Our MA in Dramaturgy is delivered in collaboration with Leeds Playhouse, and focuses on the development of new work and individual artistry through collaborative practice.

Students will work closely with the team at Leeds Playhouse, especially the Artistic Planning department and the Furnace Artistic Development programme - to develop their theoretical understanding of theatre making and the role of the dramaturg in practice.

Whether as a practitioner shaping theatre though storytelling, dance or music, or as a dramaturg in a literary department dissecting text, students will be introduced to a multitude of ways of creating new theatre.

Working with leading practitioners from across the North, students will learn the key components of storytelling, character and structure.

‘Dramaturgy’ has several definitions, due to the ever-evolving nature of how theatre is created. Students will explore them all and be encouraged to define it for themselves, leaving this MA not only with a comprehensive understanding of how things have been done, but a vision for how they want to do things in the future.

Course overview

Practical Skills for the Dramaturg

Students will learn the skills and knowledge that is necessary to work professionally as a dramaturg in the theatre industry. These include:

• Text work, both practical and reflective. This course teaches you the various ways to approach, dissect and shape the building blocks of storytelling (structure, narrative arc and character) so that you can form your own creative practice by breaking the rules and making your own.
• Seeing a project through from concept to performance in a range of theatrical styles, from script-work to devising to dance-led pieces, working with writers, directors, performers and other creatives.
• Working with classics, adaptations, translations, contemporary plays and musicals, and (most importantly) new writing from both established and first-time writers to help find and finesse your own craft, process and practice through individual development of their own work.

Careers

Students from the Dramaturgy MA will be excellently placed to work in a wide-range of theatre performances and performance projects, with experience they will be able to adapt to different size and scale projects.