Location
Streatham Campus, Exeter
Our unique Theatre Practice postgraduate programmes cover practice-based work in theatre and can be taken either as an MA, full-time over 1 year or part-time over 2 years.
The MA Theatre Practice is divided into a number of flexible pathways. You can specialise in an area of your choice by following a specific pathway, select modules from different pathways to tailor an individual programme, or even take a module from outside Drama to complement the range of enquiry. All pathways are taught by leading academics in one of the largest and best equipped Drama departments in the country.
The programmes appeal to a range of prospective students: practitioners who want to develop their practice; graduates who are planning a career in arts education (schools, colleges, universities); and those who want to look more in depth into aspects of drama they have enjoyed and benefitted from through undergraduate studies.
As a student enrolled on one of these programmes, you will develop skills and techniques to further your vocational career, theoretical knowledge which will enrich and enhance your creative work, as well as the ability to critically interrogate your performance practice.
The Applied Theatre pathway
This pathway is ideal for anyone interested in the potential of drama and theatre for affecting social change. Designed to increase your understanding of the uses of drama and theatre in education and community settings, it offers a blend of practice-led research and rigorous critical enquiry.
It includes creating performances in non-traditional theatre contexts, devising and implementing individual and group projects locally, and placements with practitioners in the field. You may find yourself working, for example, in pupil referral units, schools, hospitals, within the youth custody system, in psychiatric and geriatric settings or as members of an on-course Theatre in Education team. These placements provide exciting opportunities to gain hands on experience of theatre in an outreach community environment. Study is carried out through lectures, seminars, staff-led workshops, field visits, independent study, student presentations and practical studio-sessions.
This programme is particularly suitable for workers in social care, probation, health, education, heritage interpretation and community and public art.
My interest in the subject of Applied Drama emerged whilst I was working abroad developing and facilitating a community development project for children in Kosovo. I began to do some research into Applied Drama Masters programmes in the UK and came across the University of Exeter.
The course description was dynamic and well rounded offering both theoretical and practical components. It offered a combination of both contact time with lecturers and also allowed freedom to explore, develop and work individually. On top of that the tutors had extensive and varied backgrounds in both academic and practical work. Finally, when I looked at the campus, and researched the city of Exeter, I just fell in love and had to come here. Exeter looked beautiful, quaint, rich with history and opportunity to get involved. It was so much more appealing than going to a University in a larger city. It also appeared the University had multiple contacts within the local community, and that appealed to me as a practitioner.
During my Masters I was able to help co-ordinate an international applied drama conference which took place in the Autumn term. Attending and helping to organise such an event was a highlight of my degree. Not only did it allow me to develop my communication, organisation and IT skills, but it facilitated a dialogue between the MA students and existing international practioners within the field - a priceless experience.
Completing the Masters was a wonderful opportunity, as it gave me the chance to further develop my skills in the field of applied drama as well as provided me with the opportunity to keep up to date with innovative research in the field and explore interdisciplinary work as well. I am currently continuing my education at the University of Exeter, undertaking my PhD.
Meghan Johnston, MA Theatre Practice: Applied Theatre 2009/10
