Please note that applications for September 2021 are now closed. Applications for September 2022 will open in October 2021 – due to demand, we advise applying early.
Mountview’s MA in Creative Producing explores and provides experience and the skills needed to be a successful theatre producer.
Running since 2015, 100% of graduates have already gone on to work professionally in the UK and internationally, both on their own projects and with companies including Headlong, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Live Theatre in Newcastle, Park Theatre and Jermyn Street Theatre.
The course is delivered through five modules, designed to develop a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of current practice through engagement with industry leading practitioners and academics. Students tackle complex issues both systematically and creatively, and they will show originality in solving problems. Mountview’s MA in Creative Producing students graduate with a comprehensive knowledge and skillset together with an independent learning ability equipping them for their vocational career and continuing professional development.
All modules are compulsory. There is assessment throughout based on reports and presentations. Teaching takes place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday over 38 weeks. In addition, you will be expected to allocate two days per week to undertake your placements, production training and self-study.
The course includes a programme of seminars featuring more than 40 leading executive producers and theatremakers, including Gareth Johnson (Gareth Johnson Ltd), Hedda Beeby (Fiery Angel), Glynis Hall (Glynis Henderson Productions), Jo Crowley (1927), Lyn Gardner (Theatre critic and journalist), David Brady (Artistic Director, The Lion & Unicorn Theatre), Jessica Brewster ( Artistic Director, The Roses Theatre), Ricky Dukes (Lazarus Theatre Company), David Carey and Saida Ahmed (Chickenshed), Ben Monks and Jeremy Wong (Improbable).
Students have been supported by a wide range of companies and venues, including Cervantes Theatre, New Earth, Aria Entertainment, Bush Theatre, Arcola Theatre, Park Theatre, Les Enfants Terribles, The Blue Elephant, Theatre Deli, The Golden Goose Theatre, LUNG Theatre Company, Jermyn Street Theatre, COLAB Theatre, The White Bear, Talawa Theatre Company, Fuel Theatre, Selladoor Worldwide and Walking Theatre.
Click here to watch Festival Talk. The Festival Talk was produced by Creative Producing students and featured as part of Catalyst in the Cloud – a dynamic online festival of theatre and performance celebrating the work of Mountview´s 2020 MA Creative Producers
 Pam Fraser Solomon Head of Creative Producing |
2020/21 Term Dates
Autumn term 14 September – 18 December 2020
Spring term 4 January – 1 April 2021
Summer term 12 April – 25 June 2021
Dissertation project (MA only) 25 June – 31 August 2021
NB There is no teaching on the Easter Weekend (2-5 April) or May Bank Holidays
2021/22 Term Dates
Autumn term TBC
Spring term TBC
Summer term TBC
This module enables students to engage immediately with their new knowledge and understanding of creative producing. The focus is on the Not-For-Profit Sector providing students with a theoretical and practical introduction to the core requirements of producing with creative flair, within the context of economic and cultural priorities.
The module will place theatre activities in the political, social, economic, and environmental landscape and investigate the resultant business framing. Experts in their field will provide insight into the management of not-for-profit organisations and productions. This module looks at sources of finance and fundraising alongside the core necessary tools needed to market creative products by identifying, reaching, and attracting an audience.
Producers learn by producing, and so this module is practice based to enable the student to clarify and develop their own approach to creative producing. They will be offered frameworks to explore creative and managerial techniques for events production and theatre-making. In this module, students will begin to advance their own practical methodology alongside the study of critical thinking and current practice.
A process of skills development is practised in which students self-assess their own managerial and theatre-making toolkit and capitalise on upskilling provisions. Students also develop their own applied producing projects that are responsive to identified needs in and around the local environment. The practical projects are an opportunity to develop theories, techniques, and creative flair through leadership, production management, collaboration, execution and communication.
2020/21 Term Dates
Autumn term 14 September – 18 December 2020
Spring term 4 January – 1 April 2021
Summer term 12 April – 25 June 2021
Dissertation project (MA only) 25 June – 31 August 2021
NB There is no teaching on the Easter Weekend (2-5 April) or May Bank Holidays
2021/22 Term Dates
Autumn term TBC
Spring term TBC
Summer term TBC
This module will develop an intellectual and practical knowledge of balancing the producer’s resources. Whether preparing a small budget event or a multi-million-pound venture, the fundamentals are the same. Students will be provided with the tools to work within the framework
of financial systems and raise investment. Students also explore the business case for production scale, transfers, and exploitation through Commercial Theatre Production and Company Management. This module has been designed to provide opportunities for theoretical and practical analysis of the core requirements of producing with creative flair within the context of financial imperatives.
This module builds on the theatre-making skills so far developed and empowers students to extend their practice by fulfilling a job role in a professional producing environment. The placement supports all aspects of personal practice and every student is provided with the opportunity to have a residence that supports their managerial and creative journey, as well the opportunity to build career sustaining networks. The module tests teamwork, leadership and collaboration through real world experience, to build on future leader potential.
2020/21 Term Dates
Autumn term 14 September – 18 December 2020
Spring term 4 January – 1 April 2021
Summer term 12 April – 25 June 2021
Dissertation project (MA only) 25 June – 31 August 2021
NB There is no teaching on the Easter Weekend (2-5 April) or May Bank Holidays
2021/22 Term Dates
Autumn term TBC
Spring term TBC
Summer term TBC
This module will give students the opportunity to demonstrate a wide range of creative producing skills whilst creating a substantial theatrical event. The Catalyst Festival is a theatre season produced by the students to showcase the Directors’ and Producers’ creative projects to a paying audience; it is the culmination of learning to date across all modules. The producers work closely with the MA Theatre Directors and other creatives, and utilise the skills of the wider Mountview community. Apart from working as festival producers and line producers for the Directors’ showcase, the producers also develop their own creative content for the season. The productions provide the creative producers with an opportunity to consider future exploitation potential of festival content for the wider cultural landscape.
Mountview’s MA in Creative Producing is both academic and vocational and this approach is complimented by a varied assessment process that recognises individual strengths. Assessments include pitching to panel, presentation to peers, project portfolios, reflective essays, reports, productions, and a final written and practical dissertation project.
Fees are subject to annual review. One term’s notice will be given of any increases.
Mountview works with all students to discuss funding options.
Funding and ScholarshipsThe MA in Creative Producing provides students with invaluable skills and networking opportunities to place them firmly within the theatre industry.
Admission onto the course is by interview. 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.
Candidates are invited to an online interview with the course leader at which they discuss their previous experience, interests and influences.
Please be aware that due to the limited amount of places available, this course may become full before 31 May 2021 and in this event applications will close early. Please apply earlier to avoid disappointment.
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