Theatre Arts MA

This unique MA will give you the opportunity to collaborate, specialise and push the boundaries of theatre, whatever your artistic background. Whether you are looking to design, devise, direct, critique, curate, manage, perform, or write, this flexibly-designed course will enable you to investigate and evolve your practice to a professional standard.

Why study MA Theatre Arts at Middlesex University?

At Middlesex we prepare the next generation of theatre professionals to be pioneering and innovative practitioners with advanced skills and contemporary knowledge of their chosen discipline. Through a combination of practice-based assignments, theoretical inquiry and independent research in your field, you will develop the skills to locate and advance your work in both national and international professional contexts.

You will be taught by some of the UK's leading academic practitioners and associate artists and also have opportunities to interact with London’s booming creative industries, through high-profile guest lecturers, industry visits and professional placements while you study. Armed with these invaluable skills, experiences and professional contacts, you will graduate with the confidence to navigate an exciting career path in today's competitive arts industries.

Course highlights

• The course is your opportunity to investigate and advance your own theatre arts practice, however broad or specialised it currently is.
• You’ll benefit from national and international placement opportunities to expand your professional contacts and open doors to employment in the creative industries.
• You’ll be taught in fully-equipped studios and workshops, supported by specialist technicians to support your exploratory research and performance-related work
• You’ll have access to emerging theories and contemporary debates related to your field through our world-leading Centre for Research into Creation in the Performing Arts (ResCen) – a multi-disciplinary research centre that bridges academia and practice
• As a student of this course you'll receive a free electronic textbook for every module.

What will you study on MA Theatre Arts?

Taught by a diverse range of academics, practitioners, specialists and associate artists, this course is divided into five modules taken over three terms (if studied full-time).

Each module is designed to be flexible, requiring you to bring your own interests and projects to the assignments, while extending the boundaries of your current practice through self-reflection, research, analysis, and creative exploration.

How will the MA Theatre Arts be taught?

As a student on our MA Theatre Arts you’ll be learning with our expert and diverse team through a blend of the following methods:

Workshops

These may take many forms and are usually studio-based, focused on the practical participation of a group of students with a tutor, guest practitioner or technician

Seminars

A class of between 1 and 4 hours with one tutor or guest speaker. Some of this time may involve a presentation of information by the tutor or guest or by a student or group of students. The remainder is an opportunity for group discussion of the seminar topic(s)

Independent studio investigation

Student-facilitated explorations where autonomy is required, although supervision may be offered to support the research. Methods explored may connect with those outlined in Workshops and Seminars, and connected to independent or group field-work

Field Work

Group or individual visits to events off campus such as live performance, exhibitions, talks etc. which relate to the topics and practices under consideration

Tutorials

Sessions during which an individual or a small group of students discuss key topics, concepts, ideas and processes with a tutor. Tutorials are often closely linked to assessment tasks and commonly focus on individual work or involve small group discussions about group projects.

You will be taught both in groups and individually. E-learning will supplement teaching and individual research. You will be required to participate in advanced practice and engage with your fellow students, both individually and collaboratively, working and learning independently and as part of a group.

Assessment

The programme is primarily assessed through practical outcomes incorporating critical documentation, such as creative or multi-media portfolios. Students will also be assessed through research papers and presentations.

The MA Theatre Arts is designed to appeal particularly to:

UK-based and international practitioners and scholars engaged in any theatre arts practice who want to develop their creative and reflective skills alongside their own unique signature; actors, composers, designers, directors, illusionists, live artists, musicians, physical-theatre practitioners, scenographers, sound artists, video artists, writers and so on.

UK-based and international arts-world individuals such as curators, producers, arts managers, arts/humanities theorists who wish to develop approaches to investigating practice as key contributors to the creative process.

UK-based and international graduates who are keen to explore the scope of their own emerging practice and/or who wish to test the potential of contemporary interdisciplinary performance.
Those who would be eligible for the programme include:

UK graduates (or those nearing completion of undergraduate programmes) in related specialisms including theatre, dance, performing arts, theatre design, acting, directing, dramaturgy etc. applicants will normally have an upper second honours degree or above. However, exemption can be made (at the Programme Leader's discretion) for those with significant relevant experience and/or who can demonstrate innovative approaches to thinking and practicing in theatre arts.

Professional practitioners who may or may not hold a first degree in a relevant field and who may be admitted on the basis of alternative qualifications or satisfactory training in their field and extensive experience in a performance related profession.

How can the MA Theatre Arts support your career?

London is an international centre for theatre and the programme has been designed to provide an academic framework that places you in an excellent position for employment as well as self-managed careers. Our graduates go on to pursue successful careers in the theatre and creative industries, including performing, directing, producing and managing.

Last year’s graduates have already taken up roles including project coordination and management at Helen Chadwick Song Theatre and Turtle Song; script development at Dreamcatcher Repertory, USA, as well as performing work developed during the MA at VAULT Festival, London.

Work placements are proven to increase your success in the job market, as well as being a fantastic experience and we encourage as many students as possible to grasp this opportunity with the opportunity to carry out a short placement during your course. This will provide you with first-hand experience of an arts or performance organisation, with guidance and support from one of our dedicated Placement Officers throughout the process.

Last year, our students completed placements with Coney, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, The Bush Theatre, Finborough Theatre, EbonyLife TV and Nick Brooke Entertainment Production among other organisations.