Course summary

The MA Theatre for Social, Political and Environmental Change offers a unique opportunity to study theatrical responses to climate change and other pressing social and political issues. This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to shake up the world around you through innovative performance practices. You’ll also gain a theoretical understanding of the role that performance plays in society and politics. Throughout the programme we will explore the ways that professional theatre makers, applied theatre facilitators, and performance activists have responded to global challenges such as environmental degradation, migration, homelessness, sustainable development, and political engagement. Taught by world-leading academics and practitioners, you will learn about creative, socially-engaged practices and theories from a variety of global contexts. You will also have an opportunity to take optional modules within the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts, or from other subject disciplines. The course is taught through a combination of studio-based practical teaching alongside lectures and seminars. All students will undertake an independent Major Research Project, which may take the form of either a written thesis or a combination of practice-based work with a shorter written submission. Delivered through blended modes of teaching, this MA is suitable for students living full-time on campus or for those spending portions of time based in other areas. This enables students to combine their study with relevant professional roles outside of the Lancaster area, or to fully immerse themselves in the rich cultural context of this region. This programme will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to provoke effective and long-lasting change through creative performance practice. It will also provide a foundation for further postgraduate study, or for careers in community, educational, and charity sectors.