The MA Theatre Lab is a four term course, running for 12 months from January to January.

RADA's MA Theatre Lab expands your ability to work both collaboratively and independently as an actor and theatre maker. Working rigorously with expert practitioners, you will explore actor-centred approaches and apply them innovatively to extant texts, working on and creating new and original performance. This will empower you to play a revitalising role in today’s theatre-making landscape.

The course is ideally for applicants who already have strong experience in performance. Instead of replicating RADA's three-year training in one year, it aims to build on applicants’ existing experience, whilst extending their training.

In term one and two, learning and assessment will be focused on a practical exploration of techniques in acting and performance, physical and vocal skills and devising. This learning will be reinforced by reflecting, writing and analysing on your experience.

In your third term, you will work over the summer as an ensemble alongside a professional director to create a full-length original piece of work for public performance.

Whilst continuing your training and study in a fourth term, you work towards making small-scale, original performances as a part of the Development of Performance module (either in companies or as solo makers) for an end of year Lab Works Festival. This process will be supervised and mentored by members of staff and people from the industry.

Throughout the year there will be further opportunities to share your work and receive extensive feedback from staff and visiting professionals.

Assessment

The MA Theatre Lab leads to an unclassified masters degree; this means you will receive a pass or fail.

Assessment is based on both practical (process and studio sharing) and critical/reflective written work. You will be assessed by various methods throughout your training, which includes continuous, synoptic, summative and formative assessment methods.

Where do MA Theatre Lab Graduates work?

The MA Theatre Lab prepares you for both a conventional acting career and a more independent performance-making pathway. As Masters level students, graduates may also wish to apply their learning to developing a career in pedagogy and/or academia.

Graduates of the MA Theatre Lab work internationally in a range of theatre venues and companies, as well as in film and television, with many founding their own companies and creating new work.