Masters applications for 2023 entry are now closed.
Applications for September 2024 will open on Monday 25 September. Applications are now open for programmes with a January 2024 start. View our programmes »
| UCAS code |
1234 |
| Duration |
1 year full time
2 years part time |
| Entry year |
September 2025 |
| Campus |
Streatham Campus
|
| Discipline |
Creative Industries
|
| Contact |
|
Overview
For theatre-makers, educators, and performance scholars, this MA offers rigorous training in physical and vocal performance, ensemble collaboration, directing and dramaturgy - equipping students to innovate and lead within contemporary theatre and performance contexts.
- Specialised training for performers, theatre-makers, facilitators, educators and scholars on an acclaimed, long-standing programme that has generated famous practitioners and theatre companies
- Learn about world-renowned theatre practices from specialists
- Develop advanced skills for creating independent work and building creative communities
- Extend your artistic practice, sharpen your critical skills and learn to contextualise your work culturally and historically
- Join a diverse, international community of artists, researchers and students who are passionate about theatre’s role in society and are leaders in their field
- We also offer a two-year MFA Theatre Practice course
2nd in the UK for Drama, Dance and Cinematics
Industry placement options
Opportunities for study in the field
Top 5 in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
2nd in the UK for Drama, Dance and Cinematics
Industry placement options
Opportunities for study in the field
Top 5 in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
Entry requirements
We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree or above in their first degree in drama. While we normally only consider applicants who meet this criterion, if you are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant work experience, we would welcome your application. Practical and/or professional experience may be taken as constituting the equivalent of a degree qualification.
Applicants are invited to submit a portfolio, including videos excerpts from previous performances or links to others types of material.
Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.
Entry requirements for international students
English language requirements
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
The course has enabled me to explore new creative possibilities which I have never had access to before. The lecturers are incredibly supportive and highly knowledgeable practitioners who are passionate about the arts and its future possibilities for you as a student.
“Dance like nobody's watching” - Completely let go of anything you “think” you know and be prepared to open yourself up to every possibility and more. Don’t be afraid to try something out because everyone else will be feeling that same hesitancy too.
I waited until the moment was right for me to jump into the unknown and do what I truly love. Having a “hidden disability” made me feel worried about “fitting in” or being “good enough” but it’s the best choice I have ever made and I have felt truly supported in my creative journey as an artist.
Read more from Carina
Carina
MA Theatre Practice
Course content
Our MA Theatre Practice nurtures the theatre scholar-practitioners of the future. You will be taught advanced skills in movement, voice, text, adaptation and devising and will be invited to work collaboratively and imaginatively across various types of performance.
This programme is ideal for anyone wishing to further their practical training, integrate this with the study of cutting-edge performance practices, and the cultivation of advanced research skills.
We regularly train students in Grotowski-based movement and voice work, Phillip Zarrilli’s psychophysical training, Asian body-mind practices (including yoga, t’ai chi and butoh), Meyerhold’s biomechanics, polyphonic singing, integration of movement and text, and Viewpoints. You will be introduced to contemporary performances practices, including site-specific theatre, intermedial performance, autobiographical work, physical theatre, and devised performance. Each year, students on this pathway can undertake a training residency outside the department, arranged by the university. In previous years, students have trained at Shakespeare’s Globe in London.
Programme staff are experts in actor training, directing and devising. They lead professional companies (e.g. RedCape Theatre) and regularly collaborate with world-leading theatre organisations (e.g. the Grotowski Institute in Poland, the National Theatre of Greece, ArtsCross International, LADA-Live Art Development Agency, the National Theatre Wales).
We offer a rich programme of esteemed visiting speakers and practitioners throughout the year. This frequently features workshops in clowning, puppetry, sound and dance. You will have access to the Exeter Digital Archives, one of the largest collections of recorded training and performance sessions in the world.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
180 credits of compulsory modules
a - Choose either CDFM001 Dissertation - Written or CDFM002 Dissertation - Practice (you cannot choose more than one module from this group)
DRAM167 Contemporary Performance Practices is pre-requisite for DRAM168 Performance Practice Project
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module |
Credits |
|---|
| DRAM103 |
Cultural Adaptation | 30 |
| DRAM167 |
Contemporary Performance Practices: Training | 45 |
| DRAM168 |
Performance Practice Project | 45 |
| CDFM002 |
Dissertation - Practice [See note a] | 60 |
| CDFM001 |
Dissertation - Written [See note a] | 60 |
Fees
2025/26 entry
UK fees per year:
£12,500 full-time; £6,250 part-time
International fees per year:
£25,300 full-time; £12,650 part-time
Scholarships
The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships*.
