The course develops creative and practical skills over an intensive three-term programme of training and study.
There are only 34 places available each year. With over 30 hours of direct teaching time each week and taking place with a maximum of 17 students per class this postgraduate acting course delivers focused, culturally engaged, practical actor training.
Over the first two terms you will undertake rigorous skills training in all areas of an actor’s professional practice. In each term skills work is put into practice with performance projects focusing on contemporary and classical playtexts and original devised work.
Lectures and seminars centre on devising, autobiographical and solo performance and theories and practice including: intersectional feminist, postdramatic, queer and critical race theories, socio/political theatre practices, and the performance of knowledge. Alongside one-to-one tutorials, these sessions support the development of your Creative Project, an original piece focusing on an area of performance practice of your choosing and performed at the end of the second term.
In the third term, you’ll perform in a professional showcase attended by agents, casting directors and other prominent industry professionals, as well as a fully staged public production of a play. In your third term you’ll also work closely with Mountview’s Industry Liaison Manager to prepare for life as a working actor.
Our miniseries ‘& Performance’ explores the Mountview MA Performance programme and how performance training can be complemented by critical engagement with theory – watch here.
This course will run subject to re-approval by the University of East Anglia (UEA). This means the course is currently going through UEA’s process to confirm the course will lead to a UEA award. Course re-approval will take place in June 2022 and is expected to be confirmed by August 2022. All courses validated by UEA are revalidated every five years through this re-approval process.
2021/22 Term Dates
Autumn term 24 September – 17 December 2021
Spring term 10 January – 14 April 2022
Summer term 21 April – 23 July 2022
Writing up period (MA only) 23 July – 31 August 2022
NB There is no teaching on the Easter Weekend (15-20 April) or May Bank Holidays
2021/22 Term Dates
Autumn term 24 September – 17 December 2021
Spring term 10 January – 14 April 2022
Summer term 21 April – 23 July 2022
Writing up period (MA only) 23 July – 31 August 2022
NB There is no teaching on the Easter Weekend (15-20 April) or May Bank Holidays
2021/22 Term Dates
Autumn term 24 September – 17 December 2021
Spring term 10 January – 14 April 2022
Summer term 21 April – 23 July 2022
Writing up period (MA only) 23 July – 31 August 2022
NB There is no teaching on the Easter Weekend (15-20 April) or May Bank Holidays
| Audition Fee | £25 first round, £20 second round |
| 2022/23 UK/Republic of Ireland Students Course Fee | £17,680 |
| 2022/23 International Students Course Fee | £19,870 |
Fees are subject to annual review. One term’s notice will be given of any increases.
Additional costs include grey palette active wear for workshops and dance shoes – allow around £180. Headshots, Spotlight membership and some travel – allow £350.
Mountview works with all students to discuss funding options.
Find Out MoreAdmission onto the course is by audition. Applicants must be aged 21 years or over at the start of the course. Students who do not hold an undergraduate degree will need to undertake an access assignment to establish suitability for undertaking the MA.
If an applicant’s first language is not English, and they have not been taught in English or studied to A Level standard in the UK, they will need to demonstrate an acceptable minimum level of competence through the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Band 6.5).
Mountview welcomes applications from people with disabilities and is keen to support all applicants to achieve their best. If applicants have any special requirements or access needs, these should be discussed with the course leader/administrator.
Mountview is committed to a comprehensive policy of equal opportunities for students in which individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities. No applicant will receive less or more favourable treatment on grounds of sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnic origin, disability, religion and marital/parental status or any comparable grounds.
First round auditions will take place online. Candidates will need to submit a film of them performing their selected materials. For detailed information on what you need to prepare for auditions and for audition dates visit
Auditions and InterviewsTraining at Mountview was both the most challenging and rewarding experience I've had. The support and guidance I received whilst facing fears and insecurities that performing naturally brings was fantastic.
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