MA Theatre University of Lincoln

Our webinars, subject masterclasses, question and answer sessions, and student panel talks are a great way to discover what it is like to live and study at the University of Lincoln.

The course aims to provide a 360-degree perspective on performance to reflect the need for a portfolio career in the 21st Century, with a designated focus on dramaturgy.

MA Theatre places an emphasis on the vast range of recent developments in drama, theatre, and performance practice and research. The programme makes full use of the expertise of staff across the School of Fine and Performing Arts, which embodies in-depth knowledge of contemporary theatre-making.

Staff have expertise in running professional touring companies, playwriting, dramaturgy, theatre criticism, and writing successful research grant applications and funding bids. Our research-active team publish dramaturgy and theatre-making in academic literature.

Students have the opportunity to benefit from a combination of practical experience and theoretical study. This approach is designed to enhance career prospects by preparing students for a variety of roles in theatre, media production, management, research, and education.

How You Study

MA Theatre is taught across the academic year through lectures, seminars, group workshops, and blended learning strategies. It utilises facilities including the performance studios of Lincoln Performing Arts Centre, the University's online learning platform, BlackBoard, and the latest digital technologies, allowing the School to engage diverse learners through a variety of means.

In between scheduled sessions, students are expected to engage in self-directed study, supported by academic staff. This includes allocated and autonomously researched journal articles, book chapters, and relevant journalism, as well as watching video content and engaging with other materials, often suggested or made accessible through each module's online learning site. Students can also undertake regular formative assignments that are not assessed as part of their final grade but are designed to have significant benefits to their learning.

Programme Structure

Semester A

• Perspectives on Performance
• Dramaturgy in Practice
• Writing about Theatre

Semester B

• Perspectives on Performance
• Research Territories
• Writing for Theatre

Semester C

• Research Project (Dissertation or Practice as Research)

Contact Hours and Independent Study

Weekly contact hours on this programme may vary depending on the individual modules and the stage of the study. The postgraduate-level study also involves a significant proportion of independent study exploring the material covered in lectures and seminars. As a general guide, for every hour spent in class, students are expected to spend at least four to five hours in an independent study.

Modules

• Dramaturgy in Practice (Core)
• Perspectives on Performance (Core)
• Research Methods (Core)
• Writing about Theatre (Core)
• Writing for Theatre (Core)
• Making Theatre for Young Audiences (Option)†
• Practice as Research Project (Option)†
• Research Project (Option)†

† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.

How You Are Assessed

Modules are assessed by a combination of written essays, critical portfolios, student blogs, funding forms, learning agreements, prospective journal articles, pitches, panel discussions, individual and group presentations, and/or focused practical workshops or performances. Student progress is subject to continuous assessments on all modules in the programme in addition to final assessed outputs.

Assessment will focus on: the demonstration of practical and theoretical engagement with research; articulation and demonstration of knowledge regarding a wide range of theatre performances; critical enquiry and analysis; and contextualising students' own work and the work of others within the field of historical or contemporary performance practice and scholarship.

Students in the MA Theatre play an active role in choosing the focus and, in some cases, even the modes of their assessments in consultation with relevant module tutors and in ways that align with their individual career goals. This practice embraces the University of Lincoln's core ethos of 'Student as Producer' by empowering postgraduate students to shape and take ownership of their learning.

Assessment Feedback

The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to students promptly – usually within 15 working days of the submission date.

Fees and Funding

For eligible students, there are more ways than ever before to fund your postgraduate study, whether you want to do a taught or research course. For those wishing to undertake a Master's course, UK students can apply for a loan as a contribution towards the course and living costs. Loans are also available to those who wish to undertake doctoral study. The University offers a number of scholarships and funded studentships for those interested in postgraduate study.

Programme-Specific Additional Costs

For each course you may find that there are additional costs. These may be with regard to the specific clothing, materials or equipment required.

With regards to text books, the University provides students who enrol with a comprehensive reading list and you will find that our extensive library holds either material or virtual versions of the core texts that you are required to read. However, you may prefer to purchase some of these for yourself and you will be responsible for this cost.

Entry Requirements 2022-23

Lower second class honours degree or above or equivalent professional experience. Professional experience in the industry might include five years as a theatre-maker/ playwright or working in the theatre industry.

If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages for information on equivalent qualifications.

Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page.

If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-session English and Academic Study Skills courses. These specialist courses are designed to help students meet the English language requirements for their intended programme of study.

Research Areas, Projects, and Topics

MA Theatre has benefitted from close links with the School and College expertise-sharing initiatives Critical Encounters and Tower Talks, and the programme leaders aim to nurture these and other such opportunities going forward.

Features

In the past, MA Theatre students have taken part in study trips to Nottingham, Sheffield, and Leeds. There may be opportunities to attend professional and peer networking events such as Critical Encounters, hosted by the School, and the Tower Talks event for postgraduate students and staff across the College of Arts.

There is potential for students to get involved with extracurricular activities with The Lincoln Company which regularly takes shows to the Edinburgh Fringe every year.

Students may also have the opportunity to engage in Horizons, a blended learning initiative designed to help them develop subject-specific employability skills, and interdisciplinary and digital skills, drawing on the University of Lincoln’s six research themes.

Placements

The core work-based learning module, Dramaturgy in Practice, offers a choice of three placement pathways - industry, pedagogy, or online - giving students the opportunity to engage with artworks in progress through placements in the industry regionally; with drama lecturers on practical undergraduate modules; or through digital collaborations.

A list of possible placement hosts will be provided, but students are welcome to source their own. It will be up to the student to liaise with their host, negotiate how they will work with them, and cover additional travel costs incurred.

Interviews and Applicant Days

Applicants may be asked to attend an interview in person, via telephone, or online. Written evidence will be required in the form of a recent sample of critical or creative writing. It is expected that prospective candidates will have researched the course and be prepared to speak about it. Please contact Programme Leaders for further information.

"MA Theatre offered me the opportunity to write a play and take it to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2016, where my work was viewed critically on a national scale. It is by far the proudest achievement of my life and something that never would have been possible without the MA course."



Kate Newman

Career and Personal Development

Theatre graduates from this programme have gone on to work in the theatre industry in areas such as writing, devising, performing, dramaturgy, and otherwise making theatre. Graduates have formed theatre companies and worked with arts venues, either in administration, marketing, or backstage. Some have gone on to postgraduate research to become lecturers in further and higher education.

The University Careers and Employability Team offer qualified advisors who can work with you to provide tailored, individual support and career advice during your time at the University. As a member of our alumni we also offer one-to-one support in the first year after completing your course, including access to events, vacancy information and website resources; with access to online vacancies and virtual and website resources for the following two years.

This service can include one-to-one coaching, CV advice and interview preparation to help you maximise your future opportunities. The service works closely with local, national and international employers, acting as a gateway to the business world.