For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
*Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.
Teaching and research
Depth and breadth of our practices
Our MA Theatre Practice introduces you to significant international practices and the core aspects of the theatre-maker’s craft: physical and vocal training, ensemble-making and collaboration, dramaturgy, directing and devising, space, props and technology.
Structure of teaching
In Term 1 you will explore the variety, richness and range of training practices, with chances for you to focus on the particular elements that most interest you.
In Term 2 and in your dissertation, you will be able to specialise, deepen and hone your understanding of one or more key areas of performance practice.
Toolkit development
You will regularly take part in ‘Toolkit’ sessions with visiting specialists, masterclasses and training.
You can gain further skills through a training residency with a professional theatre organisation, allowing you to experience different approaches to performance taught by professionals in the field.
In the second part of the year, you will create and perform a full-length project (solo or ensemble), with support by our expert staff and tech team. If you choose, you can perform your pieces to festivals of theatre work hosted by the University of Exeter, including the T3 Festival.
Praxis and reflective practitioner training
You will encounter key theory readings and engage in critical dialogue about them. As the practical elements increase via project-based learning, you will reflect upon your own practice using these readings, theories and resources.
This opportunity to self-reflect is as valuable for students who come into the MA with a substantive body of practice as it is for students with more limited experience. We value that each learning journey is unique.
Seminar modules and your research
In your theoretical modules, you will examine key topics in contemporary performance and skills for researching a topic of your choosing. In ‘Cultural Adaptation’ you will discuss how performance is made across cultures, and discover theatre-makers, applied-theatre practitioners and theorists influencing international performance. You will be introduced to a range of skills to help you design, prepare and conduct your own research.
For your ‘Dissertation’, you will conduct in-depth research in your chosen area of interest, guided by a supervisor. This can be fully written, or you can select a practice-based dissertation: for example, performance and writing, workshops and writing, or work placement and writing.
Assessment
You will benefit from a balanced range of assessments, including presentations, essays, project proposals, annotated bibliographies, and performances. Your learning process throughout the term is an important part of practice-based assessments and is taken into consideration in the marking.
Read more
Dr Erin Walcon
Lecturer in Applied & Educational Theatre
Dr Konstantinos Thomaidis
Associate Professor in Drama, Theatre & Performance
Professor Rebecca Loukes
Associate Professor of Performance Practice
Emily Kreider
MFA Theatre Practice Programme Director
Dr Erin Walcon
Lecturer in Applied & Educational Theatre
Erin is Co-Director of Doorstep Arts, a non-profit arts education organisation based in Torbay, providing sustainable long-term participatory arts engagement opportunities for children and young people in an area of statistically low socio-economic status. For Doorstep Arts, Erin administers and produces 14 ongoing drama groups across youth clubs and schools. Erin is a regional producer for Battersea Arts Centre's Collaborative Touring Network and was former Artistic Director of Devon Youth Theatre. Erin serves as the Chair of the Torbay Arts in Schools Network (the regional Cultural Education Partnership) and also serves on the board of Theatre Alibi.
Erin researches participatory arts, social justice, community engagement and theatre in education, and is a regular contributor to blogs and other open-access, public-friendly platforms.
Profile page
Dr Konstantinos Thomaidis
Associate Professor in Drama, Theatre & Performance
Konstantinos performs internationally. Credits include: Hamlet in Ophelia, Interrupted (The Grotowski Institute, Poland / UK tour), Raskolnikov in What Happened to the Tyrant? (Camden People’s Theatre, UK), Perlimplin in Lorca’s Don Perlimplin and Belisa (Ora Theatre, Greece), Chi Chi Bunichi (National Theatre of Iasi, Romania, UK and Poland tour). Directing credits include: Semele by Handel (London and Berlin), A Voice Has. A Voices Does. A Voice Is. and Portable Soundscapes (New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth). Recently, he was Voice Consultant to Sophocles’ Trackers (Epidaurus) and Music Director for David Greig’s The Events (National Opera of Greece).
He has taught actor training, movement and voice at the Estonian Academy of Theatre and Music, the GEOKS Center in Bali, the Norwegian Theatre Academy and the Drama School of the National Theatre of Greece. He co-edits the Journal of Interdisciplinary Voice Studies and Routledge Voice Studies.
Profile page
Professor Rebecca Loukes
Associate Professor of Performance Practice
Rebecca is a professional director, leading industry- and public-facing work. She is joint Artistic Director of award-winning company RedCape Theatre. She co-created and performed in The Idiot Colony Project, which was performed 96 times across 30 UK venues (including the Institute for Contemporary Arts, London, Warwick Arts Centre, Birmingham Rep and Plymouth Theatre Royal). The piece won a Scotsman Fringe First and Total Theatre Award for Visual Theatre in 2008. Other projects include 1 Beach Road and Be Brave and Leave for the Unknown; both received funding by the Arts Council England, toured extensively and were favourably reviewed.
