MSt in Writing for Performance

The Master of Studies (MSt) in Writing for Performance is designed for postgraduate students who wish to develop high-level theoretical skills, and a vibrant and innovative creative practice within writing for a range of performance mediums. Writing for Performance is defined as scripts for theatre, film/TV, radio drama, comedy, or text for performance art/poetry/installations, and for digital platforms. The programme aims to facilitate experimental creative writing practices, while developing students’ ability to think conceptually about performance theories, histories, traditions and forms.

Who is the course designed for?

Students on the MSt in Writing for Performance could include those currently working, or wishing to work, in the creative industries. This might include teachers, publishers, dramaturgs, literary managers, journalists and broadcasters.

Aims of the programme

By the end of the course students should be able to demonstrate the following:

Knowledge and understanding

• specialised knowledge of histories, forms, and traditions of writing for performance; of the cultural contexts of practitioners and practices within performance; of contemporary critical, analytical, and narrative theories of performance;
• advanced awareness of the relevant market and distribution demands of entertainment industries;
• enhanced understanding of the applications of performance in educational, community, and social contexts;
• detailed understanding of key performance components within the discipline, to include: ideational sources, body, space, image, sound, text, movement, environment.

Skills and other attributes

• dramaturgical and script-editing skills within a range of performance mediums that may include theatre, film/TV, radio drama, performance art/poetry, comedy, digital performance platforms (e.g., podcasts);
• developed advanced self-management skills to include working in planned and improvisatory ways, as well as the ability to anticipate and accommodate change, ambiguity, creative risk-taking, uncertainty and unfamiliarity;
• an understanding of group dynamics and project management skills in order to collaborate within collective, creative, and professional contexts as well as generating performance texts and presentations;
• honed script-writing and dramaturgy/script-editing skills, resulting in the ability to produce a full-length, production-ready script within a chosen performance medium.

Students for this course will normally have achieved a UK 2.1 honours degree or overseas equivalent. There is provision to accept non-standard applicants who do not satisfy the standard academic criterion. Such applicants must produce evidence of relevant and equivalent experience and their suitability for the course.