AbOUt the COUrSeThis postgraduate award is designed to consider the contemporary practice of drama in a variety of contexts. Though the emphasis is on theatre, there will also be opportunities to work through other media for those with appropriate experience and aspirations.

This course is aimed at graduates, or those already working at a postgraduate level. Whether you wish to pursue a career in teaching or as a drama practitioner, this award will help you fulfill your potential.

The content of individual modules is broad and flexible, enabling students to take full advantage of the spectrum of staff expertise within the Faculty.

Examples of specialist areas among current staff include:

• Adaptation and Translation• Applied Drama • Storytelling• Scenography• Devising• Directing• Contemporary Television Drama• Media and Live Performance• Interpretive Practices for Museums and Galleries• Dramaturgy

The structure of the award aims to reflect the contemporary professional world, which calls for flexible, innovative practitioners willing and able to work in a variety of contexts across theatre and media. These roles might range from mainstream professional organisations to a range of applied and community contexts.

Main image: Aimee Trenoweth - ‘Lucretia Borgia’. Supporting images: Becky Lewis and Matthew Picton – ‘Graduate Showcase 2008’; Sara John and Helena Harrison – ‘Gormenghast’.

MA Drama Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries

“the University of

Glamorgan is a

great environment

in which to hone your skills

as a theatre professional. the

new MA drama award will

offer advanced opportunities

for those looking for a

career in the creative &

cultural industries.”

STeve MARMION

DIReCTOR AND WRITeR (ROyAL SHAKeSPeARe COMPANy, THeATRe ROyAL PLyMOUTH,

SHeRMAN THeATRe, HeADLONG THeATRe AND THe LyRIC, HAMMeRSMITH)

21

Professional Practices in Drama This module will include a number of visits, presentations and masterclasses aimed at immersing you in industries that use dramatic forms. These will deliberately offer a wide range of practices and allow both academic reflection and practical insights into creative directions that you might pursue in the future.

You will analyse, at an advanced level, a variety of professional contexts in which drama is produced. At the end of the module, you will be asked to analyse two contrasting forms of professional practice and produce work related to the planning and funding of a programme of creative work.

Research Methods The focus of this module is research methods and their appropriateness to different industries. You will consider the careful planning at all stages for a creative industries-related research project and analyse the need to move from formulating research questions towards proposing answers.

Reflective Practice One This module provides the opportunity to engage in a range of small-scale pieces of reflective practice, informed by your study of this work in a variety of contexts.

You will start by undertaking a series of case studies focusing on reflective practice. These will vary but indicatively include: contemporary storytelling practices, devising small-scale touring performances, applied drama, drama in education, new forms of National Theatres, contemporary trends in scenography and dramaturgy, and new writing.

The remainder of the module will involve working through your own practices. In small groups, you will produce a portfolio of short pieces of work with full documentation and post-production reflection. These might take the form of a performance, installation, short film, website or other suitable form by negotiation.

COUrSe MOdULeSReflective Practice Two Building upon Reflective Practice One, this module will provide a smaller number of in-depth case studies from a range of areas that will extend those offered earlier in the course. These areas may include multimedia performance, the process of adaptation and translation for stage, screen or radio, theatre directing, scriptwriting for theatre or television, television drama, museum studies or an area of applied drama practice. This provides a structured opportunity for you to develop a longer piece of advanced practice and the chance to produce an extended piece of written research on a prominent area of contemporary practice.

These projects will be the most significant aspect of your preparation for either the Major Production Project or a Dissertation. The module will conclude with a period of student-centred work in small group, resulting in a final public showing of completed work from one of the areas offered for study or a presentation based on a piece of writing.

Dissertation in DramaYou will be encouraged to choose a topic related to professional experience that is relevant for future academic or professional development. Having agreed the topic with an appointed dissertation supervisor and submitted an acceptable research proposal indicating the intended research area, proposed research questions, likely theoretical and methodological stances, research plan and potential outcomes, you will pursue research in an area of Drama with an advanced level of theoretical analysis. This will develop your awareness of the relationship of research to the context of contemporary practice.

You will be required to conduct advanced research comprising a combination of library-based reading, critical analysis and/or empirical research involving, for example, interviews with practitioners, observation of working processes and audience research.

Major Production in Drama The Major Project will offer an opportunity to pursue practice in Drama to an advanced level in an area of your choice. You will show the work in an appropriate public arena and receive a wide range of feedback. You will be asked to reflect on your work within appropriate theoretical and professional frameworks and to relate the work to contemporary practices.

The work will be supported and supervised by staff and you will be required to submit an acceptable practice proposal, indicating the intended practice area, proposed outcomes, likely working methods and critical framework.

4Main image: Simon Thomas, Sam Thorne and Claire Bailey – ‘I can make you happy’.Supporting images: Becky Lewis – 2008 show at the Sherman Cymru Theatre; Oedipus production image 2008.