She is a regular collaborator of ArtsCross, a long-term initiative bringing together academics, artists and producers across cultural, national and artistic borders (partners include: Beijing Dance Academy, Taipei National University of the Arts, Shanghai Theatre Academy and Hong Kong Academy of the Performing Arts). She researches histories of performer training, with a particular focus on women’s legacies, and co-edits Routledge’s Perspectives in Performer Training.
Profile page
Emily Kreider
MFA Theatre Practice Programme Director
Emily is a US/UK-based award-winning teacher, creative practitioner, and leader in practice and experiential learning, who joined the University of Exeter's Drama department in 2014. She currently serves as the Director of the MFA Theatre Practice programme, where her teaching approach is characterised as responsive, experiential, inclusive, and student-led. Her research interests include practice-as-research, applied theatre, and the development of innovative pedagogical methods within drama education.
Profile page
Facilities
As one of the largest and best-equipped Drama programmes in the country, we have excellent teaching and performance spaces. Our course is part is part of the Communications, Drama and Film Department, including facilities for film and TV film, media suites for post-production, a screening space, a podcast recording studio, and state-of-the-art studio spaces for training and performance.
The Drama Department is based on the Streatham campus. All of the practical spaces are for use only by Communications, Drama and Film students, giving us a high degree of flexibility.
Alexander Building
The Alexander Building was custom-designed for Drama and was opened in 2007 to great acclaim. It houses the main reception for students, staff offices, 2 brand new sprung-floored studios, 3 additional studios (including filming studio and screening space), 2 seminar rooms, 2 sound studios, meeting rooms, computer suites, workshops and a large costume store. The postgraduate computer suite is accessible 24 hours.
White House
The White House is a mansion building containing many original architectural features, and now contains 3 large airy rehearsal spaces and staff offices.
Roborough
The Roborough Studios provides three large fully-equipped adaptable studio spaces along with a seminar room and technical facilities (including a podcast recording studio), and is used for large-scale performances and events as well as regular rehearsals and practical sessions.
Careers
An MA Theatre Practice from Exeter enables you to develop a wide range of skills, such as those involved in creativity and public performance; research; analysis and source assessment; writing and verbal communication; managing and interpreting information; and developing ideas and arguments.
There are many career options open to students including acting, directing, performing, teaching and technical roles. Graduates also find work in other areas outside of theatre and performance: e.g., website design, press relations, magazine editing, copywriting, account managing, national health practice, law, and journalism.
Selected Alumni
Previous graduates lead performance companies around the world, including:
- Oregon Shakespeare Festival (USA)
- London Demidov Studio (UK)
- Brite Theatre (UK)
- Jammy Voo (UK)
- Zero Point Theater (Greece)
- Guild of the Goat Theatre (India)
- Theatre P’yut (South Korea)
- Doorstep Arts (UK)
- Anthos Arts (UK)
Others work for arts organisations, including:
- China Radio International, (China)
- State Administration of Radio, Television and Film (China)
- National Theatre of Northern Greece
- Attis Theatre (Greece)
- Grassroots Shakespeare (USA)
- Marebito Theatre (Japan)
- Exeter Northcott (UK)
- Plough Youth Theatre (UK)
- MED Theatre (UK)
Several graduates have become university lecturers in institutions including:
- Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (UK)
- De Montford University (UK)
- University of Sussex (UK)
- University of Chester (UK),
- Roger Williams University (USA)
- Clark University (USA)
- Korean National University of the Arts (Korea)
- the Drama School in Mumbai (India)
- the Real Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático de Madrid (Spain)
- Aristotle University (Greece)
Read more about recent alumni news>>
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My course is the perfect progression, having studied at Exeter as an Undergraduate. The course has offered me the opportunity to develop as a practitioner and researcher, and has an excellent balance between practice and theory work.
The postgraduate community here at Exeter is hugely supportive, and I feel very lucky to be part of such a wide-ranging and fascinating community of researchers.
I have undertaken two extra-curricular internships within the Drama department – one working with Professor Jerri Daboo on her work for the British Asian Theatre Project; and second with Professor Rebecca Loukes for her theatre company RedCape Theatre.
I feel my course and overall experience at Exeter has contributed significantly towards my development professionally, and there are multiple pathways which I am considering – including professional work, or a PhD.
Read more from Rosaline
Rosaline
MA Theatre Practice
