Theatre and Performance MA

Birkbeck’s MA Theatre and Performance allows you to specialise and gain an award in Dramaturgy, Writing for Performance, or Theatre Making. These routes make it a highly distinctive degree designed for emerging and continuing theatre professionals looking to develop their creative practice, build analytical capacity and gain hands-on industry experience.

Why choose this course?

* The course is taught by world-leading artists and academic researchers while working closely with Birkbeck’s pioneering industry partners such as Camden People’s Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre and the Dramaturgs’ Network.

* It is ideal if you are interested in learning about or working in theatre and the performing arts, including writing for performance, digital and screen-based arts, dramaturgy and literary management.

* Through gaining important experience in theory and practice, it allows you to build your career prospects, develop your creative and critical skills, deepen your contextual and cultural understanding, sharpen your professional goals and make valuable connections within the industry.

What will I learn?

You will explore the dynamic relationships between text, performance, writing and dramaturgy through a combination of:

* dramaturgical practice

* playwriting and writing for performance

* theatre and performance making

* critical writing about drama, theatre and performance.

You will also examine historical, philosophical and theoretical materials and ideas to understand contemporary theatre and performance and the ways in which they are shaped by current concerns, traditions and legacies.

Depending on your interests and career aspirations, you will specialise to gain one of the following awards:

* MA Theatre and Performance: Dramaturgy

* MA Theatre and Performance: Writing for Performance

* MA Theatre and Performance: Theatre Making

How will I learn?

This course is available to study full- or part-time, with classes in the evening. You will learn through lectures, seminars and practice-based studio sessions. You will also benefit from guest lectures and workshops with leading industry professionals, and attendance at theatre and performance events, and you will have access to performances, readings, exhibitions and symposia across Birkbeck.

Highlights

* You will have the chance to engage with the Birkbeck Centre for Contemporary Theatre, including through a year-round programme of events, opportunities to meet our Artist Fellows and invitations to our Graduate Research in Theatre seminar series.

* We collaborate with the Dramaturgs’ Network (D'N) which provides each of our students with networking and professional development opportunities and exchange events, plus a year’s free D’N membership.

* You can benefit from our ongoing relationships with Camden People’s Theatre and Battersea Arts Centre.

* You will have the opportunity to take part in our annual Arts Week events programme.

* Birkbeck was ranked 2nd in the UK for its English Language and Literature research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

* We offer a number of bursaries for postgraduate students.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this course you will have gained an array of transferable skills, including:

* familiarity with professional practices and modes of employment within the sector

* a critical grounding in contemporary social, cultural and political questions

* the design, production and presentation of high-quality research

* effective communication.

You will find our graduates in the following roles:

* theatre and performance practice

* script development

* dramaturg

* film, media and the creative arts

* writing for TV, film and gaming

* arts leadership

* administration and outreach

* journalism

* advertising and marketing

* public relations

* policy and strategy for political organisations, charities and NGOs

* academia and education