Theatre and Drama Studies
Theatre and Drama Studies (TDS) is U of T's unique professional actor training program. Students take at least 12 hours a week of studio training courses every semester, which are always taught by instructors with active careers in the theatre and film industries. In third and fourth year, they act in public performances as part of our annual season of plays, directed by professional theatre makers. At the same time, TDS students immerse themselves in the history and theory of theatre and become familiar with a rich selection of dramatic literature, gaining a BA Hons that qualifies them for graduate study and professional programs in law, business, and beyond.
Discover more about the program's curriculum and its graduates here.
Program Plans
Plan your degree with these academic and co-curricular program overviews.
Tip Sheets
Learn more about further education, applying to jobs & more!
- Actor
- Director
- Producer
- Law (with further qualifications)
- Teaching (with further qualifications)
Admission Requirements
Regional Requirements
Admissions RequirementsSupplementary Requirements
Audition required. U of T degree earned.
Life in Theatre and Drama Studies
Sample Courses
Students will attend productions and lectures, interview actors, directors, designers, and administrators, and collaborate on a staged reading with the assistance of company members. Topics may include the performance history of plays by George Bernard Shaw, Anton Chekhov, Henrik Ibsen, Oscar Wilde, and other playwrights within the Festival's mandate, the analysis of production elements from the perspectives of directors, actors, and designers, and the relevance of "classical" drama for the modern world.
In this first mainstage production course, students integrate their physical, vocal, and acting training in the creation and performance of a character, as part of an ensemble under the guidance of a professional director. Students sustain and develop their work throughout the rehearsal and a two-week performance run during the program’s mainstage season at the Erindale Studio Theatre. Emphasis is placed on rehearsal activities, public performances, and professionalism at all stages of the artistic process. Work in this course will be concentrated in an 8 week period of rehearsals and performances, some of which take place in the evenings and on Saturdays.
An introduction to the art and craft of writing for the stage. Through a variety of practical exercises, students will be encouraged to explore the unique properties of the theatrical environment. DRE362 is always taught by a professional playwright whose work has been published and performed by major Canadian companies.
Student Groups & Societies
Other Programs to Consider
Dramaturgy and Drama Studies
Dramaturgy and Drama Studies (DDS) integrates creative and scholarly approaches to theatre through a common emphasis on dramaturgy. The DDS program includes courses that examine theatre history, dramatic literature, critical theory, playwriting, devising, and intermedial performance, among others.
English
This program specifically focuses on how literature in English has developed through the centuries, all over the world, and in a rich variety of different forms and modes, from oral recitations to digital media. Students will be introduced to the full range of literary genres and traditions.
Language Teaching & Learning: French
The Language Teaching and Learning programs are specially designed to provide a comprehensive study of how languages are taught and learned, whether in a second or foreign language context. In this program, the specific focus is on the French language.