The following article appeared in the online edition of The Stage May 2010. Sparky new MA at Unicorn Theatre I quite often hear about new MA opportunities and there really are some original ones out there these days to meet a very wide range of interests and approaches. The latest to reach me is the new collaborative MA in Theatre for Young Audiences which Rose Bruford is offering in partnership with Unicorn Theatre. It is due to start this autumn subject to final validation by the University of Manchester. “There are three or four MAs of this kind available in the US and there’s one in Seoul but I know of nothing else like this in the UK,” says Tony Graham, artistic director at Unicorn Theatre explaining that he and Rose Bruford’s new principal Michael Earley have agreed on a multi-faceted, ongoing collaboration between their respective organisations. Graham sees the joint MA as symbolising the heart of the partnership. “Young people’s theatre has changed hugely in thirty years,” Graham observes, “and it’s always contentious. No one has all the answers so there is a strong sense in which we are all learning together.” Graham and Earley are hoping that within three years there will be 20/25 people on the course each year but they will probably start with fewer for the pilot year. Access is open to students of all cultures from anywhere in the world and the tuition will be international too with international training placements. It can be done full-time in one year or part-time over two years. They are expecting a wide range of students including, perhaps directors, designers and researchers as well as performers and other practitioners. “We need some good research in this branch of the industry” says Graham, “because although we all know young people’s theatre works there is very little properly presented evidence to demonstrate how and why it’s important.” Susan ElkinThe Stage10 May 2010
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