(MA) Master of Arts
Advanced Professional Theatre Practice
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
East 15 Acting School
East15 (Loughton) Campus
Masters
Full-time
MA W40E12
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
A 2:2 degree, or equivalent, in a relevant field such as acting, directing, dance, design, producing, performance or theatre and relevant professional experience;
OR
An established professional profile (including formal or informal training) in live performance which may include: actors and other performers, directors, designers, stage and production managers;
OR
Practitioners holding a Diploma in any subject from an accredited conservatoire (FDS membership) and relevant professional experience.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
The course is designed for established professionals working or teaching in the performing arts and aims to allow students to integrate their professional practice and knowledge with academic and practical learning. The programme will develop approaches to extended and reflective learning by updating students’ knowledge and understanding of research processes.
1. Reflect on previous experience as a preparation for study and development planning.
2. Identify and respond critically to a range of theories relevant to contemporary performance practice and develop an individual appreciation of how they can enhance and enrich their own practice.
3. Locate their own professional work in the context of contemporary and recent practitioners in a variety of theatrical forms.
4. Collaborate with their cohort to create and perform a short piece of original devised theatre or film.
5. Consider the professional skills and knowledge they can offer as a teacher and facilitator and translate their own creative practice into engaging and effective learning sessions.
6. Apply a range of the knowledge, skills and approaches explored during taught modules to develop and present a substantial written or practical project.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Insightful knowledge of contemporary practice in mainstream live performance.
A2: A detailed understanding of a range of techniques for sharing professional practice as a teacher or workshop leader working with a specific participant group.
A3: A comprehensive knowledge of relevant theoretical ideas as part of the context for performance-making.
A4: A deep knowledge of a range of research methods applicable to the creation and analysis of live performance.
Learning methods
Modules EA720 and EA721 enable students to identify and respond critically to a range of theories relevant to contemporary performance practice, and to develop an individual appreciation of how such theories can enhance and enrich their own practice. They will include skills in reflection, introduction to Masters level study in professional arts practice, including reading and research methods, approaches to writing, the autonomous learner, working with peers and supervisors, selection of material for portfolio and personal development and collaborative working.
The modules contain a series of structured exercises weekly prior to lectures and workshops, and are further supported by interactive contact with an assigned tutor twice per term. Students will also follow guided reading, complete online exercises and participate in tutorials to allow the student to develop an authoritative approach to understanding their own practice as learners. This includes participation in scheduled on-line student forums.
Assessment methods
Methods of assessment take into account different learning styles and abilities and are accessible and able to be completed remotely and will include case studies drawn from students own prior learning and experience, blog posts, critical essays, application of theoretical frameworks to examples of performance, video blog post or podcast.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Ability to interpret and apply key aspects of performance theory both discursively and in practice, including for participants in workshop or educational settings.
B2: Ability to design and execute a creative project through practice-based methods.
B3: Ability to design, implement and facilitate creative workshop activities for participant groups.
B4: Ability to analyse complex text and critically discuss theoretical sources.
B5: Communication with peers and clients.
Learning methods
Modules EA720 and EA721 enable students to identify and respond critically to a range of theories relevant to contemporary performance practice.
EA722, EA723, EA724 and EA725 will build on the theory to introduce students to collaborative creative processes, planning tools, reflective practice and skills for documenting live performance. The teaching and learning strategy will include lectures, tutorials and preparatory online forum discussions; workshops on stimulus material; group devising, rehearsal and design sessions; performance and feedback from peers and tutors, structured feedback sessions with supervisors and independent study.
Assessment methods
B1 and B4 will be addressed via critical essays and blog posts/podcasts.
B2, B3 and B5 will be assessed through the design of teaching resources and workshops, reflective writing including collecting and presenting evidence, using real life case studies and performance to critically analyse theory and the creation of a practical theatre project or film.
C: Practical skills
C1: Ability to work collaboratively to create professional quality live performance, deploying specialist skills appropriate to role and discipline.
C2: Design and leading of workshops.
C3: Communication of research outcomes.
C4: Ability to learn and to develop own practice through research, reflection, and feedback from others.
Learning methods
The teaching and learning strategy for EA722, EA723, EA724 and EA725 will include lectures, tutorials and preparatory online forum discussions; workshops on stimulus material; group devising, rehearsal and design sessions; performance and feedback from peers and tutors, structured feedback sessions with supervisors and independent study. EA723 will contain an intensive block of teaching leading to a group devised creative project.
Assessment methods
C1 will be assessed through the creation of a practical theatre project or film.
C2 will be assessed via the design of teaching resources, design of workshops and reflective writing including collecting and presenting evidence into a portfolio.
C3 will be assessed through the creation of a final creative project or prose dissertation.
C4 will be assessed through the development of a personal learning plan, and blog posts or podcasts used as a means to record, comment on and communicate professional practice.
D: Key skills
D1: Ability to understand and communicate with peers and clients.
D2: Ability to engage with online sources, develop online podcasts, video blogs, etc.
D3: Ability to propose creative, original solutions to complex directing problems
D4: Ability to work collaboratively to create professional quality live performance, deploying specialist skills appropriate to role and discipline.
D5: Ability to learn and to develop own practice through research.
Learning methods
• Lectures, seminars and tutorials.
• Structured exercises.
• Interactive contact with an assigned tutor.
• Guided reading.
• Online learning sessions.
• Compulsory student fora.
• Observation of live sessions.
Assessment methods
• Design of teaching resources.
• Design of workshops.
• Reflective writing including collecting and presenting evidence.
• Case studies.
• Development of a personal learning plan.
• Critical essay writing.
• Development of a blog/podcasts as a means to record and comment on professional practice.
• Practical theatre projects and reflective workbooks / portfolio.