Our modules, with our focus on hands-on, collaborative working, and contact with leading theatre-makers, will ensure that you have a wide range of practical, creative and analytical skills for the production and performance of theatre texts.
Throughout the course we'll interweave the ethics, politics and aesthetics of theatre-making and critical analysis. You'll gain an in-depth understanding of narrative structures and their visual, technical, performative and political dimensions. We'll consider contemporary practice along with active research into some of the longer histories that continue to influence how we make theatre now. You'll be able to demonstrate your skills with an extended practical or written independent project.
You'll learn to work collaboratively with people in a wide range of roles and across disciplines. You may also choose to work with our undergraduate students, and theatre practitioners from outside the School.
MA Theatre-Making programme focuses on the study and creation of live performance. It is not a course in theatre design.
You'll study six taught modules and an extended practical or dissertation project.
You'll engage with processes of and approaches to theatre-making, from how to analyse a text and creatively respond to it, to ensemble practice and performance skills, to rehearsal room organisation and directing methods, to creating your very own performance work. We'll explore a range of contemporary theatre and performance texts, explore and analyse established theatre-makers’ approaches and methods, and undertake research to develop your own practice.
In addition to the core modules and an Extended Project , you'll study two option modules. Some option module combinations may not be possible. Your option choices will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
The programme culminates in a significant piece of independent work, which you will design and develop through the Final Project module. You'll choose to be assessed in one of three ways.
When you make your choice you'll submit a proposal including a rationale and timetable for the work.
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
You'll principally be taught in an invigorating seminar-workshop context, embracing the inextricable relationship between theatre-making theory and practice. Our seminar-workshops allow us to work flexibly together depending on the needs of a particular topic, and to blend seminar-style discussion with practical experimentation.
This course incorporates masterclasses from industry professionals in theatre. You'll have the opportunity to attend talks, productions and festivals , and you'll also be able to attend screenings that relate to performances being discussed in your course.
You'll be assigned a member of our teaching staff who will act as your personal supervisor. They are there to give advice on academic matters as well as other areas of University life. For your project or dissertation you'll also be assigned a supervisor who may be a different member of staff.
We have excellent purpose-built facilities available to you.
Discover our facilities
You will be based in the School of Arts & Creative Technologies on Campus East.
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements .
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses . These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York .
You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.
Apply for this course