Performance Practice

MA

This is a one-year full-time or two year part-time modular programme leading to the award of MA in Performance Practice.

Campus Chester
Course MA
Length Full-time: 1 year Part-time: • MA: 2-6 years • Postgraduate Diploma: 2-5 years • Postgraduate Certificate: 1-3 years
Start date July 2011

Teaching takes place at the Kingsway Buildings, the University's home to the Faculty of Arts and Media. A short walk or drive from the main Chester campus, the Kingsway Buildings offer 6,920 square metres of floor space including a 200 seat lecture theatre, art and performance studios, a virtual library with DVD viewing screens, 11 subject-specific IT labs housing 200 Macs and PCs, and two catering outlets.

Why study MA Performance Practice at Chester?

The MA in Performance Practice will be of interest to those who understand themselves as emerging or working practitioners in any area of the wide and stimulating field of performance.  This includes contemporary work, as well as more established forms of performance and theatre.

The MA is led by a specialist in creative performance practices, and staffed using expertise from the entire performing arts department so that this wide range of student interest can be developed.

Next: Modules

Programme Structure:

The course is structured to allow for a student centred approach.  The theoretical modules Research Methods and Frameworks and Practices introduce candidates to research methodologies and the range of conceptual frameworks that will inform, support and contextualise their subsequent research interests.  Frameworks and Practices is largely studio based, allowing the link between theory and practice to be practical, hands on and specific.  Later in the course the module Research Report gives candidates the opportunity to reflect on their own journey as a practitioner and their relationship to contemporary practice. 

The other modules on the course are practice based.  Performance Practice 1, Performance Practice 2 (a double module) and the final, substantial Practical Project (a triple module) require the production of theoretically driven and informed pieces of performance.  For each the candidate submits a proposal from which a project is negotiated with tutors.  There is an option for the final practical project to be replaced by a substantial Dissertation and depending on experience there is an option to take modules in Educational Drama delivered by the Education Department in place of Performance Practice 2.

Next: Assessment

Delivery is by lectures, tutorials and seminars. You will be examining research methods and applying these to your own work.  You will also be making practical work. 

Consequently assessment is varied.  Some assessment is set and other is open to negotiation.  Thus you may be assessed on a formal essay, portfolio of work or presentation.  Performance work is assessed and the theoretical underpinning articulated in oral examination.  All performance work is documented, but the form of this is negotiable and might comprise the written word, notation, design portfolio, CD-ROM or some other form.

Assessment normally follows a pass/fail pattern although distinction may be awarded for outstanding work.

Next: Careers

Graduates of the MA reflect the range of potential interests within the wide field of performance, having included performance artists, digital artists, directors interested in devised or scripted work (including classical revivals), installation artists, physical theatre practitioners, workshop leaders, theatre in education actor/teachers and film actors interested in developing live performance. 

Next: Entry requirements

Applicants will normally hold a first or upper second class honours degree in a related subject such as drama, theatre studies, performance, performing arts, media performance, arts management, design, or other cognate fields.

Applicants attend an interview, and are encouraged to submit examples of their work on video or online beforehand to form part of the discussion. Where applicants are not progressing directly from a first degree, professional experience and expertise will be taken into account.

If you are in any doubt about your suitability for the programme please contact the programme leader.

Beginning: Overview

Useful links

Who to contact

  • For admission enquiries

    Postgraduate Admissions

    University of Chester

    Parkgate Road

    Chester

    CH1 4BJ

    T:
    01244 512456
    postgrad@chester.ac.uk

  • For enquiries about course content

    Dr Julian Waite, Dr Julian Waite Senior Lecturer Performing Arts / Course Leader MA Performance Practice
    T:
    01244 515740
    j.waite@chester.ac.uk