Validated by University of East Anglia

Two years (Part-Time)

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

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.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including those practicing in youth, community and/or education settings and performers looking to develop and diversify their career.

Graduate Destinations

The course equips graduates for versatile and impactful careers both in the UK and internationally, and alumni have gone on to work in a range of areas including:

• Launching their own arts companies, such as Kindred Collective
• Leadership positions within major cultural organisations
• Workshop facilitators and practitioners in higher education environments
• Public sector positions related to youth participation
• Working on international arts-based programmes

Course Leader and Guest Practitioners

Maria Askew, Head of MA Theatre for Community and Education

The course is led by Maria Askew, an award-winning theatre director, facilitator and performing artist, alongside a range of highly experienced practitioners and visiting tutors. Lecturers hold expertise in a variety of areas such as applied theatre, co-creation, youth led work, dramatherapy, diaspora consciousness, marketing and communications, international politics, funding community projects, and theatre in the criminal justice system.

You can read an interview with Maria Askew and other course tutors here.

Teaching is also delivered by representatives 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.

Guest practitioners include:

• Monique Baptiste Brown
• Helen Tovey
• Rina Mushonga
• Ameera Conrad
• Andrea Spisto
• Lerato Islam
• Saul Hewish

Guest lecturers listed are a sample of many practitioners and organisations you will work with on the course and are subject to change.

Course Content and Delivery

There is one day of in-person teaching each week, with one additional study weekend each term.

Throughout the course students 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.

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
• ethics in artistic practice

Students gain practical experience running workshops in schools, both locally in the Peckham area and further afield – previous locations include Spain and Nigeria.

As part of the course students undertake a work placement within a professional organisation. Training may involve placements within a variety of world-class arts organisations such as Royal Court Theatre, Harris Academy Peckham, The Migration Museum, Springboard Youth Academy, Tate Modern, Theatre Peckham, and Rideout Creative Arts for Rehabilitation.

Assessments are varied and include essays, talks, education packs, presentations, and workshop samples.

Showcase

The final dissertation project is defined by the individuals’ specific area of interest and can be practice-based or written. Previous projects have involved collaboration with a range of communities and organisations, and research has been presented through a variety of mediums including workshop facilitation, performance, dance, educational toolkit and video content.

Previous project titles include:

• ‘Migration Monopoly’: Making sense of uneven migratory experiences with young people through arts
• School of Revolution: Facilitating socio-political consciousness and agency through theatre for young people in the classroom today
• Creative Transformations in Dementia Care: Enhancing wellbeing for people with dementia through theatre and storytelling
• “The Heroes We Didn’t Clap For: Lessons from Lockdown”. How arts-based approaches improved young people’s mental health during COVID-19
• The Dancing Classroom: Dance as a teaching mechanism and its integration into the UK curriculum
• African Arts: Introducing Theatre to the Cultural and Creative Arts Curriculum, A Nigerian Case Study
• Feel Good Inc: Socially Prescribing arts-based workshops to build confidence and enhance wellbeing for young adults with invisible illnesses

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.