Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre

York University - Keele Campus

Canada,Ontario

 0 Shortlist

48 Months

Duration

CAD 37,281/year

Tuition Fee

CAD 130

Application Fee

May 2025

Apply Date

Canada, Ontario

Type: University

Location Type: Urban

Founded: 1959

Total Students: 53,450 +

Int. Students: 9,600 +

Campus Detail

Main Campus Address

4700 Keele St, North York, ON M3J 1P3, Canada

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre

Program Overview

Join the next generation of storytellers acting, producing, directing and designing live performance to shape our ever-changing society. After a foundational first year in BA Theatre or BFA Performance Creation*, branch into Production & Design or Acting & Performance to hone your skills and techniques. Realize your creations on stage with Theatre@York’s season of performances including playGround and the Devised Theatre Festival.

*BFA Performance Creation requires a supplementary evaluation as part of the process.

The AMPD Advantage

  • Our impressive array of studios for Acting, Costume, Set Construction, and Design, our fully-equipped proscenium theatre, and our multipurpose black-box theatre. 
  • Diverse course offerings as one of Canada's largest and most comprehensive Theatre, Dance & Performance departments. 
  • Over 50 years of leadership in training theatre professionals for all aspects of the industry.  
  • Large faculty complement of thought leaders and industry experts in all areas of Theatre & Performance

Program Structure

Students in the Theatre (BA; BFA*) program share a common first year, taking courses in Stagecraft, Acting, and Intro to Theatre and Performance. After the first year, students branch into one of four specializations based on their interests and goals: (1) Acting & Performance Program (BFA**); (2) Production and Design (BFA**); (3) Performance Creation (BFA); and (4) Performance Creation (BA).  

**Admission to these degree specializations is by audition or interview at the end of first year. Regardless of streams, students work together as actors, production and creative teams.  

Students planning to pursue graduate studies or teaching degrees are strongly encouraged to take the Theatre BA program.  

Theatre - Acting and Performance, BFA Honours

With intensive studies in acting or devising, movement, voice, and skills like Performance Capture or Clown, the Acting & Performance specialization in the Theatre (BFA) takes students deep into creation, scene study, script analysis, and character development. Upper-year students are cast in Theatre @ York mainstage shows interpreting classic and contemporary masterpieces, or they create their own work by writing, directing, designing and performing for the annual Devised Theatre Festival.  

Theatre - Production and Design, BFA Honours

The Production and Design specialization in the Theatre (BFA) program features hands-on technical skills with creative aspects of theatre, such as set design, costume construction and stage management. The Production and Design specialization engages students in all elements of theatrical design and stage production. Studies in technical direction management complement sound, lighting, scenery, costume design and construction courses.  

Theatre - Performance Creation, BFA Honours

The Performance Creation specialization in the Theatre (BFA) program emphasizes studio coursework, such as Stagecraft, Devised Theatre, Scene Study, Playwriting, and Directing. In keeping with the broad scope of Performance Creation work, this specialization prepares students to move fluidly across artistic disciplines and assume a range of roles in collaborative performance settings. This specialization is ideal for students who want to produce sophisticated, meaningful performance work that engages with more significant social justice and sustainability issues. By audition, students can join the Acting & Performance cohort to follow a more flexible path, with opportunities to marry performance training with studies, stagecraft, playwriting, directing and more.

Performance Creation, BA Honours

The Performance Creation specialization in the Theatre (BA) program focuses on drama and performance theory studies, criticism and history, and theatre education. Students may opt to take a broad range of courses or choose to specialize in one or more of the following areas of study: (a) Playwriting, learning to write for the stage; (b) Directing, supporting productions; and/or (c) Devised Theatre, focusing on the collaborative creation of original works, incorporating all elements of playmaking, design and management.