Theatre Directing (MFA)

This MFA Theatre Directing offers professionally recognised training for theatre directors. The result of a collaboration between Birkbeck and the Arts Council England, Equity and UK Theatre, the programme provides a unique opportunity to work with theatre actors, writers and designers, while being introduced to the structural and financial realities of working as a director in the industry. Students will spend time at a leading drama school, learning how actors are trained for today’s theatre. Intensive units with expert professionals, including members of the RSC’s voice and movement departments, and noted practitioners such as Mike Leigh, Mike Alfreds, Vicki Mortimer, Natalie Abrahami and Lyndsey Turner, will concentrate on the director’s relationship with the designer and the writer, and offer a practical understanding of how theatre companies and pieces of work are funded and managed. Students will then further develop their skills as a director through secondment to a theatre company where they will have the opportunity to assist on at least three full productions; collaborators include the Royal Exchange Manchester, Leeds Playhouse, Birmingham Rep, the Citizens Theatre Glasgow, Home Manchester, Sheffield Theatres, the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith and the Unicorn.