Find out more about studying Applied Theatre and Education MA at University of Derby? We've gathered all the key details, entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
MA - Master of Arts
Derby
Full Time
Sep 2026
1 Year
Applied Theatre refers to the practice of theatre and drama in non-traditional settings and/or with marginalised communities politically, educationally, and socially. This course investigates both practically and critically how theatre and drama within our communities can be transformative and contribute to social change. It encompasses theatre practices with young people with care experience, wellbeing, prison settings, schools, older communities, working with refugees, and with people with disabilities. This unique course situates you within Derby Theatre, a professional producing theatre, and includes specialised Education modules. Students can select from various modules focusing on understanding contexts, emotional intelligence, addressing future challenges, and driving education transformations. The course emphasises reflexivity, positionality, skill development, knowledge exchange, and evaluating innovation to improve education policy and practice. You will deepen your knowledge and practice in the field of Applied Theatre critically and creatively as a performer, director, or facilitator. You will develop your ability to interpret, understand, and conduct practice as research relevant to theatre and education at a masterly level. You will create your own work with a budget and all the facilities needed for off-site delivery or in the studio theatre, helping you to become industry ready for employment with work opportunities and a vibrant network of companies and artists.
This module will ground your understanding of Applied Theatre practice, drama methodologies and historical context. This will include an historical overview of the legacies of key practitioners Healthcote, Spolin, Way and Boal critically reflecting on and how these contribute to contemporary developing practice and academic discourse including Balfour, Dolan, Nicholson and Thompson.
This module provides the opportunity for participants to consider the role, purpose and contribution of educational theory on and for educational practice. Drawing on a range of theorists, for example but not exclusively, Etienne Wenger, Paulo Freire and Pierre Bourdieu, the module invites participants to critically consider their contributions to the practices of contemporary education across a range of learning environments.
This module is concerned with identifying and developing the key personal and academic competencies associated with successful study at Masters Level in a global context of continuous educational change. Through crafting of a journal in which you will address what you are doing professionally (and/or academically) with what you are experiencing as a person will encourage the critical reflection and development of your own academic needs.
Whilst working in project groups?, this module provides you with the opportunity to consider a specific Applied Theatre role as actor, facilitator, or director delivering a high quality educational project within a community setting. Understanding the reciprocal relationship between research and practice, you will draw together Education theorists and Applied Theatre studied throughout the programme to critically evaluate your project whilst assessing impact with your chosen client group.
This module provides the opportunity for you to develop a supported practical performance piece which could be delivered in multiple locations or the opportunity to have a longitudinal experience in a community or school environment. The module will provide you with the opportunity to work in small teams to devise material and deliver off-site, as well as development of performance and facilitation skills under direction from the tutor.