MA Drama Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries

This postgraduate course offers you the benefit of working with other creative and like-minded individuals on core modules in the Drama field. you will also have the opportunity to select optional modules that reflect the spectrum of expertise within the Faculty and its underlying philosophy of thinking about the interrelationship of dramatic forms across media.

Having initially completed modules in the Professional Practice in Drama, Research Methods and Reflective Practice One, you will then choose to either study the Reflective Practice Two module or select from optional modules on other established awards such as MA Moving Image, MA Scriptwriting or MA Film Producing and Business Management. The final element of the course will require you to undertake either a dissertation or major project in Drama.

“the MA drama at

the University

of Glamorgan

is thorough,

thoughtful and

contemporary in its

approach to delivering

a high quality

learning and research

experience for masters-

level students.”

JOHN e. MCGRATH

ARTISTIC DIReCTOR, NATIONAL THeATRe WALeS

3

Where YOU WiLL StUdYThis course is run at the University of Glamorgan’s ATRiuM campus located in the heart of Cardiff, Wales’ capital city. This central location offers easy access to world-class facilities such as the Wales Millennium Centre, the recently renovated Chapter Arts Centre and the Sherman Cymru Theatre. Cardiff is also now the largest television production centre outside London. With the BBC and S4C just a short distance away, both have close ties to the University. Staff working with local independent production companies are also employed by the University.

Wales, and Cardiff specifically, is home to a thriving and vibrant theatre culture that encompasses a full range of contemporary practice. Staff from the University have links to professional companies and venues including Chapter Arts, Sherman Cymru Theatre, National Theatre Wales, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, Hijinx Theatre and Earthfall. We also work with relevant related organisations such as the National Museum of Wales.

Our ATRiuM building boasts well-equipped, technically sound drama practice spaces that make an ideal base for Masters-level project work. The University has strong links with a number of local theatre companies and, through these, we are able to offer students the opportunity to undertake some elements of study within a working theatre environment.

WeLSh MediUM OppOrtUnitieS/ CYfLeOedd CYfrWnG CYMrAeGY mae’r Adran Ddrama yn ATRiuM yn cynnig cyfleoedd astudio yn ddwyieithog ar lefel is-radd ac ôl-radd ac wedi datblygu proffil ar lefel genedlaethol am ei darpariaeth arloesol ac unigryw yn y maes i’r rheiny sydd yn medru’r Gymraeg a’r Saesneg.

Ar lefel ôl-radd, gall myfyrwyr ddewis i astudio sawl opsiwn o’r MA Drama drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Bydd modd dilyn elfennau o’r cwrs yn Gymraeg, gan gynnwys cwblhau aseiniadau yn Gymraeg lle mae hynny’n bosibl, er y bydd darlithoedd a seminarau rhai modiwlau yn Saesneg.

Dyma gynllun hyblyg sydd yno i annog myfyrwyr i ddatblygu eu sgiliau yn y ddwy iaith. Fe fydd cyfle hefyd i weithio mewn cyd-destun proffesiynol ddwyieithog.

I wybod mwy, e-bostiwch cymraeg@glam.ac.uk

5 Main image: ATRiuM building, home of Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries.Supporting images: Simon Thomas and Jodie Bryant – ‘I can make you happy’; Oli Jones – Student production 2009. 6

entrY reqUireMentSAdmission to this programme is by application, interview and demonstration of appropriate practical experience. You will normally be expected to hold a good Honours degree (2:1 or above). This degree does not necessarily need to be in a drama-related subject, but all applicants will be expected to have a documented advanced interest in key aspects of the broad field of drama.

Professional practitioners without a degree may be in a position to apply via the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning route. Such applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

For further information on entry requirements, visit www.glam.ac.uk/cci

CAreer pOtentiALGraduates from this award will have the skills and knowledge to pursue careers as either solo artists or members of companies, and be able to utilise these effectively to engage with the contemporary professional environment.

The MA Drama provides an advanced professional development opportunity for those working or planning to work in a variety of contexts in which drama is used. These include individual professional practitioners, teachers and educators, applied drama specialists in a variety of contexts and those who want to use drama skills in the film and television industries.

how you will study

you will study through practical workshops,

lectures, seminars and individual supervision

by an appointed tutor. you will be assessed

through individual assignments, group work

and examinations, as well as the completion

of a dissertation or major production.

In addition, you will undertake a series of visits to companies and

professional productions of all kinds to extend your critical understanding

of a variety of professional contexts. You will also have the opportunity

to contribute to a variety of projects, seminar programmes, public

productions, conferences and symposia that are part of the life of a

student at ATRiuM. Many of these involve professional organisations and

some receive support from partners such as Skillset, BAFTA, professional

theatre companies or broadcasters.

MA Drama Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries

Modes of studyFull time – one year Part time – two years

What next?Contact us today for more information or come to an Open Evening to find out about this course, studying at ATRiuM and financial support.Call UK: 0800 612 2903 Overseas: +44 (0) 1443 654 450 or visit www.glam.ac.uk/cci