Theatre and Performance (M.Phil)

Course Overview

The M.Phil. in Theatre and Performance offers a dynamic fusion of theory and practice to nurture the development of future practitioners, researchers, innovators, and leaders of theatre and performance. Its rigorous taught programme is designed to strengthen students’ analytic, critical, and practical approaches, with teaching occurring across lecture, small-group seminars / tutorials, and studio-based formats, as well as through one-on-one supervision of placements and independent projects.

Situated in the heart of Dublin's lively theatre scene (but stretching far beyond it), the course features numerous outbound opportunities to connect with contemporary international theatre practitioners (at the Dublin Theatre Festival, Dublin Fringe Festival, and the Brussels Kunstenfestivaldesarts), to engage directly with working members of the Irish theatre community (via the Abbey Theatre, numerous alumni-run companies, and the Arts Council), and to develop deeper connections tailored to students' specific interests within the field.

Students will be taught by staff with international reputations in scholarship and performance, who have produced ground- breaking books and editions, award-winning productions, and innovations in teaching theatre. Staff specialisms include early modern theatre and Shakespeare, interculturalism, Irish theatre, gender and performance, Samuel Beckett, practice-as-research, and dramaturgy.

Candidates should have a good Honours 1st class or 2.1 B.A. degree (minimum 'B', average 3.0 or above for North American students) or equivalent qualification. Applicants will be asked to submit writing samples and to interview before admission.

The writing sample should be an academic essay written in English. We accept work submitted for a previous university degree, on drama/theatre studies (or a related/adjacent subject). It could also be something you have written more recently, but should meet academic university standards. Creative writing pieces and/or dramaturgy packets are not accepted. The sample can be anywhere between 2,000 words and 6,000 words in length. We will be reading your writing sample to determine that you have the requisite level of English to work at postgraduate level, and to see that you have familiarity with undertaking your own research, constructing an argument, and using referencing (such as footnotes, or in-text citations).

English Language Requirements

All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements. For more details of qualifications that meet Band B, see the English Language Requirements page here.

Applicants for the Trinity International Foundation Programme require IELTS 5.0 overall, with 5.0 in Writing and no band below 4.5.

Applicants for all Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes must present one of the following English language qualifications.

Graduates of this programme go on to a variety of careers in theatre or the arts more widely. Many now work as practitioners in the creative industries (playwrights, producers, performers, facilitators); others go onto further study at PhD level and begin careers in academia. Graduates are also eminently suited to fields such as publishing, broadcasting, or education.