Practitioners and organisations across the creative industries need to take an enterprising and innovative approach to how they develop and share their work. In this module, you will develop skills in identifying opportunities, generating ideas and balancing the artistic, social and financial objectives required by creative projects.

Through lectures, seminars and workshops you will explore key facets of designing and delivering viable projects, including arts marketing, finance and audience development. You’ll also gain a general understanding of the ways in which artists and organisations connect with communities, and the challenges faced by freelance creatives and smaller arts organisations.

Building on the Level 4 Industry Research Project, you will work in groups and be partnered with a local arts organisation to develop a creative project, based on a brief agreed between teaching staff and the partner organisation. The brief establishes the terms of reference for the project, defining the scope and type of work that you will undertake.

Through lectures, seminars and workshops you will develop skills in collaborative working, building relationships with partner organisations, working with a brief, developing proposals, data gathering and reporting on findings. You will also explore the skills, attitudes, behaviours and knowledge needed to develop viable ideas and creative projects.

Exploring groundbreaking projects that showcase how different artistic disciplines are tackling the challenges of the climate crisis, this module sheds light on sustainability in the creative industries.

Beyond using creative work to raise awareness of climate change, practitioners and producers from all disciplines are increasingly focused on finding practical ways to reduce the environmental impact of their work. From innovative models of touring to the use of revolutionary new materials, artists and makers are discovering that sustainability challenges can drive bold and transformative creativity.

Through lectures, seminars and practical workshops you will deepen your awareness of this emerging area and refine your own capacity to develop influential approaches within the creative sector.

Building on the relationship between theoretical understanding and artistic practice, this module will introduce you to a broad range of theories and ideas relevant to contemporary art practice and thinking. You will explore ideas such as:

• New materialism
• Fourth and fifth-wave feminisms
• Object-oriented philosophy
• Posthumanism
• The Anthropocene
• Hauntology
• The relations that exist between art and science

Join us as we combine intellectual rigour and curiosity with the freedom to confidently explore your creativity from an increasingly informed position. You will be encouraged to explore different forms of writing that enable you to develop ideas and express yourself in a range of appropriate formats.

Not all professional contexts are the same – and within any organisation there are diverse people with varied backgrounds. This module focuses on enhancing your intercultural competency and cultural awareness, with a particular emphasis on ‘place-based’ learning. Considering the cultural dynamics of the North West of England and the broader UK helps us reflect upon intercultural dynamics in very different locations.

Through analysis, discussion and self-reflection you will strengthen your ability to navigate diverse workplace settings and enhance your employability in today’s interconnected world.

Hone a strong sense of purpose and gain the satisfaction of applying your skills and knowledge to a community, charity or student-led initiative.

Your challenge will be to take responsibility for arranging and completing a voluntary or fundraising activity—locally, virtually or during vacation periods at home. You will need to show that you have made a positive difference through this activity.

In class, you will be asked to reflect on this experience and explore the wider social impact of the work. In doing so you will build your confidence in your ability to contribute meaningfully to society through your future personal and professional path.

This module explores how gender identities are constructed, normalised, and navigated in relation to media and popular culture. Drawing on feminist media research, we examine how feminists have argued representations in the media play a role in reinforcing normative social roles and identities, as well as how they have been co-opted as a space of resistance. The module takes an intersectional approach, looking at the way gendered identities are classed, racialised and connected to sexuality, disability and mental health. We examine these questions by engaging with a wide range of media forms including screen media, digital and social media.

You are invited to collaborate in an interdisciplinary team with other students as you explore major global challenges such as climate change, inequality or emerging technologies.

Throughout the module you will examine how the humanities, arts and social sciences contribute to understanding and addressing complex issues. Classroom discussions and activities focus on the process of identifying problems and considering innovative, ethical responses, while helping you to consider and articulate the relevance of this work to your personal and professional development.

