Course Overview

Kick-start your passion for directing and dramaturgy at UEA, with one of the UK’s longest-standing Master's courses in Theatre Directing. Based in the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing our MA Theatre Directing Text and Production boasts an interdisciplinary approach. Whether you want to pursue a career as a theatre-maker, writer or director or continue in academic research, this part-time course is for you.

Your tutors include acclaimed contemporary playwrights, working directors and acting specialists. You’ll learn lighting, sound and stage management fundamentals with our studio technical staff. You’ll be supported by one-to-one mentorship with the course director. You’ll benefit from visiting professionals and theatre practitioners throughout the year, creating an unparalleled balance of philosophical, technical and practical learning. You’ll also have opportunities for work-shadowing with regional and national companies and venues, which helps you gain a knowledge of production, management and funding processes. Your final dissertation could be a full production, a written research or creative project, or a combination of them, all supported by academic and technical staff.

In the close, collaborative and non-hierarchical environment at UEA you’ll also gain from working with undergraduate actors and postgraduate scriptwriters throughout the year.

Graduates from the course are resident directors with national theatre companies, or are touring shows that they have written, directed, and produced themselves. Many have obtained funding for their projects, in partnership with UEA Enterprise or from Arts Council England. Recent alumni include producer, writer and director Sky Carver; Artistic Director of the Relish Theatre Company Rob Ellis; Artistic Director of Norwich Puppet Theatre; Peter Beck; and Julia Sowerbutts, Artistic Director of INK Festival of New Writing.