All the world’s a stage. Find your place on it.
Learn to wow your audience as you explore theatre and performance in one of Canada’s most creative drama programs. Go beyond art history books and collaborate with professors, visiting artists, and other students to make high quality work that contributes to a just society. You'll learn by doing, covering performance to management, design to critical studies, and creation to technology.
In the classroom, courses in performance, production, design, direction, and management will give you the technical tools to excel at your craft. Meanwhile, complementary courses in politics, race, gender, theory, technology, and aesthetics will help you decide what messages matter. You can apply your knowledge to co-op placements too.
By the time you graduate, you’ll have a rich portfolio to take into the world of theatre, plus a range of creative, analytical, and management skills that will serve you well in any number of roles, on stage or off.
Faculty:
Faculty of Arts
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Performance
Available as a co-op program?
Yes
Available as a regular program?
Yes
Available as a minor?
Yes
Student-led productions. Each term, students play an active role in productions in our newly renovated 400-seat theatre — from set design and costume creation to lighting, sound, producing, directing, and acting.
A-list mentors. At Waterloo, you’ll work with award-winning professors and visiting artists to develop new plays, discover fresh approaches to the classics, and examine the performance of everyday life.
Co-op = relevant paid work experience
By alternating school terms and paid co-op work terms throughout your degree, you can explore new career areas and types of employers as your career interests evolve.
Sample co-op job titles
- Online video developer
- Artist services coordinator
- Communications and marketing assistant
- Advancement communications assistant
- Teaching assistant
- Wardrobe apprentice
Co-op work-study sequence
Starting in second year, you'll normally alternate between school and work every four months, integrating your classroom learning with real-world experience. You can return to the same employer for a couple of work terms to gain greater knowledge and responsibility or work for different employers to get a broad range of experience.
If you choose to study Theatre and Performance through Arts and Business, your first work term will be halfway through second year (January - April 2027).
| Year | September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Study | Study | Off |
| Second | Study | Co-op | Study |
| Third | Co-op | Study | Co-op |
| Fourth | Study | Co-op | Co-op |
| Fifth | Study | Study | - |
or after second year (May to August 2027) if you choose to study Theatre and Performance through Honours Arts.
| Year | September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Study | Study | Off |
| Second | Study | Study | Co-op |
| Third | Study | Co-op | Study |
| Fourth | Co-op | Study | Co-op |
| Fifth | Co-op | Study | - |
Admission requirements
Apply to Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business and choose Theatre and Performance as your major at the end of first year.
Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including
- Any Grade 12 U English (minimum final grade of at least 70%)
Admission average: Low 80s (co-op and regular)
Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements for Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.
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