Theatre Directing MFA

Program Overview

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Through practical experience, intensive units, and secondments, students develop their skills in directing, working with actors, writers, and designers, and navigating the industry's financial and structural realities. Graduates have gone on to successful careers in theatre direction and related fields.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

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The MFA Theatre Directing:

• This program is offered in collaboration between Birkbeck, the Arts Council England, Equity, and UK Theatre.
• It provides professional training for theatre directors with unique opportunities to work with actors, writers, and designers.
• You will be exposed to the structural and financial realities of working as a director in the industry.

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Objectives:

• Develop your skills as a theatre director through practical experience.
• Gain an understanding of the role of a director in relation to actors, writers, designers, and the industry.
• Be equipped with the knowledge and skills to direct professional theatre productions.

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Program Description:

• The program consists of two years of full-time study on campus, starting in September 2024.
• You will spend time at a leading drama school, learn how actors are trained, and participate in intensive units with renowned practitioners.
• You will have the opportunity to work with professional actors, writers, and designers to develop your skills.
• You will gain a practical understanding of how theatre companies and pieces of work are funded and managed.
• You will spend six to nine months on secondment with a theatre company, assisting on at least three productions.
• You will complete a dissertation exploring a topic related to theatre directing.

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Outline:

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Year 1:

• Three-week induction: Introduces the program and provides an overview of essential concepts and skills.
• The Director and the Actor
• The Director and the Author
• The Director and the Designer
• The Director and the Industry
• Intensive three-week project: Collaborate with designers from Wimbledon School of Art on a creative project.

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Year 2:

• Six months on secondment with a theatre company: Gain practical experience assisting on at least three productions.
• Dissertation: Conduct independent research on a chosen topic related to theatre directing.

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Assessment:

• Assessment methods include oral presentations with supporting material, practical exercises, peer and leading practitioner assessment of your directing practice, and a final dissertation.
• You will need to allocate time for completing coursework and preparing for oral presentations and the final dissertation.

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Teaching:

• The program uses a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical work to provide a comprehensive learning experience.
• Classes are primarily conducted during the day, but some evening and weekend sessions may be required.
• Learning is further enhanced through opportunities to work with renowned practitioners and theatre companies.
• You will receive individualized support from a dedicated Personal Tutor and access to Birkbeck’s various learning and support services.

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Careers:

• Graduates of the program have gone on to successful careers as theatre directors, artistic directors, associate directors, opera directors, theatre producers, literary managers, and dramaturgs.
• Recent graduates have directed productions at prestigious West End and regional theatres, including the National Theatre, the RSC, the Globe, and the Royal Court.
• Many graduates have also established their own theatre companies and achieved critical acclaim and awards.
• The program provides career support through its Careers and Enterprise service, offering guidance and assistance in career development.

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Other:

• The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Scholarship supports a director from an under-represented or disadvantaged socio-economic background.
• Birkbeck was ranked 2nd in the UK for its English Language and Literature research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
• The College offers a number of bursaries for postgraduate students.

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Academic year 2024–25, starting September 2024 Full-time home students: £10,800 per year Full-time international students: £19,830 per year Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.

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Additional costs

Deposit to secure your place The MFA Theatre Directing is an extremely popular course and has a limited number of places. This deposit is part of the overall course fee, and not an additional amount. Process For those offered places on the MFA Theatre Directing in April, the deposit must be paid by Friday 26 April; for those offered places in early June, the deposit must be paid by Friday 12 July. A later deposit deadline will be set for students on the waiting list who are offered places later in the cycle. Refunds These deposits are non-refundable. The decision on whether your place can be deferred will lie with the College, and the decision on whether your deposit can be rolled forward will lie with the finance department. If you do not attend the course, and so withdraw or ask to withdraw, the deposit is excluded from any other fee refund you might be awarded. International students International students are required to provide a deposit of £2000 as a matter of general College policy. £500 of the general £2000 deposit will be deemed to be the non-refundable element.