School of Theatre nominated for The Stage Awards

The theatre and performance department at Warwick has always been a success, but this year they’ve surpassed all expectation being nominated for School of the Year at the 2016 Stage Awards.

This is a tremendous achievement for not only the department and students itself, but also for the reputation of the university as a whole. The fellow nominees are the Arts Educational School in London and Belgrade Theatre in Coventry.

a vibrant and exciting drama scene

Also in 2015, the school was ranked first for Theatre Studies in The Times University Guide and in the UK Complete University Guide 2016. This was within the wider category of Dance, Drama and Cinematics meaning there was competition from hundreds of other institutions. Not only are the theatre students of Warwick successful but they are also among some of the happiest. In 2013, the National Student Survey concluded that there was a 98% satisfaction rate among students in regards to the teaching quality of the department.

The department has a vibrant and exciting drama scene which holds extra-curricular productions that take place on campus, the Edinburgh festival and the National Student Drama Festival. Nicholas Whybrow, head of department put the success down to ‘a lively, committed university department that successfully integrates experimental practice and critical theory in its approach to teaching’.

take their shows all the way to this prestigious event in Scotland

There has been particular achievement with regards to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Two groups from the university have received financial support in the form of the annual Clive Baker Award to take their shows all the way to this prestigious event in Scotland.

A new company, Clown Funeral are taking their first official show ‘Mr Poes Legendarium’. Joining them is the Human Animal theatre collective, formed in 2012, who are taking their new production ‘Souvenirs’ up to the Fringe. All core members of this collective are travelling to Edinburgh including actors, writers, musicians, directors, producers, set designers and a marketing representative.

The whole department, students and staff, should be incredibly proud

As Whybrow describes, these accomplishments reflect ‘a highly active and engaged theatre and performance culture at Warwick’. It is a momentous achievement for the University of Warwick and its theatre school to be nominated for this award. The whole department, students and staff, should be incredibly proud.