Collaborative Theatre Making MA/MFA

• Module One: Performance Skills

This module is focused around the training of the individual within the ensemble and includes skills in movement, voice, devising, play, comedy and improvisation which are taught through a series of practical workshops, projects, performances, laboratory-based activities, projects, lectures and seminars.

The module takes a physical approach to making theatre and working with text.

This module aims to systemically develop, deepen and challenge your practice, knowledge and understanding of performance and making theatre, through exposure to inter-disciplinary and hybrid forms of performance training and creation.

• Module Two: Performative Writing/Vade Mecum

This module provides the theoretical and academic underpinning for the developing practice explored across all modules.

The module offers a particular lens through which to enhance, deepen and inform your understanding of theatre as an historical, and contemporary cultural and social phenomenon.

In particular you will explore different modes of research and reflection through; practice as research, the study of subject-specific literature and performance, verbal discourse and developmental and critical modes of writing.

Active research is a fundamental principle engendering the evolution of one’s own practice and professional aesthetic. London offers not only a wealth of international theatre work, but also opportunities to work with and participate in workshops, events, performances, seminars and symposiums in related fields.

• Module Three: Director, Writer, Performer as Theatre Maker

The first half of this module will focus on performance-making through three different lenses; that of the director, the writer and the performer.

Collaborative work in the second half of the module begins with a process of devising a performance focussing on telling stories through performance, visual image, physical theatre, writing, sound and music. The module culminates in a production devised by the ensemble working with a range of skills and theatre disciplines and so there is collaboration across forms as well as between individuals.

• Module Four: Final Independent Project

The final module facilitates the creation of your original creative work. This may be a performance; a conceptual paper; a multi-dimensional proposition of a project that you have developed and will pitch to professional organisations; it may be the practical articulation of your own practice, or a model and vision for your future organisation.

Year 1

• Module One: Performance Skills

This module is focused around the training of the individual within the ensemble and includes skills in movement, voice, devising, play, comedy and improvisation which are taught through a series of practical workshops, projects, performances, laboratory-based activities, projects, lectures and seminars.

The module takes a physical approach to making theatre and working with text.

This module aims to systemically develop, deepen and challenge your practice, knowledge and understanding of performance and making theatre, through exposure to inter-disciplinary and hybrid forms of performance training and creation.

• Module Two: Performative Writing/Vade Mecum

This module provides the theoretical and academic underpinning for the developing practice explored across all modules.

The module offers a particular lens through which to enhance, deepen and inform your understanding of theatre as an historical, and contemporary cultural and social phenomenon.

In particular you will explore different modes of research and reflection through; practice as research, the study of subject-specific literature and performance, verbal discourse and developmental and critical modes of writing.

Active research is a fundamental principle engendering the evolution of one’s own practice and professional aesthetic. London offers not only a wealth of international theatre work, but also opportunities to work with and participate in workshops, events, performances, seminars and symposiums in related fields.

• Module Three: Director, Writer, Performer as Theatre Maker

The first half of this module will focus on performance-making through three different lenses; that of the director, the writer and the performer.

Collaborative work in the second half of the module begins with a process of devising a performance focussing on telling stories through performance, visual image, physical theatre, writing, sound and music. The module culminates in a production devised by the ensemble working with a range of skills and theatre disciplines and so there is collaboration across forms as well as between individuals.

Year 2

• Module Four: The Widening Field

This module focuses on processes of research and development aimed at realising individualised specialist practice with the view that it ultimately achieves professional validity and viability. The module is deliberately open and flexible as each student’s journey will develop its own pathway.

The module is based around self-directed study, research into the industry and work-based learning through talks/presentations/ seminars throughout the year prior to the attachment. Students are supported in seeking appropriate work-based learning opportunities either with the College’s creative partners, their own contacts, new initiatives with appropriate organisations or ensemble companies or working within appropriate internal placement opportunities.

There will be four taught weekends that offer the opportunity to test and trial the state of your practice with tutor/mentor/peer feedback and input.  These weekends will be focused to support the progressive development of each student’s emerging project.

• Module Five: Final Independent Project

The final module facilitates the creation of your original creative work. This may be a performance, a conceptual paper, a multi-dimensional proposition of a project that you have developed, and pitch to professional organisations; it may be the practical articulation of your own practice or a model and vision for your future organisation.