Course Overview

This MFA Theatre Directing offers professionally recognized training for theatre directors. The result of a collaboration between Birkbeck and the Arts Council England, Equity, and UK Theatre, the course provides a unique opportunity to work with theatre actors, writers, and designers, while being introduced to the structural and financial realities of working as a director in the industry.

You will spend time at a leading drama school, learning how actors are trained for today’s theatre. Intensive units with expert professionals, including noted practitioners such as Mike Leigh, Mike Alfreds, Vicki Mortimer, Natalie Abrahami, and Lyndsey Turner, will concentrate on the director’s relationship with the designer and the writer, and offer a practical understanding of how theatre companies and pieces of work are funded and managed.

You will then further develop your skills as a director through secondment to a theatre company where you will have the opportunity to assist on at least three productions; collaborators include the Royal Exchange Manchester, Citizens Theatre Glasgow, Leicester Curve, Liverpool Theatres, Octagon Theatre Bolton, Mercury Colchester, the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, and the Unicorn.

General Eligibility

Either a second-class honors degree (2:2) or above from a UK university (or a directly comparable qualification from a non-UK university), together with some significant experience of professional or professional-level theatre; or an undergraduate- or postgraduate-level diploma from a recognized UK drama school (or a directly comparable qualification from a non-UK drama school), together with some significant experience of professional or professional-level theatre (normally three years); or extensive professional experience. Considerable importance will be attached to your ability to demonstrate a commitment to professional theatre directing. If you are considered to be initially qualified, you will then be interviewed.

Part Time Work Details

20 hours of work permit weekly for international students.

Language Requirement

• If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.