Masters degrees in Theatre Studies offer advanced training in the technical and contextual aspects of theatre performance, including its history and modes of production.
Taught MA and MFA courses are typical for the field. Entry requirements normally include an undergraduate degree in a revenant subject such as Performance Studies or Drama.
Offered by the Workshop Theatre and Centre for Global Development, this unique degree will give you the skills to become a practical theatre facilitator, as well as an understanding of global development issues and their impact on the social uses of performance.
Core modules will develop your understanding of development studies, theatre and performance in the community. You’ll even get to complete a placement delivering workshops in a community setting such as a school or prison. In addition, you’ll choose from optional modules offered by our School of Politics and International Studies (POLIS), allowing you to specialise in aspects of development studies that suit your interests or career plans.
You’ll be taught by leading researchers and experienced theatre practitioners in state-of-the-art facilities, but you’ll also get out of the classroom and into the community. It’s a great opportunity to prepare for a career in development and the arts, in the UK or elsewhere.
From the beginning of the programme, you’ll explore applied arts practice by engaging with the work of thinkers such as Edward Said, Paulo Freire, Dorothy Heathcote and more to consider issues such as empowerment, training and funding, impact and sustainability. You’ll also gain an understanding of key issues and concepts in development studies through a core module that runs all year long.
In your second semester you’ll have the chance to start applying all you’ve learned, when you’ll attend an external placement to plan and deliver a series of workshops for a local community organisation of your choice.
Throughout the year you’ll also study a core module that develops your research skills and introduces you to the different methodologies and approaches in researching theatre and development. This will culminate in your dissertation, an independently researched project on a related topic of your choice which you’ll submit by the end of the year.
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Because this degree is so diverse, we use a range of teaching and learning methods. Theatre modules will include weekly seminars and workshops conducted in small groups, practical sessions with a range of practitioners and your own community theatre placement. Development modules usually combine lectures and seminars, as well as chances to enhance your learning with the research seminars and talks by visiting speakers we arrange throughout the year.
We also use various forms of assessment to help you develop a broad skill set. Most MA modules are assessed with a single essay, and you may be expected to submit an unassessed essay to gain feedback on your work. Other modules are likely to assess you based on your placement, portfolio, practical work and assignments.
Successful entry on to this Guildford School of Acting (GSA) programme means you will be part of a carefully selected and committed ensemble of performers-in-training, equipped with the necessary self-discipline and motivation to master new skills and refine existing capabilities.
GSA is one of the UK’s leading accredited drama schools, providing dedicated conservatoire training within a purpose built environment on the University of Surrey campus.
We place a very strong emphasis on the practical acquisition of technical skills together with a dedicated focus on professional development, and provide opportunities to combine these skills into musical theatre rehearsal projects and public performances.
The programme is intensive and specifically designed to equip participants in the ‘triple-threat’ disciplines of acting, singing, dancing.
Seminars in contextual and theoretical studies are taken together with masterclasses led by industry professionals in audition technique and repertoire.
These skills are integrated through project work which includes a devised project, a final public production led by a production team of industry professionals, and a West End Showcase.
This programme is studied full-time over one academic year.
Example module listing
The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that not all modules described are compulsory and may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas:
Knowledge and understanding
Intellectual / cognitive skills
Professional practical skills
Key / transferable skills
We often give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities.
In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV.
