Course summary
Please apply directly to the College. What you'll study This advanced and rigorous MA/ MFA Contemporary Directing Practice programme offers an experiential two-year course, where students will develop their vocabulary and find their own voice and vision as a director, while acquiring and honing a diverse variety of skills, techniques, tools and devices. The fully-taught MA programme is 13 months long, and graduates qualify in October of year two with the presentation of their Independent Research Project. MFA students commence their year two with a fully resourced production of a One-Act Play, followed by a Professional Placement Module and, notably, Writing & Directing for Camera (resulting in the writing of a short film, learning the film language of making a film and directing actors for screen). MFA concludes with the Independent Professional Directing Project to be delivered at the end of the programme. Students are supported by continuous assessment and regular tutorials with the Programme Director, and feedback from Visiting Tutors. Why choose this course? • Expert training: A playground for personal and professional growth, and experimentation under the mentorship and instruction from established artists; professional encounters, talks and seminars with leading British and international theatre-makers. It is an exceptional opportunity to join and collaborate with a diverse and vibrant group of emerging theatre practitioners across the postgraduate school. • Unique approach: Master your directing techniques, tools and psycho-physical vocabulary on this experiential journey of discovery, developing the director’s individual voice and vision. • Resources and facilities: Be part of Rose Bruford’s creative student community. Collaborate with students and practitioners from other courses and disciplines across both postgraduate and undergraduate schools, with access to vast College resources and facilities, both online and on-campus. • Industry contacts and networking: Develop a professional network of creative relationships. Visiting lecturers, tutors and mentors have included: Annabel Arden, co-founder of Complicite; Walter Meierjohann, theatre director; Tinuke Craig, theatre director; Amy Hodge, theatre & film director; Sam Curtis Lindsay, Artistic Director Hackney Showroom; Jay Skelton; Sophie Fiennes, film-maker; Barbara Houseman; Timothy Sheader, Artistic Director Open Air Theatre; Emma Baggott, theatre director; Nikolai Foster, Artistic Director Curve, Leicester; Abigail Graham, theatre director; Jaz Woodstock-Stewart, theatre director; Mita Pujara and many others. MA Programme Specification: https://twk-media-offload.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bruford.ac.uk/wp-uploads/2021/07/MA-Prog-Spec-Contemporary-Directing-Practice.pdf MFA Programme Specification: https://twk-media-offload.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bruford.ac.uk/wp-uploads/2021/06/MFAContemporaryDirectingPracticeProgramme_Specification.pdf
Modules
MA Contemporary Directing Practice The MA runs over an extended academic year of 13 months. It is comprised of four taught modules over the course of three consecutive terms followed by an Independent Research Project that results in a resourced practical project presentation documented in the Director’s Workbook. List of Modules (All modules are compulsory): • Module 1: Embodying the Space Part 1: A foundation in wide-ranging mind-body skills and techniques, rooting directors in the language of improvised, devised, collaborative and immersive story-telling. Part 2: Creating and directing a Devised Piece and an Adaptation Project • Module 2: Framing the Space This module expands the director’s awareness and language of Visual and Spatial Storytelling, Visual and Musical Composition, and introduces approaches to Director –Designer creative collaboration. • Module 3: The Director's Journey: the core module that underpins the programme as a whole. It is taught in two parts: Part 1: Dialogue with the Playwright - Director Preparation from page to stage Part 2: Director’s Lab - a practical part of the course, comprised of numerous independent scene-study workshops, a practical exploration of Director-Actor interaction, etc. • Module 4: Professional Directing Practice - an inter-programme directing project, drawing on the additional skills of performers, designers and stage technicians both from the School of Performance (European Theatre Arts Programme) and the School of Design Management and Theatre Arts. • Module 5: Independent Research Project The final module facilitates the creation of an original piece of work, it is a practical articulation of your practice. The module is designed as the culmination of the programme as a whole, with the view to implementing the working methodologies and practices that have been assimilated and acquired. Programme specification: https://twk-media-offload.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bruford.ac.uk/wp-uploads/2021/07/MA-Prog-Spec-Contemporary-Directing-Practice.pdf
Qualified teacher status (QTS)
To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:
- Course does not award QTS
How to apply
International applicants
Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance is London’s International Drama School. We welcome students from around the world for both BA and MA/MFA degree study in performance, design, management and technical arts, as well as foundation courses, short courses and summer schools. You will be studying close to London and have easy access to the amazing culture, restaurants and theatre there. When you study with us, you will join students from more than 25 different countries, and develop skills that could take your career all over the world. We have links worldwide with partner institutions for student and staff exchanges, collaborative projects and wider research initiatives. You may find our international students web page and guide useful: https://www.bruford.ac.uk/join/international-students/ We run webinars with virtual campus tours for prospective international students, you can register here: https://www.bruford.ac.uk/join/visit-and-experience/
Entry requirements
Applicants for Masters Programmes will be expected to have a good undergraduate degree in a related subject area. The College also encourages applications from those without formal qualifications who may be accepted on the basis of professional experience.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
England | £18100 | Whole course |
Northern Ireland | £18100 | Whole course |
Scotland | £18100 | Whole course |
Wales | £18100 | Whole course |
Channel Islands | £18100 | Whole course |
Republic of Ireland | £18100 | Whole course |
EU | £24150 | Whole course |
International | £24150 | Whole course |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
Rose Bruford College
Lamorbey Park
Burnt Oak Lane
Bexley
DA15 9DF