Master of Theatre (Writing)

University of Melbourne

Australia, Melbourne

University RankQS Ranking

Apply Now!

Go to Official Website

Home/Australia/Melbourne /University of Melbourne/Master of Theatre (Writing)

University of Melbourne

Australia , Melbourne

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Code

075502B

Application Fee

AUD 154

Campuses

Southbank

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake Deadlines

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 1 year(s)

Tuition Fee

AUD 42,976 / year

Master of Theatre (Writing)

About

Overview

Online information session: Meet your future Academics (Thursday 26 June)
Join us for our online information session to gain further insight into the post-graduate programs available in your area of interest. You will have the chance to meet, interact and ask questions with our academics and immerse yourself in the world of the VCA.

Register

Develop your skills and aesthetic as an individual or collaborative writer for diverse forms of contemporary live performance.

The Master of Theatre (Writing) is unique in Australian theatre culture, focusing on the diversity of voices and cultures present in contemporary writing in Australia and overseas. It is closely interwoven with both the existing Master of Theatre (Directing) and Master of Theatre (Dramaturgy).

Through a combination of writing workshops, critical seminars and discussions you will develop skills in writing for the diverse contexts of live and digital performance alongside gaining a deeper understanding of the relationship between the writer and the cultural contexts in which they write. You will be equipped with the skills to develop your own writing voice in multiple forms, as well as the academic writing skills to articulate your own practice in the context of contemporary cultural and performance theory.

The program focuses on the development of a full length play - at the end of the year, each writer presents a rehearsed presentation of a full-length play to industry and public. You will also produce four other smaller performance writing projects including: writing from improvisation with acting and directing students; writing for digital mediums; adaptation of existing texts; and writing for live art projects.

A core principle of the program is collaboration, in developing this skill you will collaborate with other VCA postgraduate disciplines and engage with writers, directors, designers, choreographers, performance-makers and actors on a range of projects in an intensive training environment. As such this course also provides a unique opportunity to develop creative partnerships that can lead to future collaborations in the profession.

Who is this course for?

The Master of Theatre (Writing) is designed for writers, actors, directors, animateurs, theatre makers, designers and dramaturges, looking to broaden their knowledge and skills for diverse forms of live performance writing.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Admission criteria

To be considered for entry, applicants must have completed either:

a bachelor honours degree or equivalent in a cognate area;
a three-year undergraduate qualification and at least 50 credit points, or equivalent, of graduate study in a cognate area;
a three-year undergraduate qualification in a cognate area and at least two years of documented, relevant work experience; or
a minimum of eight years of documented relevant professional experience, with evidence of artistic ability and achievement or practice comparable to that expected of honours degree holders in relevant disciplines.

You must also submit a supplementary application:

a curriculum vitae (CV), and
a portfolio of relevant work, and
an artistic statement, and
three referees.

Shortlisted applicants must also attend an interview.

Meeting the published entry requirements for this course does not guarantee selection.

English language requirements

All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in a number of ways, including recognised previous study taught and assessed entirely in English or an approved English language test. If you are from a non-English speaking background, the required standard of English for this degree is one of the following English proficiency test scores:

English language test score requirements
If you need to undertake an English language test, you must meet one of the scores* below:

IELTS

6.5

with no band less than 6.0
TOEFL

79+

with writing 21; speaking 18; reading 13; listening 13
PEARSON

64+

with no communicative skill below 60
CAMBRIDGE

176+

with no skill less than 169
*Accepted tests: IELTS (Academic English Only); TOEFL Internet-based test; Pearson Test of English Academic; Cambridge English: Advanced/Certificate of Advanced English (CAE). If a test displays N/A, it means it is not accepted for this course.

About selection

When assessing applications, the Selection Committee will consider your previous studies and academic performance.

The Selection Committee may request additional information to clarify any aspect of an application, according to the University’s Academic Board rules regarding selection instruments.

Meeting the published entry requirements for this course does not guarantee selection.

The Selection Committee will also consider your portfolio, artistic statement, your curriculum vitae (CV) and professional experience.

Your writing portfolio should be of no more than 20 pages.

If your application is shortlisted, you will also be required to attend an interview, your performance in which will also be used to assess your application.

English Program Requirements

English language test score requirements

If you need to undertake an English language test, you must meet one of the scores* below:

IELTS

6.5

with no band less than 6.0

TOEFL

79+

with writing 21; speaking 18; reading 13; listening 13

PEARSON

64+

with no communicative skill below 60

CAMBRIDGE

176+

with no skill less than 169

*Accepted tests: IELTS (Academic English Only); TOEFL Internet-based test; Pearson Test of English Academic; Cambridge English: Advanced/Certificate of Advanced English (CAE). If a test displays N/A, it means it is not accepted for this course.

Career

Networking opportunities

Artistic collaborations with directors, choreographers, designers and other performance makers at the VCA, provide a unique opportunity to develop creative partnerships that can lead to future collaborations in your profession.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course, graduates will have developed:

Advanced skills and expertise to conceptualise, realise and present original writing for performance and/or performance oriented projects in diverse forms
Their capacity to evaluate, discriminate and make informed choices as part of writing practice within aesthetic domains
Expert skills in collaborating with other theatre artists and diverse communities
Demonstrated knowledge of problem solving abilities and flexibility of approach
Advanced skills in articulating ideas and processes inherent in their creative work within the context of relevant artistic discourse and research.

With the skills gained from your Masters, you can take on a variety of writing styles. Professional work could include writing for theatre, dance, music theatre, opera and other cross discipline productions.