Directing degree - MA

Program Overview

This MA Performance (Directing) program empowers theatre directors to hone their skills across all aspects of theatre production, from ideation to performance. Students gain practical experience through directing productions, collaborating with professionals, and participating in the student-led SparkFest. The program emphasizes professional standards and provides opportunities for assistant director placements, equipping graduates for freelance careers or multifaceted roles in the theatre industry.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This MA Performance (Directing) program is designed for theatre and live performance directors at all stages of their career. It aims to help students build a portfolio of skills and experience across diverse theatre productions, from developing ideas to full-scale shows, and from classical to contemporary theatre. Students will have the opportunity to direct their own productions and collaborate with professionals, particularly at the student-led festival, SparkFest, run in partnership with Bath Festivals, and as part of the in-house company, Bath Spa Productions.

Outline:

The MA Performance (Directing) program is structured across three trimesters, with a focus on developing both practical skills and theoretical understanding.

Trimester One:

• Skills Portfolio and Performance Practices modules: These modules run across trimesters one and two, providing students with a "directors toolkit" and theoretical foundation for facilitating safe and creative spaces, directing actors, and collaborating with other artists.
• Weekly seminars: These seminars explore historical and current practices of theatre directing and performance, advancing students' directing knowledge.
• Professional Practices module: This module allows students to develop their individual professional practice through small-scale productions, research and development projects, or work placements.

Trimester Two:

• Skills training: Students continue to enhance their skills and are encouraged to experiment with their own ideas, either with their own chosen cast, a University production, or a professional company.
• SparkFest: Students have the opportunity to showcase their work at SparkFest, the festival run in collaboration with Bath Festivals.
• Professional Collaboration module: This module provides tools and experience in working with a wide range of artists and developing performances to grow students' professional profiles.

Trimester Three:

• Dissertation: Students can choose to undertake a traditional written dissertation, a performance-based dissertation, or a combination of both.
They may direct a production, lead workshops, or research areas related to directing as part of their dissertation.

Course Modules:

• Professional Practice
• Skills Portfolio
• Performance Practices
• Professional Collaboration
• Major Project

Assessment:

Students will be assessed through a variety of methods, including:

• Performance portfolios
• Proposal documents for artistic ideas
• Research projects
• Presentations
• Viva voces
• Reflective learning and work-based reports or journals
• Project evaluations

Teaching:

The program is delivered through a variety of methods, including:

• Workshops
• Lectures
• Seminars
• Masterclasses
• Off-site visits
• Performance and production work
• Virtual Learning Environment (Ultra)
The program also invites professional visiting actors and directors to work with students.

Careers:

The course is geared towards giving students the skills they need to develop a freelance career as a Theatre Director. Students will also be able to diversify their work by developing skills in other areas, such as:

• Creative producing
• Dramaturgy / script development
• Creative learning / teaching
• Artistic direction / management
• Fundraising
• Audience development
• Marketing

Other:

• The program offers off-site visits to theatres and venues, allowing students to experience performances and meet the people who create them.
Some trips are subsidized, but students may have to contribute to travel costs.
• Students have the opportunity to observe, participate in, and assistant direct professional creative projects with the University's in-house production company, Bath Spa Productions.
• The program has partnerships with organizations such as Theatre Royal Bath, Bristol Old Vic theatre, and Bristol School of Acting, offering opportunities for Assistant Director placements.
• Students will develop digital skills through access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, as Bath Spa University is one of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK.
It also has links with the Theatre Royal Bath, the Rondo Theatre, The Egg, The Ustinov, and the Tobacco Factory.
• Students have access to facilities on other campuses, including University Theatre.
• Students have access to resources such as the Newton Park Library, the Writing and Learning Centre, the English Language Unit, the Virtual Learning Environment, the Careers team, a free equipment loan service, LinkedIn Learning, and the full Adobe Creative Suite.