COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA Directing course is structured around a series of core modules that guide students through a comprehensive exploration of contemporary performance practice, equipping them with both theoretical insights and practical experience. The Director and the Text module serves as a foundational element, introducing students to essential directing techniques, including traditional approaches such as those by Stanislavsky or Meisner, while recontextualizing these within the postdramatic landscape. It emphasizes inclusivity and responsibility in theatre-making, recognizing the diverse perspectives of the international student body and aiming to dismantle Eurocentric and normative frameworks. Contemporary Performance Making furthers this exploration by engaging students with evolving performance forms, such as metamodern and post-immersive theatre, and responds dynamically to shifts in the theatrical landscape each academic year. The Devised Project module encourages non-hierarchical collaboration in creating original work without relying on pre-existing texts, allowing students to investigate methodologies linked to feminist, queer, and archival performance. Research Methods in Creative Practice introduces practice-as-research as a vital methodology, enabling students to begin developing a personalized and critically engaged MA project. This module lays the groundwork for the Project Platform, where students present their culminating work to the public through a professionally organized festival, typically hosted in a London theatre. Here, they apply their research and creative skills in a collaborative and professional context. Complementing these creative modules, Mental Wealth: Practitioners and Praxis prepares students for life beyond the course by offering industry-focused workshops and professional development activities. These include building portfolios, creating digital profiles, and gaining insight into funding and marketing. Together, these modules cultivate a well-rounded, critically engaged, and professionally prepared theatre director ready to contribute meaningfully to the future of performance-making.