This module allows you to immerse yourself in a genre of creative practice of your own choosing, using your own artistic skills to develop and communicate knowledge about a topical global issue. The module begins with a short series of lectures and creative laboratory sessions in which all students will explore a selection of contemporary global challenges. This could include, for example: climate change, economic crisis, political participation, gender inequality and more; specific topics will be selected on the basis of staff expertise and on each student groups’ shared interests.

In the remainder of the module, you will be allocated to small groups that will focus on one specific issue. In these groups, you will work with artists from other disciplines to develop a joint contribution to a multi-disciplinary mini-exhibition. You will make an individual contribution to this exhibition, supported by weekly tutorials to help refine your individual artistic skills.

Advance your performance-making skills in this year-long module. Through project-based explorations of how theatre can inspire audiences and the wider society, you will learn to think beyond the stage.

To begin this module, you will undertake skills-based workshops on aspects of socially engaged theatre making, resulting in a group practical ‘pitch’ for a proposed performance project. As you progress, you will be allocated to a project group based on shared interests, working together to engage with specific demographic groups in the local area and produce a piece of theatre that showcases the viewpoints of an under-represented community.

Collaborating to devise an original performance in a style and genre of your choosing, you could create a staged theatre production or an alternative form of performance such as site-specific theatre, audio performance or an applied theatre workshop.

This dynamic module blends theory and practice to immerse you in the craft of screenwriting. Through lectures and hands-on workshops, you will develop essential skills in narrative structure, character development and dialogue, while working towards a 15–20-page screenplay.

You will engage with the entire screenwriting process—from initial concept to final draft—receiving feedback through writing groups, table reads and peer critiques. The module emphasises both creativity and industry awareness, introducing you to funding opportunities, pitching techniques and the screenwriter’s role in film production. Alongside practical writing, you will refine your critical analysis skills by evaluating professional screenplays and developing confidence in presenting your work.

By the end of the module, you will have produced a professional-quality screenplay and gained a comprehensive storytelling toolkit, preparing you for careers in screenwriting, filmmaking and broader media industries.

Gain an immersive, hands-on experience in filmmaking, where you will develop, produce and complete a short dramatic film while following industry-standard practices. Through specialised workshops, you will receive training in:

• High-end cameras
• Professional sound recording and mixing
• Grip equipment
• Post-production workflows
• Colour grading
• Editing

Collaboration is central to this module. At the start, all students will write a short script, with the group selecting two to pitch before producing one as a collaborative project. You will take on a key creative role—such as Writer/Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Art Director, Sound Recordist, or Editor—while also supporting another production in a technical role. Through this, you will gain essential experience across multiple aspects of filmmaking. As a group, you will also create a production booklet, to document the film’s development.

Alongside practical work, you will reflect on your learning and the production process, evaluating creative and logistical challenges. By the end of the module, you will have developed essential technical and collaborative skills, preparing you for professional and independent filmmaking.

Take the opportunity to explore a specific area of theatre practice from both practical and theoretical perspectives as you dive into this exciting module.

In part 1 of this module, you will select one of two specialist topics to study. Topics will vary each year; however, these might be:

• Text-based acting
• Playwriting
• Applied theatre
• Underrepresented theatre histories
• Political theatre

Beginning with a series of practical workshops and the development of small group performance projects, you will go on to share your practical work with other groups and critically reflect on your projects in theoretically informed lectures and seminar discussions.

You will then progress to part 2 of this module, in which you will select another specialist topic, allowing you to explore two themes in total across the year.

Take the opportunity to explore a specific area of theatre practice from both practical and theoretical perspectives as you dive into this exciting module.

In part 2 of this module, you will select one of two specialist topics to study. Topics will vary each year; however, these might be:

• Text-based acting
• Playwriting
• Applied theatre
• Underrepresented theatre histories
• Political theatre

Beginning with a series of practical workshops and the development of small group performance projects, you will go on to share your practical work with other groups and critically reflect on your projects in theoretically informed lectures and seminar discussions.

By the end of this module (part 1 and part 2) you will have studied two specialist topics across the year.

