Dramaturgy
Entry requirements
A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above, and/or relevant practical experience in the creative industries.
All suitable applicants will be interviewed either personally or by telephone.
Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.
Months of entry
October
Course content
Why choose this course?
- This course benefits from both the wide-ranging expertise of our academic staff and our broader network of professional performers, writers, directors, producers and dramaturgs, including via a partnership with the UK’s Dramaturgs’ Network.
- It includes a full programme of workshops from guest artists, dramaturgs and writers. In recent years, this has included notables such as Tim Crouch, Lou Cope, Zoe Svensden, and the team at Battersea Arts Centre and the Dramaturgs’ Network, who have been able to give unrivalled insights into their creative processes and guidance on pursuing a professional career in the sector.
- It is ideal if you are a theatre or performance maker or producer seeking to develop your creative skills and deepen your understanding of contemporary theatre, performance and participatory art practice.
What you will learn
On this MA Dramaturgy you will explore the important role of dramaturgs across all areas of performance, including staging, scriptwriting, programming and audience engagement. Combining practice and theory you will develop your potential as a practitioner and thinker by working in theatre, performance and the arts, including text, live, digital and screen-based arts. You will also strengthen your knowledge of critical theories of performance and spectatorship, key areas of debate within the theatre and performance sectors, and the wider artistic, social and political contexts into which these fit.
How you will learn
You will learn through workshops, seminars and lectures (which may sometimes be offered online). In workshops you will have the opportunity to work creatively, producing dramaturgical concepts, scripts and other materials to support artistic development and learning from leading industry figures. Seminars will combine independent research and reading with discussion and dialogue, while lectures will address key historical debates and ideas. Your degree will culminate in a major independent dissertation project, including the opportunity to perform at our partner company, Camden People’s Theatre.
- You will have the chance to engage with the Birkbeck Centre for Contemporary Theatre, including through a year-round programme of events, opportunities to meet our Artist Fellows, and invitations to our Graduate Research in Theatre seminar series.
- We collaborate with Dramaturgs’ Network (D'N) which provides each of our students with networking and professional development opportunities and exchange events, plus a year’s free D’N membership, as well as other exclusive opportunities.
- You can benefit from our ongoing relationships with Camden People’s Theatre and Battersea Arts Centre, including opportunities for special workshops on career development, producing and programming.
- You will be able to experience the wider research culture of the School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication, including the opportunity to take part in our annual Arts Week events programme.
- Birkbeck was ranked 2nd in the UK for its English Language and Literature research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
- We offer a number of bursaries for postgraduate students.
The MA Dramaturgy combines the practical and academic exploration of the promising field of dramaturgy to equip you with a wide range of highly employable skills, ideal for working in or undertaking further academic study. Graduates can also find ongoing support via the Birkbeck Theatre Alumni network, which is dedicated to creating networking opportunities for graduates of Birkbeck’s theatre programmes and celebrating their achievements.
On successfully graduating from this course you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:
- familiarity with professional practices and modes of employment within the sector
- a critical grounding in key contemporary social, cultural and political questions
- skills in the design, production and presentation of high-quality research
- effective communication across different formats, from long-form text to short presentations.
Our graduates can be found pursuing a broad range of career paths, including in:
- dramaturgy in theatre, performance and other cultural forms and settings
- play, theatre, performance and cultural programming, commissioning and development
- arts policy and research
- doctoral study.
Some of our recent graduates include:
- Emily Brown (theatre-maker)
- Rachel Gemaehling (dramaturg, theatre-maker)
- Artemis Grympla (dramaturg, director, writer)
- Manyang Hu (theatre-maker, theatre administrator)
- Matthew Jameson (director, theatre-maker, theatre management)
- Sarah Knop (theatre-maker, teacher, choreographer)
- Clement Lee (dramaturg, teacher)
- Olga Macrinici (writer, director, academic)
- Nicky Napier (dramaturg, producer)
- Liesa Refflinghaus (theatre administrator, theatre maker)
- Erica Nicole Rothman (dramaturg, literary adviser)
- Stephen Ryan (BASSC-certified stage combat teacher, writer, researcher)
- Robert Mark Temple (playwright)
- Renata Wilson (theatre maker).
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.
Information for international students
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests
If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MA
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Student Advice Service
- studentadvice@bbk.ac.uk
- Phone
- +44 (0)20 3907 0700