Integrated Master in Drama and Scriptwriting

Studying theatre and drama at Essex enables you to examine some of the most influential play-texts ever written, and to be ready to take part in shaping the essential performances of tomorrow. This degree is a chance to unlock and explore your creativity. You will develop as a scriptwriter too, by learning with professional and award-winning dramatists. You will produce a varied portfolio of dramatic works, culminating in a full-length original play, which will enable you to hone and develop your own unique voice.

On our four-year MLitSt Drama and Scriptwriting, you will be part of an interdisciplinary department where literary critics work alongside practising poets, dramatist, film-makers, novelists and journalists.

You have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of optional modules across different topics and areas of specialism, including;

• Dramatic literature from Ancient Greek tragedy and Shakespeare, to modern plays from around the world
• Contemporary playwriting and devising techniques
• Staging political ideas, human rights and social justice issues
• Gender, identity, orientation and sexual politics on stage
• Creating Applied Theatre in educational and community contexts
• Emergent trends in interactive performance-making and audience participation

In your fourth year, as a post-graduate student, you will be able to choose from the following masters level modules in drama and scriptwriting;

• The principles of dramatic structure and scene construction
• Techniques for working as a playwright with youth and community groups
• The origins and possibilities of poetic theatre and verse drama
• Options for poetic practice or novel-writing
• Radio drama

We are ranked third in the UK for drama in the Guardian University Guide 2021 and top 20 for drama and film studies in the UK (Dance, drama and cinematics, Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021).