Push yourself, into the performance spotlight or behind the scenes. You’ll develop into an accomplished director, actor, set designer, stage lighter—through the challenging yet rewarding Theatre Arts course options. Our curriculum is a training ground for you to thrive in the many facets that modern theatre and live performance take on today.
Why pursue Theatre Arts at TRU?
From first to fourth year levels, directing, theatre history and technical theatre courses offer you a full range of options linked to both the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees. In addition, you can acquire credit through participation and performance in several major, high-caliber productions staged by our department each year.
Set the stage and find your voice:
Learn from accomplished industry professionals, with hands-on training
Direct a one-act play for the Directors Festival
Through performance, examine classic scripts and the eras in which they were written
Comprehensively study select styles of acting from significant periods in history
Learn how to present character portrayals from contemporary and historical theatre
Be the protagonist in this supportive community:
By participating in workshops, seminars and rehearsals you’ll engage with other creative artists and passionate performers, fast-tracking growth, sharing in inspiration and complementing development. Share ideas, constructive criticism and camaraderie among classmates.
Your career in theatre, rehearsal to real life:
You can apply your theatre arts education to a diverse set of productions and career opportunities.
Depending on the level of work you achieve and your previous education and experience, pursue a range of options including:
Actor
Announcer
Art Director
Production Assistant
Director
Stage Manager
Technical Director
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Technician
Sound Designer
Scenic Artist
Special Effects Technician
Rigger
Casting Director
Editor
Playwright
Production Carpenter/Woodworker
Interviewer
TV/Radio Reporter, Host or Personality
Extra
Voice Over Artist
Comedian
Stunt person
Audio-Visual Technician
Build on your experience during your time at TRU, in preparation for laddering into post-baccalaureate or masters programs and applying for varied career opportunities. Your education in theatre arts can open up a number of career opportunities, from lead role and script writer to set painting and sound design. Other career choices include anything related to public speaking, television, hosting, art directing and much more.
Where the bright lights shine:
The skills acquired in theatre arts lead to many allied areas of industry. In addition to the stage, graduates find work in television, video production, cinema, on cruise ships, advertising, retail and marketing activations and with major design companies. Graduates can also continue their education with the goal to teach theatre at elementary, high school and college levels.
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution
Expected May, September 2025
Thompson Rivers University
Kamloops Campus,
805 TRU Way,
KAMLOOPS,
British Columbia (BC),
V2C 0C8, Canada
Admission to each major program may have specific requirements.
Recommended: Foundations of Mathematics 11 or higher is strongly recommended for students pursuing Education or a major in Geography and Environmental Studies, Sociology or Psychology
English Language Proficiency Requirements: TOEFL iBT - 88+ with no section below 20; TOEFL paper-based - 570+ TWE 4.5+; TOEFL Computer-Based - 230+ Essay 4.5+; IELTS - 6.5+ with no bands below 6.0; MELAB - 81+; CanTEST - 4.5+ with no component score below 4.0; CAEL - Overall 70+ No subtest below 60.
Deadlines for students of pre-assessment eligible nationalities (Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Iran and Nigeria): Fall: February 15, 2024. Deadlines for students of all other nationalities: Fall: March 1, 2024; Winter 2025: September 1, 2024.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
Located in Canada, TRU offers international students a diverse, inclusive and empowering space to learn, live and thrive in.