MA Theatre Directing: Text and Production

Course Overview

Kick-start your passion for directing and dramaturgy at UEA, with one of the UK’s longest-standing Master's courses in Theatre Directing. Based in the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing our MA Theatre Directing Text and Production boasts an interdisciplinary approach. Whether you want to pursue a career as a theatre-maker, writer or director or continue in academic research, this part-time course is for you.

Your tutors include acclaimed contemporary playwrights, working directors and acting specialists. You’ll learn lighting, sound and stage management fundamentals with our studio technical staff. You’ll be supported by one-to-one mentorship with the course director. You’ll benefit from visiting professionals and theatre practitioners throughout the year, creating an unparalleled balance of philosophical, technical and practical learning. You’ll also have opportunities for work-shadowing with regional and national companies and venues, which helps you gain a knowledge of production, management and funding processes. Your final dissertation could be a full production, a written research or creative project, or a combination of them, all supported by academic and technical staff.

In the close, collaborative and non-hierarchical environment at UEA you’ll also gain from working with undergraduate actors and postgraduate scriptwriters throughout the year.

Graduates from the course are resident directors with national theatre companies, or are touring shows that they have written, directed, and produced themselves. Many have obtained funding for their projects, in partnership with UEA Enterprise or from Arts Council England. Recent alumni include producer, writer and director Sky Carver; Artistic Director of the Relish Theatre Company Rob Ellis; Artistic Director of Norwich Puppet Theatre; Peter Beck; and Julia Sowerbutts, Artistic Director of INK Festival of New Writing.

This course is open to

UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.

Typical International Entry Requirements

Degree classification

UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent

Degree Subject

Literary or Humanities

English Foreign Language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading): 

IELTS:  7 overall (minimum  7  in Writing, 6 in Speaking, Reading and Listening) 

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

 If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.

Interviews

Promising candidates will be invited for an interview. If you are living overseas, the interview will be online at a mutually convenient time. Successful candidates will either be offered a place for the forthcoming academic year or a place for the following academic year (if it is felt that more time is needed to develop as a director). Once the forthcoming year is full candidates will be added to a reserve list with a guaranteed place for the following academic year if space does not become available.Unsuccessful candidates are welcome to re-apply, though not within the same academic year.

Admissions Policy

Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.

Employability

Follow in the footsteps of past graduates and go into the theatre or film industries as a director or writer – or you could start your own theatre company. Through our collaboration with the MA scriptwriters, you’ll have a ready-made network of relationships and professional contacts in East Anglia and London. UEA Drama’s Alumnus Ensemble LAB meets regularly to read new work, engage in continued training and develop its own projects, in collaboration with local partners. UEA Drama has a close relationship with HighTide Theatre, Norwich Theatre, The Garage, Sewell Barn Theatre, Maddermarket Theatre and Norwich Puppet Theatre, with work from both BA and MA students frequently appearing in these various venues.

There have also been opportunities in arts administration for local and national government, venue management, and the heritage and tourism sector. Or you could continue your studies with a PhD.

For inspiration and advice, our award-winning Careers Service runs an Arts and Humanities events programme, which includes alumni-led presentations and workshops, and which remains available to all alumni after graduation.

Example of careers that you could enter include:

• Theatre director
• Film director
• Scriptwriter
• Dramaturgy
• Arts administrator
• Teacher

Discover more on our Careers webpages.