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 holistic programme 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, vocational experience and a philosophical education, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds, including those practicing in youth, community and/or education settings and performers looking to develop and diversify their career. Throughout the course you will develop critical skills in facilitating, devising, leading, producing, discussing and teaching creatively and imaginatively. Study involves workshops, lectures and seminars as well as independent collaborative and solo practice/research.
Teaching takes place one day a week with one long study weekend per term. 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. Lecturers hold expertise in a variety of areas, such as applied theatre, dramatherapy, diaspora consciousness, marketing and communications, international politics, funding community projects, and theatre in the criminal justice system.
Practical areas of study include collaborative and ensemble techniques, decolonial feminist approaches, forum theatre, arts for wellbeing, ritual theatre, trauma awareness, devised theatre, facilitating in multilingual multi-faith spaces, ecological transformation, and ethics in artistic practice. You will gain experience running theatre workshops in local schools in the Peckham area. You will also learn from a range of world class organisations such as Clean Break, Brixton House, Unicorn Theatre, Turtle Key Arts, Access all Areas and Candoco Dance Company. Assessments are varied and include essays, talks, education packs, presentations, practice and dissertation.
Students engage in a wide range of texts such as Theatre of the Oppressed by Augusto Boal, Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom by bell hooks, The Moving Body by Jacques Lecoq, Borderlands/La Frontera by Gloria Anzaldúa and Theatre for Living: The Art and Science of Community-Based Dialogue by David Diamond.
The dissertation project is defined by your area of interest and can be practice-based or written. Training may involve placements within a variety of world-class arts organisations, such as the Royal Court Theatre, Springboard Youth Academy, Theatre Peckham, the Migration Museum, Raze Collective, the Tate Modern, Peckham Harris Secondary School, Radio Platfform and Rideout Creative Arts for Rehabilitation. In addition, students have previously led international workshops on placements in schools in Spain and Nigeria.
The course is led by Maria Askew, an award-winning theatre director, performing artist and educator who has worked internationally with groups and individuals from a broad range of sectors, including healthcare professionals, refugee and migrant communities, as well as in the
creative/cultural industries, in education with schools, colleges and universities, and with NGOs and charities. Maria’s research explores the intersections between artistic, political, and social transformation.
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Students collaborate with a wide variety of visiting practitioners and lecturers throughout their training. The above list is a sample of some of the guest lecturers on this course and is subject to change.
2021/22 Term Dates
Autumn term 22 September – 16 December 2021
Spring term 12 January – 31 March 2022
Summer term 20 April – 30 June 2022
Teaching takes place one day per week, plus one additional Friday and Saturday per term.
| Interview fee | Free |
| 2022/23 UK/Republic of Ireland Students Course Fee | £4,838 p/a |
| 2022/23 International Students Course Fee | £9,108 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 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’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.
You will take part in a first round interview with the course leader at which you will discuss your interests, influences and previous experience. This may take place online or in-person.
Please be aware that due to the limited amount of places available, this course may become full before 3 June 2022 and in this event applications will close early. Please apply earlier to avoid disappointment.
Auditions and Interviews"I feel I have grown enormously as a person- both academically and emotionally. I’ve had a lot of moments where things have clicked – I feel very happy and settled both on the course and at Mountview. This was the right course for me!"
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