One year MA/PG Dip in Theatre Directing

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One year MA in Theatre Directing (4 terms)

Validated by the University of East Anglia

One year PG Dip in Theatre Directing (3 terms)

Autumn Intake

An intensive programme which runs for three (PG Diploma) or four terms (MA).

"My time at Mountview was inspiring, challenging and empowering: I started the year with a very raw and uninformed passion for directing (that was, in reality, little more than an enthusiastic student hobby coupled with ambition) – and finished it well prepared to enter the profession... "

Michael Longhurst
2004  Graduate: (Fringe First Award 2005 for Guardians /Jerwood Directors Award 2007 for  dirty butterfly at the Young Vic)

This Course offers high quality vocational training for students with the potential and passion to work as theatre directors. Mountview Directing graduates have a reputation for clarity, professionalism, imaginative engagement and leadership, and are successfully pursuing directing careers.

The core principle of the Course is to support the development of the unique 'voice' of each student director - underpinned by the making of informed creative and practical choices. It concentrates on a rigorous approach to text in performance, understanding the actor's process, collaborating with writers and other artists and considering different audiences. Throughout the course the emphasis is on challenge, enquiry and learning through practice. This practical work includes:

Directing two public productions
- professional actors
- full casting process
- fully supported by professional staff
Two internal showings of directed work
Assisting a professional director on a third year production
Training to work with playwrights

Mountview also offers:

Training alongside acting and technical theatre students
Participation in actor training classes, to facilitate understanding the actors process
Exposure to a wide range of professional practice – full scale productions, projects and industry professionals
The opportunity to train within a musical theatre programme

Mountview celebrates the uniqueness of each individual and constantly seeks to broaden the social, ethnic and cultural mix of the student body, so that everyone can benefit from the richness that diversity brings into practice.

"There is no attempt to impose a single method or approach to directing. Students are encouraged to be open to a broad range of possibilities, with the focus always on helping the actor. The teachers tend to guide by asking questions, so the path of each student through the course is unique to that director."

Teaching is delivered by resident and freelance staff and leading professional theatre practitioners from various disciplines.

"The chance to debate, discuss and even learn from a group of like minded people has been amazing for me..."

Professional links

The Theatre Directing Course has strong links to the profession through a variety of channels.

Working with a wide range of freelance professional directors and other theatre practitioners on public shows
Experienced industry professionals teach on all courses, including the Directing Course
Professional Theatre Companies, such as the Royal Court and the Globe, seeking recommendations for assistant directors.
Mentors are established professional directors (e.g. Giles Croft, Artistic Director of Nottingham Playhouse, Sacha Wares, Associate Director Royal Court)
Guest speakers and lecturers

Mountview regularly consults with professional contacts to ensure that the skill set offered in the Course continues to meet industry needs.

The Directing Course can boast an enviable graduate employment record.

Recent graduates have been or currently are employed at:

RSC (several Assistant Directors)
Royal National Theatre (currently a staff director, several Assistant Directors and many National Studio placements)
Royal Court Theatre
Gate Theatre
Bush Theatre
Almeida
Manchester Royal Exchange
Old Vic
Young Vic
Donmar Warehouse
Welsh National Opera, ENO
Theatre Clwyd
Nabakov (Artistic Director)