Masters in Theatre

The MA in Theatre is designed for anyone planning a career in theatre. The programme offers opportunities for showcase performances, and the format of the workshops will aid the formation of new companies. International Students are welcome.

The MA in Theatre is a unique one-year programme open to theatre practitioners from a range of backgrounds; directors, producers, actors, designers, writers and those interested in planning a career in theatre. The programme is jointly delivered by the Gaiety School of Acting - the National Theatre School of Ireland and the School of English, Media and Theatre Studies at National University of Ireland Maynooth. The course combines taught academic seminars held at the NUI Maynooth campus and practical theatre workshops held in the Gaiety School of Acting at Smock Alley Theatre.

The MA in Theatre is a one year course taught over two semesters and a summer module.

Modules include:

The theatre workshops explore theatre making as ensemble, where students will work as members of small experimental companies. Practical classes along with the student’s self-directed work operate alongside seminars linking both the academic and the practical. The workshop programme uses performance as a means of exploring the core texts and languages of theatre, focusing on space, time, body and visual and scripted play text.

Theatre Practice/Performance 1 explores devising for theatre from a visual, physical and textual perspective. Students participating in taught classes and self directed work will create and prepare short unique theatre pieces for assessment. Theatre Practice/Performance 2 offers classes in specific styles e.g. Commedia, Clowning, Stanislavsky, Dance Theatre, and all tutors are professionals working in a variety of theatre forms and from independent theatre companies.

Throughout the year students investigating the fundamental issues in theatre making will generate questions and arguments such as ‘the nature of theatrical space’, ‘remaking the body’, ‘the many languages of theatre’ among others for practical explorations, leading to assessment. The culmination of this exploration will be a major performance-based research project over the Summer months. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to think and work like theatre professionals.

Theoretical seminars explore the history of theatrical production and theories from the Renaissance to the present day and are taught in the newly built Iontas Building on the Maynooth Campus. The questions generated by these seminars are taken to the practical modules where they will be explored through performance.

TO APPLY:

Applicants must have some background in theatre and should have an undergraduate degree preferably in theatre or in a cognate discipline. Exceptions may be made for prior learning/ work experience. Admission is by PAC (Postgraduate Applications Centre through the National University of Ireland Maynooth), workshop and interview. For international students an alternative provision for the workshop/ interview can be made but a PAC application must be completed by all applicants

Online application only at:

www.pac.ie/nuim

PAC Code: MHK56

Duration: 1 year full-time

Closing date: 20 June 2012

Commences: September 2012

 

For more details contact:

Tracy O’Flaherty

School of English, Media and Theatre Studies

National University of Ireland Maynooth,

Maynooth, Co. Kildare, IRELAND

semts@nuim.ie / +353 (0)1 708 3667

www.english.nuim.ie

www.graduatestudies@nuim.ie

 

OPEN DAY

Please do come along to the MA in Theatre: Create the Future Open Day

What? Workshop, Discussion and Smock Alley Theatre Tour
Where? Essex Street West, Temple Bar, Dublin 8
When? Saturday 31 March from 2pm until 5pm

To celebrate the 2012 launch of our Masters in Theatre, The Gaiety School of Acting - The National Theatre School of Ireland
and the School of English, Media and Theatre Studies at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth are holding an open day
for prospective students on Saturday 31 March. Meet the people, view the training spaces and get a taste of the MA in Theatre.

Schedule
2pm: Warm up Taster Workshop
3pm: “Create the Future” Panel Discussion with Q&A session with course directors Professor Chris Morash, Head of the
School of English, Media and Theatre Studies at NUI Maynooth, Patrick Sutton, Director of The Gaiety School
of Acting
4pm: Tour of Smock Alley: Built in 1662, Smock Alley was the first custom-built theatre in the city and still remains in
substantially the same form, making it one of the most important sites in European theatre history


NUI, Maynooth Graduate Studies Officer, Eilis Murray, will also be available over the course of the day to discuss funding options
for students. For more information or to book a space please call us on 016799277.

 

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