In your third year you will study at one of our international partner universities. This will help you to expand your global outlook and professional network, as well as developing your cultural and personal skills. It is also an opportunity to gain a different perspective on your subject through studying it in another country.

You will choose specialist modules relating to your degree and potentially modules from other subjects offered by the host university that are specific to that university and country.

The availability of places at overseas partners varies each year. In previous years destinations for students in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences have included Australia, USA, Canada, Europe and Asia.

Undertake a substantial independent research project in a chosen area relevant to the creative industries. Offering flexibility in format, you can opt for:

• An extended written dissertation
• A mixed-method approach combining a substantial piece of writing with a practical component
• An industry-based project

Each of these will be developed in consultation with a supervisor. Practical components might include a business plan with contextual analysis, a marketing campaign with creative outputs, or a production proposal with logistical and financial documentation. Through this module, you will deepen your knowledge of a specialist field within the creative industries, refine research and project-management skills, and consolidate your learning from across the degree.

This module challenges you to produce work that meets and exceeds industry and academic expectations, preparing you for careers in the creative sector or further study.

In this practical module you will conceptualise, design, and prototype innovative festival experiences that respond to emerging cultural, societal, technological, and environmental trends. Working in a team, you will develop festival concepts that explore innovations in audience engagement, sustainability, accessibility and digital innovation. In collaboration, you will undertake phases of concept development that may include:

• Researching and ideating a future-facing festival concept
• Design and branding
• Creation of visual identities and marketing materials
• Audience development strategies
• Understanding market audiences through use of data
• Technological integration
• Experimenting with innovative digital technologies
• Interactive installations
• Sustainability and accessibility
• Developing sustainable festive models with a focus on inclusivity

You will produce a festival proposal that will be pitched to industry professionals, who will provide feedback. The final project will be presented at the School of Arts Festival/Degree show, and your work will also make a contribution to the design and delivery of the event.

What happens when radically different forms of art meet? How do these fused forms change our understanding of the world? We will draw on material from different periods and continents, to explore works of art where, for example, film meets history, poetry meets philosophy, fine art meets sociology, religion meets fiction, and theatre meets politics.

How might we engage with the implications of environmental transformation locally, nationally and globally? Where do we have agency and capacity to intervene?

This module brings together a range of perspectives—historical, political, philosophical and cultural—to explore the nature and severity of the effects of the climate crisis on our world.

Creative industries are at the forefront of digital innovation, shaping and redefining how content is created, distributed, and experienced. This module explores the historical development and impact of digital technologies across a range of creative sectors. You will examine key technological advancements, from early digital experimentation to contemporary innovations like AI (Artificial Intelligence) and VR (Virtual Reality). Through case studies and practical exercises, you will analyse how digital tools influence creative processes, business models, and audience engagement.

You will consider the challenges and opportunities digital innovation presents, including issues of accessibility, monetisation, and ethical concerns. By engaging with both theoretical perspectives and hands-on activities, you will develop a critical understanding of digital transformation within the creative industries. You will gain the knowledge and skills to navigate and contribute to the evolving digital landscape, preparing you for future roles in creative and cultural sectors.

This advanced, practice-based module provides an industry-informed approach to documentary filmmaking.

Working in small groups, you will research, develop and produce a short documentary, choosing either to pursue an independent concept or respond to a stakeholder brief. The module supports a broad range of documentary genres and styles, encouraging experimentation with form while maintaining professional standards.

Through workshops and practical training, you will refine your skills in cinematography, sound recording and editing, while gaining awareness of ethical considerations, industry expectations, funding opportunities and distribution strategies across traditional and digital platforms.

Collaboration is central to this module, requiring you to navigate real-world production challenges, from research and planning to post-production. By the end of the module, you will have created a completed short documentary and developed the technical, conceptual and professional skills essential for careers in documentary filmmaking and beyond.

This hands-on module uses engaging workshops to explore Experimental Cinema and discover how it challenges mainstream narratives and disrupts traditional modes of spectatorship.

