MA Theatre for Community and Education

MA Theatre for Community and Education
Validated by University of East Anglia

Two years (part-time) September Entry

Mountview’s MA in Theatre for Community and Education is a creative and challenging ensemble experience in the transformational power of theatre arts.

In a society where access to the arts is at risk of being marginalised, this course develops the next generation of interdisciplinary theatre practitioners who will lead the way in providing meaningful arts experiences for all.

The course in applied theatre is aimed at practitioners interested in the potential of theatre arts to address social, political and educational issues in a broad range of settings.

It invites creative reflection into the power of storytelling for social transformation, considering the role of arts in education, migration and exile, health and building communities.

It is a professional training and vocational experience for anyone seeking to establish a career involving social change through arts, including those practicing in youth, community and/or education settings and performers looking to develop and diversify their career.

Working in a maximum cohort of 16 you will explore some of theatre’s most powerful ideas and practices. Learning and teaching involves thinking, making and doing through workshops, lectures, seminars and independent practice.

Throughout the course you will learn and develop skills in teaching, leading and facilitating creatively and imaginatively. You will be taught by lecturers with expertise in a variety of areas, such as dramatherapy, diaspora consciousness, marketing and communications, funding community projects, and theatre in the criminal justice system. Practical areas of study include: collaborative and ensemble techniques, forum theatre, arts for wellbeing, ritual theatre, trauma awareness and technology in artistic practice.

Teaching takes place one day a week with one long study weekend per term, which enables students to work alongside their training. The course is taught by a range of highly experienced practitioners and visiting tutors and offers a balance of theory and practice in its learning strategy.

Assessments are varied and include essays, research talks, funding applications, education packs, presentations, case studies, performance and dissertation.

The dissertation project is defined by your area of interest and can be practice-based or written and can involve placements within arts organisations.

Course Practitioners

Maria Askew
Senior Lecturer

Patrice Naiambana
Visiting Lecturer

Ameera Conrad
Visiting Lecturer

Tom England
Visiting Lecturer

Sara Green
Visiting Lecturer

Saul Hewish
Visiting Lecturer

Ben Osborn
Visiting Lecturer

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

NB There is no teaching on the Easter Weekend (2-5 April) or May Bank Holidays

Applied Theatre Practice & Pedagogies

Principles of theatre-making
Techniques
Pedagogies
Methods and approaches
Ritual theatre
Decolonial and feminist practices

The Theory and Practice of Learning Through Theatre

Socio-political context of applied theatre
Education as a practice of liberation
Power and the teacher/ facilitator/ leader
Practical workshop techniques and skills
Trauma informed practice and dramatherapy

Business and Management

Funding and finance
Marketing and communications
Strategies for freelance practitioners
Navigating the 21st century cultural sector
Sustainable community projects
Creative producing
Practical application of business management

Policies and Agendas

Policies that shape the theatre and cultural sector
Diversity and difference
Practical inquiry into theatre and culture as tools for social transformation
Global policies and post-colonial theory
Development of a portfolio of case studies of cultural agendas

Contemporary Arenas and Praxes of Applied Theatre

Education
Rehabilitation
Migration and exile
Arts in conflict zones
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Professional development

Creative and Cultural Learning

Museums and galleries
Storytelling and gamification
Cross border collaborations
Immersive arts, music and film
Performance as protest

Dissertation Project (Practical or Written)

Specific dissertation project
Research / Rehearsal time
Application of previous modules

Interview fee
£10

2020/21 UK/EU Students Course Fee
£4,745 p/a

2020/21 International Students Course Fee
£8,930 p/a

Additional Costs (e.g. cultural trips)
£100

Fees are subject to annual review. One term’s notice will be given of any increases. There will be additional costs for cultural trips – allow around £100.

Mountview works with all students to discuss funding options.

Funding and Scholarships

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.

Auditions and Interviews