Theatre Directing (MFA)

Birkbeck, University of London

Master

In London

£ 8,640 VAT inc.

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Description

  • Type

    Master

  • Location

    London

  • Duration

    2 Years

This MFA Theatre Directing offers professionally recognised training for theatre directors. The result of a collaboration between Birkbeck and the Arts Council England, Equity and UK Theatre, the programme provides a unique opportunity to work with theatre actors, writers and designers, while being introduced to the structural and financial realities of working as a director in the industry.

You will spend time at a leading drama school, learning how actors are trained for today’s theatre. Intensive units with expert professionals, including members of the RSC’s voice and movement departments, and noted practitioners such as Mike Leigh, Mike Alfreds, Vicki Mortimer, Natalie Abrahami and Lyndsey Turner, will concentrate on the director’s relationship with the designer and the writer, and offer a practical understanding of how theatre companies and pieces of work are funded and managed.

You will then further develop your skills as a director through secondment to a theatre company where you will have the opportunity to assist on at least three full productions; collaborators include the Royal Exchange Manchester, Birmingham Rep, HOME Manchester, Octagon Theatre Bolton, Theatre by the Lake Keswick, the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, HighTide and the Unicorn.

Facilities

Location

Start date

London
See map
Malet Street, WC1E 7HX

Start date

On request

About this course

Recent graduates have directed productions at prestigious theatres including: the National Theatre, the RSC, the Royal Court, English National Opera, the Almeida, the Young Vic, the Lyric Hammersmith, the Gate and in the West End. Others have established their own companies, such as Coney, Curious Directive, Rough Fiction, commonpractice and Red Herring.

Many graduates have directed at regional theatres, including Sheffield Theatres, the Royal Exchange, West Yorkshire Playhouse and Nottingham Playhouse, and many have assisted on productions at the RSC, the National Theatre, the Globe, the Old Vic, the Young Vic and in the West End.

Others have won awards, such as the 2014 Olivier Award for Best Director, the James Menzies-Kitchin Award (the JMK) in 2012 and 2015, the Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme (RTYDS) Award, and the Stage Award for Best Fringe Theatre.

Either a second-class honours degree (2:2) or above from a UK university (or a directly comparable qualification from a non-UK university), together with some significant experience of professional or professional-level theatre; or an undergraduate- or postgraduate-level diploma from a recognised UK drama school (or a directly comparable qualification from a non-UK drama school), together with some significant experience of professional or professional-level theatre (normally three years); or extensive professional experience.

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Subjects

  • Induction
  • Voice
  • Drama
  • Theatre Directing
  • Theatre
  • Industry
  • Equity
  • Directing
  • Drama School
  • Production

Course programme

COURSE STRUCTURE

The programme consists of an induction, six compulsory modules and an option module chosen from a range offered by the Department of English, Theatre and Creative Writing.

In Year 1, the three-week induction is followed by a term spent at a leading drama school and a further four modules at Birkbeck, including an intensive three-week project working with designers from Wimbledon School of Art.

In Year 2, you spend six months on secondment with a professional theatre company and then complete a further module at Birkbeck.

MODULES
  • Course Induction (MFA Theatre Directing): Unit A
  • The Director and Directing: Dissertation
  • The Director and Production: Dissertation
  • The Director and the Actor: Unit B
  • The Director and the Author: Unit D
  • The Director and the Designer: Unit E
  • The Director and the Industry: Unit F

Additional information

Course Fee -:

Full-time international students: £15720 pa

This course is also available in -:

Full-time home students: £8820 pa
Full-time international students: £16020 pa

See related categories

Theatre Directing (MFA)

£ 8,640 VAT inc.

The best Theatre courses

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