Theatre Directing (M.F.A.)

Trinity College Dublin

Ireland, Dublin

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Trinity College Dublin

Ireland , Dublin

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Main Site

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 1 year(s)

Tuition Fee

EUR 22,800 / year(s)

Next Intake September-2026

Theatre Directing (M.F.A.)

About

Course Overview

The Master of Fine Art in Theatre Directing programme is the first entirely practice-based masters programme of its kind in Ireland. It was introduced following extensive consultation with the Irish theatre community and is a direct response to the stated needs of the industry and of talented emerging artists. This innovative course is taught in The Lir, National Academy of Dramatic Art at Trinity College Dublin, which is the professional training institution of the School of Creative Arts.

Throughout the training, students will also develop an understanding of the skills of practitioners of theatre other than the theatre director, with a view to becoming proficient in and conversant with the creativity of others, and to enhance the craft of the student director by broadening their experience of theatre making. Students will explore the crafts of the actor, designer, stage manager, production manager and stage technician through workshops with teachers and professionals in the various disciplines.

Is This Course For Me?

If you have a passion for theatre and are interested in the collaborative process of creating a production, from concept to completion, you should consider the MFA in Theatre Directing. Theatre Directing combines the skills of leadership, management, and artistic creativity to bring a production to life.

Career Opportunities

This programme is tailored to provide talented individuals with the necessary skills to pursue a career in the professional theatre and related industries as a theatre director. Graduates may also pursue work as practitioners in the creative industries in other roles such as playwrights, producers, performers, artistic directors and 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.

Course Structure

Students can opt to take this course either part-time (over 24 months) or full-time (over 12 months).

Full-time and part-time students will take three concurrent modules in the first two terms. The final module will be taught in the third term and subsequent summer months (for full-time students) or in the second year of the course (for part-time students) and will culminate with a professional production staged in one of The Lir’s performance studios. Term Three will be supplemented by an ongoing series of masterclasses from professional directors and theatre-makers.

Course Content

Students on the MFA in Theatre Directing will take five compulsory modules, Theatre in Context, Contemporary Theatre Practice, Directing Workshop Theatre Production and Dramaturgy for Theatre Directing.

In addition to the core classes and workshops, individual and group tuition from the Course Director for Theatre Directing will be a key feature of the training. In addition, masterclasses by visiting practitioners will supplement the student experience. Professional placements are a key feature of the programme and all students will showcase their work in public performances at the culmination of the course.

Click here for further information on modules/subjects.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Applicants are required to possess a minimum 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent.

Applicants must fill out all the information required on the online form, which includes the submission of two references, one academic and a professional reference, copies of the transcripts of previously completed education levels, and a CV.

In addition, applicants are also required to upload a copy of the following documents separately, within the Additional Documents section:

a) Letter of application – a letter that outlines the applicant's theatre education and theatre directing experience to date (this may also include experience in other areas of theatre as well as directing in film). Applicants are required to have some theatre directing experience to be accepted onto the course.

b) Statement of purpose – a statement outlining the applicant’s ambitions in terms of theatre directing. Applicants should describe the role of theatre in their life, justify the choice of a career in theatre directing, the work they want to make, why they wish to pursue further education.

c) Portfolio – a portfolio of the applicant’s theatre and directing work. The Lir Academy accepts portfolios as PDFs, websites or in any other convenient format.

d) Critical assessment – a critical assessment of recently directed work. This is an analysis of a production directed by the applicant. It is an overall evaluation of the process; from the initial artistic impulse, the ambitions for the work, pre-production plans and the development of the work, an analyses of their process when working with designers, actors, and the production team, and finally a reflection and critical analyses of the work achieved and any learning outcomes.

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 their application to be considered for shortlisting to the programme. For more details of qualifications that meet Band B, see the English Language Requirements page here.

English Program Requirements

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.

	QUALIFICATIONS	REQUIREMENTS
1	Irish Leaving Certificate	A grade D3 or better in Ordinary Level English
2	GCSE	A grade C or better in English Language
3	European Baccalaureate	English: 6 in your 1st language, or in 1st or 2nd Foreign Language
4	French Baccalaureate	Students presenting the OIB or International Option of the French Baccalaureate may satisfy the English language requirement by achieving a minimum of 12 (where the coefficient is greater than 5) in English Language and Literature. In cases where the coefficient is less than 5, a minimum result of 14 will be required.
5	International Baccalaureate	English A1, A2 or B: 5 at Higher Level (4 at Standard Level if presenting IB through English)
6	US High School Curriculum	A grade C in English taken in final year
7	TOEFL	Paper based 570 (with a TWE score of 4.5) / Computer based 233 (with a score of 4.5 in essay) / Internet based 90 (with a written score of 21) PG: 88 internet-based, 570 paper-based, 230 computer-based
8	University of Cambridge	180+ on Cambridge English scale with no less than 175 in each skill and use of English i.e., Proficiency Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2), Advanced Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2) PG: Proficiency Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2) Advanced Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2)
9	IELTS	(Academic version) 6.5 (no individual band below 6). For Dental courses: IELTS (academic version) 7 (no individual band below 7) For Clinical speech and language studies: IELTS (academic version) 7 (no individual band below 7)
10	Pearson Test of English	(Academic) - PTE Academic: a minimum score of 63 (with no section score below 59).
11	Duolingo English Test	Minimum overall score of 110/160