- Learn clowning, puppetry and circus skills
- Forge professional links in the community theatre industry by undertaking an internship with an established theatre company
- Apply workshop facilitation skills in community host organisations
You will also gain a thorough understanding of developing a theatre project from conception to delivery through devising, managing and performing in the annual ‘Southend Street Theatre Festival'
Year 3
Your third year involves extensive work with communities and professionals to help you make a seamless transition into professional life. Projects include:
- Facilitating theatre projects within areas such as health, social services and the justice system
- Political theatre and organising a site-specific performance
- An opportunity to extend your music skills in a cabaret
You will also apply production, marketing and evaluation skills to create your own, devised community play.
The year culminates with an Industry Showcase for an invited audience of influential agents, casting directors, theatre companies, and film, TV and theatre directors. East 15 continually liaises with industry professionals to ensure the format for the event accords with the changing landscape of the industry.
Fees and funding
Home/UK fee
£9,790 per year
Additional costs for materials and field trips of up to approximately £650 per academic year. Equipment lists are reviewed annually.International fee
£22,600 per year
Additional costs for materials and field trips of up to approximately £650 per academic year. Equipment lists are reviewed annually.Fees will increase for each academic year of study.
Scholarships and financial support
There may be scholarships, bursaries or discounts available to help with the cost of this course.
Fees and funding guide
What's next
How to apply during Clearing
Once you’ve checked that we have the right course for you, applying couldn’t be simpler. Fill in our quick and easy Clearing application form with as much detail as you can. We’ll then take a look and get back to you with a decision.
If you already hold an offer from Essex
Please don't reapply through Clearing. We'll review your existing application using our Clearing entry requirements. If you're worried about meeting your offer or would like to change course, please contact our Admissions Team on ugquery@essex.ac.uk.
Interviews
We don’t require an interview for most of our courses that are available through Clearing, however there are some courses such as those in our School of Health and Social Care and East 15 Acting School where an interview (or audition) may be required. If this is something that’s required for the course you have applied for, we’ll email you with all of the details.
Visit Colchester Campus
Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.
Open Days
Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer. You have the chance to:
- tour our campus and accommodation
- find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
- meet our students and staff
Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.
Virtual tours
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360-degree virtual tour allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.
The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.
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