StudyQA — Master: Performance Design and Practice

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Description Contents Requirements

MA Performance Design and Practice responds to and engages with tradition and change in the arena of contemporary performance and experimental theatre practice. The postgraduate course contributes to the debates surrounding the core territories of performance making, design and time-based practices.

MA Performance Design and Practice also acknowledges the hybrid nature of contemporary performance work and promotes a critical exploration of conventional fixed boundaries between fine art performance and theatre.

Central to the MA Performance Design and Practice ethos is a recognition of international models of performance design and practice - models that have shaped the debates challenging many of the established definitions, functions and roles identified with performance making. From these debates key practitioners, organisations, events and texts have emerged. It remains a core aspect of the postgraduate course ethos to give you direct experience of these models and materials through an inspirational learning placement outside the UK.

Focusing on the sphere of performance culture where ideas and orthodoxies are in flux, the postgraduate programme brings together fine artists, directors, writers, researchers and designers to set the agendas that will drive performance practice in the 21st century

MA Performance Design and Practice lasts 60 weeks structured as two consecutive periods of 30 weeks each, (ie, two academic years) in its 'extended full time mode.'

MA Performance Design and Practice is credit rated at 180 credits, and comprises 3 units. Unit 1, (40 credits) and Unit 2, (20 credits) run concurrently and last 15 weeks. Unit 3 (120 credits) follows after the completion of Units 1 and 2 and runs for 45 weeks.

Students successfully achieving Units 1 and 2 may exit at this point with the award of Postgraduate Certificate.

All three units must be passed in order to achieve the MA but the classification of the award of MA is derived from the mark for unit 3 only.

In year one you are expected to be able to commit an average of 40 hours per week. In year two your study is predominantly self-managed but you are expected to commit an average of 20 hours per week. Across the two years you therefore commit an average of 30 hours per week.

MA Performance Design and Practice encourages you to question how your work relates to the broader context of performance practices while developing approaches to design, composition/ authorship and performing located within the broad and interconnected contexts of experimental theatre practice, live art and dramaturgy through design.

Experimental theatre means innovative theatrical practices that exist outside of the mainstream of theatrical production and presentation. It particularly identifies work that challenges the formal orthodoxies of theatrical language and the nature of the theatrical event. Artists working in this area include: Station House Opera, The Wooster Group, Forced Entertainment and Robert Wilson.

Live art defines a body of performance practices, which have developed out of the traditions and concerns of fine art practice. By the nature of its origin in the visual arts, it crosses many disciplinary boundaries such as sculpture, installation, video, and performance art, and proposes alternative approaches to time-based work. Artists working in this area include: Franko B, Station House Opera, Laurie Anderson and Societas Raffaelo Sanzio.

Dramaturgy through design describes alternative approaches to performance design. Central to this definition is the recognition of alternative theatrical traditions where the principal language is in a visual register in contrast to that of mainstream theatrical performance, where the written text continues to dominate. Artists working in this re defined area place 'design' at the centre of the creative process and frequently claim primary authorship of the performance. Artists working in this area include: Robert Wilson, Robert Lepage, Societas Raffaelo Sanzio and Stefano Lazarides.

Honours degree; evidence of experiential learning equivalent to a degree; or 3 yearsrelevant professional experience.Suitable candidatesThe course suits artists with a background or demonstrable interest in theatre design,visual performance, or related practice such as dance, film, video or time-basedmedia. It is particularly suitable for students interested in time-based or narrative artforms; it is also appropriate for those involved in broader performance-relatedpractices and those wishing to progress to practice-based Ph D or other research projects.Appropriate related backgrounds include architecture, photography, installation,live art, writing, directing or other inter-disciplinary art practices.English language requirementsAll classes are conducted in English, so you will be required to have a fluent understanding of the language. If English is not your first language you will be asked to provide evidence of your English language ability. We strongly advise international applicants to take an IELTS test as soon as they consider studying in the UK. Minimum scores for entry on to a postgraduate course are as follows:. IELTS (International English Language Testing System): 6.5. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): hand written test: 548-567, computer based test: 211-225You can now study English online at the British Council website - please visit We provide free tuition in English for international students and regular workshops in the language of art and design. We also offer a number of short courses that enable students from overseas to improve their portfolios and English skills before applying to their chosen course. English Language Requirements CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 60 (Grade C)