Performance (Directing)

You’ll explore approaches to directing through seminars and practical work. Alongside this, you’ll develop an advanced understanding of actor training, so that you can facilitate an actor’s process.

We recognise that each director will be at a different stage in their practice, and as such we’ve designed the course to be flexible enough to support your individual development. Throughout your MA you’ll receive bespoke support and expert guidance to enable you to pursue your own creative journey.

Trimester one

The Skills Portfolio and Performance Practices modules run across trimester one and two, and work together to prepare you with an essential ‘directors toolkit’ and a theoretical underpinning to ensure you have the professional skills and knowledge to facilitate a safe and creative space, direct actors and collaborate with other artists.

Weekly seminars bring together historical and current practices of theatre directing and performance, to advance your directing knowledge. Alongside this, your Professional Practices module offers you an opportunity to develop your individual professional practice through small scale productions, research and development projects or work placements.

Trimester two

Your skills training will continue to enhance your work, and you’re encouraged to try out your own ideas, either with your own chosen cast, with a University production, or a professional company. You’ll get to bring your work into SparkFest, the festival we run in collaboration with Bath Festivals.

Additionally, you’ll take a Professional Collaboration module that provides both tools and experience in working with a wide range of artists and developing performances to grow your professional profile.

Trimester three

You can choose to undertake a more traditional written dissertation, a performance based dissertation, or a mixture of the two. You might direct a production, lead workshops, or research areas relating to directing as part of your dissertation.

You’ll be assessed by a range of methods, including:

• Performance portfolios
• Proposal documents for artistic ideas
• Research projects
• Presentations
• Viva voces
• Reflective learning and work-based reports or journals
• Project evaluations.

The degree is delivered through a variety of workshops, lectures, seminars, masterclasses, off-site visits, performance and production work, and through the Virtual Learning Environment, Ultra. We invite professional visiting actors and directors to work with you, and have an ever-expanding list of lecturers, specialists, artists and guest scholars.

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

You’ll get the chance to visit theatres and venues, experience performances, and meet the people who create them. Some trips are subsidised, however, you may have to contribute to fund travel, for example.

Throughout your course you will have the opportunity to observe, take part in and assistant direct professional creative projects with the University’s in-house production company, Bath Spa Productions.

This means collaborating with professional theatre directors, choreographers, writers, musicians, theatre companies and venues to develop your understanding of a professional theatre project from planning to production. Alongside this, you will be widening your networks and the skills you’ll need for your future career.

We have several other partner organisations such as Theatre Royal Bath, Bristol Old Vic theatre, Bristol School of Acting who offer opportunities for Assistant Director placements.

The course is geared towards giving you the skills you need to develop a freelance career as a Theatre Director.

You’ll also be able to diversify your work by developing skills in other areas, and gaining transferable skills that are designed to equip you to work in a range of areas, such as:

• Creative producing
• Dramaturgy / script development
• Creative learning / teaching
• Artistic direction / management
• Fundraising
• Audience development
• Marketing

Based at our Newton Park Campus, you’ll have access to performance studios and spaces such as the University Theatre at Newton Park, and Oldfield Park. We also have links with the Theatre Royal Bath, the Rondo Theatre, The Egg, The Ustinov, and the Tobacco Factory.

Our Oldfield Park Theatre workshops are a purpose-built facility in central Bath. These facilities include:

• Four rehearsal studios and Black Box performance space
• Breakout spaces and quiet study areas
• Lecture and seminar rooms
• IT suite
• Fully-equipped carpentry workshop and teaching space
• Fully-equipped costume making workshop
• Prop making workshop.

You’ll also have access to facilities on our other campuses, including University Theatre.

• Newton Park Library, including a large collection of books, periodicals and CDs with extensive eBook and online journal access.
• Support for your academic work from the Writing and Learning Centre, including feedback on written drafts and help with academic writing.
• English Language support from the English Language Unit, which can help you improve your English, reach your potential and boost your confidence.
• Virtual Learning Environment, which provides online access to learning materials such as lecture slides, assessment information, discussion boards and other resources.
• The Careers team run networking events and advisory workshops that explore your future options and the essentials of the job application process. They help you get experience by assisting with your search for work placements and paid part-time jobs while you're studying. When you're ready to progress into your chosen career, they can help you secure graduate-level employment, freelance opportunities, and funding for your own business ideas. Career support continues for years after you graduate with the dedicated Grad Support Unit.
• Free equipment loan service, which provides a huge variety including field recording, film and other audio related equipment. 
• Access to thousands of business, design and tech courses online via LinkedIn Learning.
• Access to the full Adobe Creative Suite.