MA in Writing for Performance
A unique programme for dramaturgs and playwrights
This is a well-established, highly successful programme with specialist pathways in Dramaturgy and Playwriting. It concentrates on the process of writing for live performance, together with an ongoing evaluation of the work in process. Through practice and reflection, we enable you to establish a distinctive, individual creative approach.
1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Deadline: 30 June (1 March if you are applying for external funding). We advise early applications, but may consider applications after the closing date.
You should apply in the usual way through the Academic Registry: application forms are available from them, or can be downloaded from this web-site. You should aim to apply as early as possible during the academic year preceding the one in which you hope to start the programme, particularly if you wish to apply for a bursary, or some other form of financial support. It is important that your application makes clear the nature of your commitment to work in some field of live performance; and the nature of your creative/professional interests.
Applicants to Playwriting should also include a specimen of their recent original writing for live performance – a complete play is best, even if it is a relatively short one.
Applicants to Dramaturgy should include a 1,500 word analysis of a live performance that they have seen recently.
Applicants may also be asked to provide additional samples of creative or critical writing.
Please see How to apply.
You should normally have an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard in a relevant subject area. If your first language is not English you need a minimum score of 7.0 in IELTS or equivalent.
AHRC
Playwrights completing this programme have had great success in receiving professional development opportunities, commissions, awards and full-scale productions of their work at major new writing centres in the UK, USA and in continental Europe. Dramaturgy specialists have worked in professional literary management for mainstream and fringe building-based companies, as well as on freelance script development programmes.
Playwriting specialists will become skilled in the use of a range of techniques for the development and structuring of original material for live performance; in working to a brief in diverse professional circumstances; and in evolving an individual creative vision.
Dramaturgy specialists will become familiar with a diverse range of techniques for generating and developing new work; skilled in analysis of dramatic text and live performance; and in formulating a distinctive contribution to policy and practice in one or more fields of new writing.
Please see Tuition fees.
Please see Staff research interests.
Drama
We support the development of texts for performance, alongside an intellectual understanding of the diverse contexts in which live performance can be made. We examine texts from a wide range of periods and cultures. We engage with work that is innovative, or which challenges established notions of practice. Dramaturgs and playwrights study side by side, and examine creative and dramaturgical issues from various perspectives as writers, spectators and creative collaborators.
Why study in London?
London continues to be a major world centre for a staggering range of arts activity. It is an excellent base for the study of performance, and for making professional and other creative contacts. It is a city which continues to generate innovative practice, and provide platforms for emerging artists.
We have strong links with a large number of London-based practitioners and organisations in the field of new performance writing, and many of these contribute directly to the teaching of the programme.
What you study
Autumn Term
All students take the Writing Projects course: you will work on three diverse, short playwriting projects. Each addresses particular generic issues that relate to writing for live performance, and you will engage with the specific challenges and demands of differing circumstances of text development and production. These will vary from year to year, but they are likely to be selected from the following: Theatre as Event – site-specific performance; Authenticity and Live Performance – verbatim theatre; Writing for Specific Audiences – children’s/young person’s theatre project. Creative Collaboration – multimedia collaboration with MA Performance Making and Music Department MA Studio Composition students.
You will also take the Dramaturgy course, which has two main elements: analysis of dramatic text (these will include classics and modern classics, as well as new plays); and analysis of live performance seen by the group (including some visual, environmental or non-text-based work). During the course you will assemble a portfolio of critical analyses and creative writing projects for assessment.
You will also take one contextual course alongside students from other Master’s programmes, to be selected from a list of options that will vary from session to session.
Spring Term
You will develop your work on Dramaturgy with the term-long practical workshop course Creative Intervention in Text. This will examine: translation; adaptation of work from other media for live performance; and the re-writing and/or adaptation of extant plays; planning and curating seasons of performance work. You will assemble a portfolio of creative projects for assessment.
You also start work on your Final Project the personal Dissertation-equivalent project that will be the core of your work for the next six months). Weekly seminars and workshops will examine themes relevant to the range of projects chosen, and a first draft or outline will be produced. Each project will be the focus of individual tutorials, and then a class workshop led by a guest dramaturg, director or playwright as appropriate. You will then plan the next phase of the research or development of your project.
You also take another option from the list of contextual courses shared with students from other Master’s programmes.
Summer Term
You will present the second draft of your project for another phase of tutorials and group workshops.
Playwriting projects will then be prepared for some form of public rehearsed reading or scratch performance, in extract form – with the writers involved in all aspects of the work.
Dramaturgy projects will be given practical support of an appropriate, equivalent kind. You will further develop your work, with tutorials and workshops and public presentation of work as appropriate, before writing and submitting the finished project.
Throughout the year, various seminars and workshops will examine diverse issues that affect writers today, and these will be led by visiting professionals as appropriate.
See our Frequently Asked Questions regarding professional success, teaching and the timetable structure.
Assessment
During the Autumn Term students taking Writing Projects will submit three short playtexts for assessment. Dramaturgy is assessed by a portfolio of analytic reviews, and Creative Intervention in Text by a series of short creative writing projects and writing exercises. Final Project leads to the production of a playtext (Playwriting students), or a Dissertation or equivalent practical project (Dramaturgy students).
Finally, each of the two option courses (autumn and spring) is assessed by a 4,000 word essay.
Application enquiries
Please see how to apply for information on applying to this programme.