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Birkbeck, University of London: Dramaturgy

Institution Birkbeck, University of London View institution profile
Department School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication
Web http://www.bbk.ac.uk/
Telephone 0203 907 0700
Study type Taught

Summary

MA Dramaturgy is a highly unique degree delivered by one of the most impactful and innovative departments in the UK. This course offers you a comprehensive exploration of the theory and practice of dramaturgy. Taught by world-leading academic researchers, artists and industry professionals, you will explore diverse aspects of dramaturgy through a combination of:

  • academic study

  • dramaturgical practice

  • writing for and about theatre and performance

  • theatre composition

  • performance-making.

You will work practically with a host of leading artists, who share their diverse approaches to creating and dramaturging performance, from collaborative theatre-making and live art to queer performance and ecological theatre. You will engage in scholarly examination of practices, histories and theories regarding the research and development of drama, theatre and performance works inside and outside the rehearsal room. Further enhancing your practice-based and scholarly skills and knowledge, you will produce a dramaturgical exhibition for a production, originate a playwriting project, and engage in an industry-led examination of audience development, arts education and producing.

This MA Dramaturgy is unique in approaching dramaturgy from multiple standpoints: practical, theoretical and institutional. It is offered in association with guest artists, recently including Zoe Svendsen, Tim Crouch, Karen Christopher, Sarah Sigal, Dickie Beau and Lou Cope. Another exciting feature of this course is the opportunity to present practice-based dissertation projects in Camden People's Theatre as part of a graduation festival. This MA Dramaturgy is supported by the creative and critical interests of Birkbeck staff and the expertise of associate artists that include Birkbeck Centre for Contemporary Theatre Fellows.

This course will prepare you to enter the world of creative industries with specialist theoretical and practical knowledge, and an informed overview of the creative process and its components. Throughout your degree, you will develop research skills, enriched by the Graduate Research in Theatre (GRiT) seminar series. MA Dramaturgy’s well-balanced academic and industry focus also offers you access to invaluable resources, including professional development workshops and career opportunities.

Highlights

  • This MA draws on the research interests, professional practice and expertise of our academics and visiting artists and scholars. Internationally renowned artists and practitioners teach on the course.

  • MA Dramaturgy students can also benefit from informal academic and creative enhancement opportunities. You will be invited to Graduate Research in Theatre seminars run each term by Birkbeck’s Centre for Contemporary Theatre, which also hosts regular talks, workshops, performances and masterclasses. You can also share your work in progress as part of Scratch Night, during our summer Arts Week festival.

  • We collaborate with Dramaturgs’ Network (D'N) which provides each of our students with networking and professional development opportunities and exchange events, plus a year’s free D’N membership, as well as other exclusive opportunities.

  • You will have the chance to attend a special seminar on programming, audience outreach and other dramaturgical practices at Battersea Arts Centre.

  • Birkbeck was ranked 2nd in the UK for its English Language and Literature research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

  • We offer a number of bursaries for postgraduate students.

Careers and employability

Our graduates can be found pursuing a broad range of career paths, including in:

  • literary departments

  • dramaturging and producing

  • theatre and performance practice

  • academia and education

  • opera and dance

  • playwriting

  • stage combat and fight choreography

  • arts administration and outreach.

MA

Birkbeck, part of the University of London, offers nearly 300 taught and research postgraduate programmes across arts and humanities, business and economics, law, science and social science. As an evening teaching specialist, Birkbeck offers its taught postgraduate courses between 6-9pm, with some courses available through distance learning. As with undergraduate courses, postgraduates can study full-time or part-time.

Home to 44 research and specialist institutes, Birkbeck is the sixth largest provider of taught postgrad courses for UK and EU students - some 44% of its 11,000-plus students are on postgrad programmes. Around 90% of its academics are active in research, and …

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