Amazing space
Our students have used the egg theatre for teaching sessions, rehearsals and public performances on stage.
Performances included The Jungle Book, scratch MA performances, and the Bath Spa Live Cracked student takeover.
Theatre Royal Bath
Our cultural partnership with the Theatre Royal Bath is focused on the shared goals of world-class artistic ambition and high quality creative education.
'Our long-standing relationship and natural affinity in theatre and performance means that together we can nurture innovative creativity in the performers, directors, writers and artists of the future.'
Professor Christina SladeVice-Chancellor, Bath Spa University
Theatre Royal Bath is one of the country’s leading regional theatres. The Theatre presents and produces varied, high quality and artistically bold plays and activities across three auditoria: the Main House, The Egg and the Ustinov.
The Theatre's work supports a cultural ecology that extends well beyond the building with productions regularly touring nationally, internationally and to the West End.
The Egg is the UK’s foremost dedicated regional theatre for children and young people and their families. Its creative learning and artist development work is internationally recognised, whilst the Ustinov has a strong reputation for presenting new translations, adaptations and international productions.
About the partnership
Since 2014, the Theatre Royal Bath and Bath Spa University have benefitted from a productive, collaborative and creative partnership between the country’s best regional theatre and a university committed to arts and culture. Both organisations strive for the shared goals of world-class artistic ambition and high quality creative education.
Opportunities for students
Theatre Royal Bath provides placements for Bath Spa students from MA Arts Management, MA Creative Producing and other disciplines including from the Business School and the Centre for Cultural and Creative Industries. Students have access to three working auditoria, a wide-ranging audience demographic and insight working alongside the experienced team employed at Theatre Royal Bath. The working practices gained by Bath Spa students through this arrangement form an invaluable part of their skillset for future employment and can provide access to careers in theatre and its associated disciplines.
Pathway to progress
Progression is a key feature of the relationship between the Theatre Royal Bath, Bath College and Bath Spa, providing a clear pathway for training and development. The Egg Theatre delivers a Level 3 Performance and Production Arts programme with Bath College and invests heavily in the local artistic pipeline. Local students can embark on their studies knowing that there is a pathway of high quality professional training through to postgraduate level available on their doorstep. By nurturing this partnership our regional cultural and industrial resilience grows as we further the art form together through training and research.
Theatre Royal Bath is also a destination employer for newly graduated students – the Egg Theatre alone typically employs over 50 freelance creatives every month. As both a presenting and producing house, the Theatre offers Bath Spa staff and students unparalleled access into the workings of the theatre sector, with many alumni eventually working on national and international touring productions and in the West End.
Extended collaboration
A shared focus on digital production and cutting edge creative technology research has led to extended collaboration through regional partnerships such as AHRC Creative Clusters funded projects Bath & Bristol Creative R&D and SWCTN. It is this cross-fertilisation that has supported The Egg to make a speedy and successful pivot into developing the first online digital theatre training. Theatre Royal Bath is committed to connecting to the creative industries through research with technologists, creatives, performers, writers and educators.
As co-leaders of Bath Cultural Education Partnership, Theatre Royal Bath develop and deliver high quality creative education for children and young people. Both organisations are keen to utilise their resources to address the needs of the local community through high quality cultural engagement, particularly during the post-pandemic recovery phase.
Training opportunities
Our students have participated in a range of training events hosted by the theatre.
These have included an employability workshop, pyrotechnics masterclass, a masterclass with Director Danny Moar, arts management workshop and devising workshops.
Photo credit Main House auditorium: Colin Hawkins
Photo credit front entrance: Freia Turland