Through a combination of critical discussions on selected films and hands-on creative experimentation, this module challenges you to rethink film form beyond conventional storytelling while encouraging you to bring your visions to life through practice.

You will study key movements and approaches, starting from the historical avant-gardes – the influence of artistic movements like Dada, Surrealism and Structuralism- to contemporary artists’ moving image.

By the end of the module, you will have developed a critical and practical understanding of experimental cinema, gaining experience in challenging the boundaries of film aesthetics and spectatorship. Emphasising creative risk-taking and critical inquiry, this module encourages an expanded approach to filmmaking that transcends conventional modes of production and exhibition.

This module examines the evolving structures, practices, and challenges of film industries across different historical and global contexts. You will explore key industrial processes such as censorship, marketing, promotion and sustainability, while also engaging with major film movements that have shaped contemporary cinema.

Through case studies, you will analyse how national and transnational film industries adapt to technological, economic and political shifts. Topics may include digital cinema, green production initiatives and the role of institutions such as the BFI in shaping industry standards. The module also explores movements like Hong Kong and New Wave cinemas, assessing their impact on filmmaking practices and global circulation.

By the end of the module, you will have developed a critical understanding of the forces shaping film industries, equipping you with analytical skills applicable to film production, distribution and policy. This module provides a strong foundation for further study in film culture and industry practices.

What does it mean to imagine a world without borders? Using materials typically derived from case studies, reports, archives, film, television and literature, this module foregrounds interdisciplinary approaches.

You will be encouraged to develop your understanding of migration and displacement, and to envision alternative global migration futures in ways that can impact future policy, political and societal perspectives.

Take advantage of a unique opportunity to apply your critical and reflective skills to live performance. Whether your goal is to become an influential theatre critic or simply expand your critical and analytical writing skills, this module will help you identify and reflect on the elements that make a performance succeed or falter.

Throughout the module you will compose and revise a series of short reviews of live performances that you have personally attended. These can be selected from shows that you have seen independently, or from theatre trips throughout your degree. You will learn through guided writing workshops and individual feedback tutorials, enabling you to develop your own distinctive and impactful critical voice.

In this module, you’ll delve into the structure, function, and evolution of ‘traditional’ and digital media industries, ranging from journalism and consumer industries to streaming services and online content creation. You will consider the economic, cultural, and technological forces driving these industries, and their societal impact. You’ll debate the role of media regulation and policy in shaping the ever-changing media industries today.

What are the possibilities and pitfalls of community and citizen action, voice and agency? This module uses interdisciplinary case-studies to critically examine collaboration with communities.

You will participate in activities such as a mock citizens' assembly, visit local community groups and hear different points of view from a range of guest speakers on concepts like power, race, gender, class, affect and justice.

What do we understand by queerness? Looking back at earlier interpretations, we imagine how queerness might evolve—how it might be lived, felt and understood in the future.

You will explore queer futures from a range of perspectives and viewpoints, while examining both feminist and queer theory, as well as queer media and cultural texts and material relating to areas such as activism, politics and healthcare.

Who does technology benefit or harm, and what should its role in society be? This module examines the social and ethical issues surrounding the development of modern technologies and their use in the modern world, with a vision to shape our future relationship with technology.

How do ideas understand, transform and conserve the world? In this module we will study examples of powerful ideas such as the nation, free speech, liberation, the free market, culture and nature. We will use case studies to help us explore the relationship between analysis, imagination and practice.

Tailor your studies according to your own passions and curiosities with your independent research project.

Throughout this module, you will undertake a major piece of research on your chosen topic, supervised by a member of staff with relevant expertise. You may choose to undertake a traditional, written dissertation, or you can opt for practice-based research that combines solo practical work with an analytical essay.

Regardless of which mode you choose, you will be assessed on your research process as well as the final outcome. We welcome topics relating to any area of theatre or performance, from professional or applied theatre practice to popular culture, film or television.

You will develop an advanced ability to research and communicate knowledge in an area relevant to Theatre and Performing, whilst becoming an expert in an area of interest that you have developed throughout your degree.