2023/24 Term Dates
Autumn term 4 September – 15 December 2023
Spring term 8 January – 28 March 2024
Summer term 15 April – 12 July 2024
Writing up period (MA only) 12 July – 31 August 2024
MA CREATIVE PRODUCING
Validated by University of East Anglia
One year (full-time)
An intensive, practical one-year course covering all the skills required to be a successful arts producer.
This course develops an understanding and critical awareness of current practice through engagement with leading industry practitioners and academics. Students are encouraged to tackle complex issues using a methodical and creative approach, while developing strong and creative problem-solving abilities.
Students graduate with the knowledge, skills, and independent learning ability to pursue a vocational career and continue their professional development.
Graduate Destinations
100% of graduates have already gone on to work professionally in the UK and internationally.
Alum destinations reflects the diversity of interests and include Headlong, Gate Theatre, Pleasance Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Paines Plough, Frantic Assembly, Hampstead Theatre, London Palladium, Menier Chocolate Factory, Cardboard Citizens, the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse theatres, Ambassador Theatre Group, Crossroads Live, Netflix and Ayr Gaiety.
Many other graduates have gone on to devise and develop their own projects, and launch new theatre companies such as PC-J Entertainment, Excellence Theatre, El Gordo Theatre Company, Lyle Productions, Verghese Productions, and Lagahoo Productions.
Course Leader and Guest Practitioners
Pam Fraser Solomon, Head of MA Creative Producing
The course is led by Pam Fraser Solomon, supported by a range of disciplines and departments across Mountview. The MA also features an extensive and diverse programme of visits and engagement with external professional practitioners. In the past these have included companies such as:
- The National Theatre
- Fiery Angel
- Bush Theatre
- New Earth Theatre
- Theatre Deli
- Talawa Theatre Company
- Selladoor Worldwide
- English Touring Opera
- Bill Kenwright Ltd
- Lyric Hammersmith
Course Content and Delivery
The course is delivered over 38 weeks, with teaching days on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. In addition to teaching days, students should expect to allocate two days per week to undertake placements, production training and self-study.
There are five compulsory modules, and the course structure includes:
- Seminars delivered by leading producers and theatre-makers
- Placements with diverse companies and venues
- Ongoing assessment, based on reports and presentations.
Showcase
The course culminates with the annual VIEW Festival in the final term. VIEW is a dynamic showcase of producer-led work and consists of a full programme of productions alongside live and online wraparound engagement events, all produced by the cohort. VIEW is supported by Mountview departments including Marketing and Technical.
Read an interview with MA Creative Producing Alum Anna Hulm.
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 the Summer term 2024 and is expected to be confirmed by August 2024. All courses validated by UEA are revalidated every five years through this re-approval process.
Skills
- Arts ecology
- Arts business
- Dramatic critical practice & commissioning
- Theatre making and producing in the not-for-profit sector
- Budget & fundraising
- Marketing & audience development
- Theoretical framework
Not-For-Profit Transformative Theatre
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.
Personal Reflective Practice
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.
2023/24 Term Dates
Autumn term 4 September – 15 December 2023
Spring term 8 January – 28 March 2024
Summer term 15 April – 12 July 2024
Writing up period (MA only) 12 July – 31 August 2024
Skills
- Commercial producing & general management
- Touring
- Digital futures
- Understanding technical theatre
- International collaboration & presentation
- Finance
- Licencing & royalties
For-Profit National and International Theatre
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.
Producing Placement
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.
2023/24 Term Dates
Autumn term 4 September – 15 December 2023
Spring term 8 January – 28 March 2024
Summer term 15 April – 12 July 2024
Writing up period (MA only) 12 July – 31 August 2024
Creative Practice:
- Develop a solo play as part of a collaboration with other creatives on a larger scale work.
Producing Practical Dissertation
Demonstrate a wide range of creative producing skills whilst creating a substantial theatrical event, utilising the skills of the wider Mountview community and developing creative content for the season.
Assessment
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.
USEFUL INFO
| Interview fee | £20 |
| 2024/25 UK/Republic of Ireland Students Course Fee | £10,265 |
| 2024/25 International Students Course Fee | £18,945 |
| Additional Costs (e.g. cultural trips) | £100 approx. |
Fees are subject to annual review. One term’s notice will be given of any increases.
Limited interview fee waivers and reductions are available for candidates with a household income of less than £21,000.
There are a number of student scholarships available.
Funding and ScholarshipsAdmission 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 requires a student visa and their first language is not English, they will need to prove their knowledge of the English language before applying for their student visa. This must be demonstrated by passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider or having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, gained through study at a UK school that they began when they were under 18.
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.
You will take part in an interview with the course leader at which you will discuss your interests, influences and previous experience. This will take place in-person at Mountview and you may be required to submit a portfolio of work.
For international candidates and those with exceptional circumstances, the option of an online interview is available.
Please be aware that due to the limited amount of places available, this course may become full before June and in this event applications will close early. Please apply early to avoid disappointment.
Auditions and Interviews
"The MA in Creative Producing provides students with invaluable skills and networking opportunities to place them firmly within the theatre industry."