MA in Theatre and Performance

Course Structure

Students must achieve 180 credits (four taught modules plus the dissertation) for the MA award, but can be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma on successful completion of 120 credits.

• Text, Politics and Performance (30 credits)
• Issues in Contemporary Performance (30 credits)
• Theatre Practice 1: Practical Research Projects (30 credits)
• Theatre Practice 2:Independent Practice (30 credits)
• Dissertation of 15,000 words OR 9,000 plus integrated practice component (60 credit)

What we offer

Our resources are geared to support the development of your practical and intellectual learning on the course. We provide:

• A team of experienced practitioner-researchers as your tutors and mentors;
• A variety of performance spaces, including the Theatre Workshop (a large and fully-equipped performance area with excellent facilities), Cutting Edge (our newly acquired and renovated studio space with sprung floor) and the Drama Studio (a fully-functioning theatre in a converted nineteenth century church), as well as rehearsal spaces of various sizes and facilities for video and sound editing;
• Three libraries across campus (and virtually), with 24-hour access at the university's Information Commons;

Why study in Sheffield?

Sheffield is an extraordinarily vibrant city in which to persue postgraduate theatre studies and one that supports great diversity of creative activity. Tutors work in partnership with our dynamic Crucible and historic Lyceum theatres, as well as with multidisciplinary spaces such as Bank Street Arts, Weston Park Museum and EKSPAN.

Sheffield is also home to a newly built permanent outdoor amphitheatre that overlooks the cityscape and is the main site for Sheffest (Sheffield Festival of Ancient Drama). Contemporary performance making is equally active: Sheffield is home to Forced Entertainment, one of Europe's leading experimental theatre companies; Tim Etchells and Terry O'Connor, core members of Forced Entertainment, are Professors at the university and will work with you on the MA programme. Other important local and regional practitioners we collaborate with include Third Angel, Mind the Gap, Red Ladder and Wayne Sables Project.

Our students relish the opportunity to work in dialogue with academics and professional artists, frequently taking their performance practice outside the university and bring 'the city' variously back into the studio.