MFA Theatre Directing

Course Summary

This is a practice based programme for those wishing to develop a career as a professional theatre director, an innovative theatre praxis and an understanding of creative producing in London, the centre of British theatre.

The programme is practice-based and industry-facing, and aligned with both main stage and contemporary arts practice. The programme gives students the support to develop as theatre directors and, crucially, independent creative producers with the ability to make high quality and innovative performance work. The teaching team are both experienced academics and professional practitioners and have wide networks within the creative industries, including production houses, directors, actors and industry bodies. Students will have the opportunity to take master classes with industry professionals and each will be assigned a professional mentor to advise on their artistic and professional development.

They will also have the opportunity to work with writers and actors on other MFA programmes in the school or externally. Teaching will take place in the industry standard studio facilities at USS and the professional arts venue Rich Mix. The programme is delivered in the evenings and offered full and part time to enable access for those with work and family commitments.

How You'll Learn

One of the great strengths of our course is that you’ll be taught by academics steeped in the theatrical arts and professional practice, headed by Course Leader Dr Dominic Hingorani. Dominic is a professional playwright, academic author, producer and director and Co-Artistic Director of Brolly, a cross-arts company supported by Arts Council England. He has recently written, directed and produced a national tour of a new play for teenagers ‘her’ in partnership with Half Moon Theatre and a new opera ‘Clocks 1888 the greener’ in partnership with Hackney Empire.

Your Future Career

We’re proud that our students go on to make their names as designers, design coordinators, pattern cutters, fashion technologists, product developers and retail managers. As one of our graduates Lucy Johnson, who now owns streetwear label Brahboys, says of the course, “It was a fun and emotional experience that I’d recommend to anyone thinking of a career in fashion." At Graduate Fashion Week 2016, one of our students, Antonia Nae, won the prestigious Lipsy Red Carpet Award for her sweeping black dress.

The quality of our students’ work is held in such high regard that a group of our undergraduates were commissioned to create the costumes for a pivotal scene in the hit movie, Absolutely Fabulous.