MA Applied Theatre: The University of Manchester

Course description

This programme is open to graduates who are interested in the application of theatre in social policy or educational fields. It aims to encourage the research of theatre and drama applied to non-traditional spaces and marginalised communities, and enables you to interrogate your own and your peers' practice.

It offers you the chance to develop your practical work and skills, and apply these to projects of your choice. The course is proudly multidisciplinary, combining aspects of participatory theatre, criminology, psychology, education and social policy.

Module details

Typical course units in semester one include compulsory units in research skills and methodologies, accompanied by core provision in contemporary performance theory and practice relevant to applied theatre. This core course unit provides an opportunity to directly experience practice in a core area of applied theatre such as criminal justice or education.

In semester two, another core course unit is designed around a major practical project of your choice: past projects include anti-bullying workshops in schools, prison-based drugs education programmes, special needs projects, and theatre programmes in Peru and Kenya. You also take a practical unit offering training and development in the skills and capacities needed by an applied theatre practitioner. This unit is facilitated by expert visiting practitioners and the applied theatre team here at Manchester.

Career opportunities

Graduates from this programme face a diverse range of career opportunties: directly in applied theatre as practitioners and artists, or in various related areas such as teaching, social and educational work. Some students also pursue further study and research.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview: A First or good Upper Second Class Honours degree (or overseas equivalent) in Applied Theatre , Drama , Theatre Studies or Performance Studies .

English language: If your first language is not English, you need a minimum score of 7.0 on the IELTS test or 600 on the TOEFL paper-based test (250 computer-based), or the Cambridge Advanced Certificate (grades A-C) or the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (grades A-C).