Creative Producing

Entry requirements

You should normally have an undergraduate degree in a relevant field, (drama, theatre or performance studies, for example, but other areas such as economics, politics or business studies are also relevant); applications from students of other disciplines will be considered. All applicants will be expected to have had practical experience in theatre related areas and/or arts management. Applications for the accreditation of prior experience in lieu of academic entry qualification will also be considered where appropriate. An offer will normally only be made after interview/audition.

An MFA top-up year for those with an existing MA or PGDip in this subject is also available.

Months of entry

October

Course content

As a student on the MA/MFA Creative Producing programme at Central, you will:

• Real-world creative producing opportunities to develop knowledge and skills
• Networking through placements with leading theatre and arts organisations, masterclasses and industry mentors
• Student-led collaboration with writers, actors and designers on other Central MA/MFA courses

What is a Creative Producer

The entrepreneurially skilled and culturally literate producer works in dialogue with artists to create performances and festivals, run venues and companies, manage projects, raise funds and investment, and negotiate commissions.

Central graduates have become successful producers, among them Sir Cameron Mackintosh, a name synonymous with Britain’s global pre-eminence in musical theatre, and David Jubb, whose pioneering work at Battersea Arts Centre characterises the vibrancy and originality of London’s contemporary fringe, or ‘off West End’ scene.

Opportunities on the course

The courses offer real-world creative producing opportunities within Central’s production calendar and with extensive industry partners, enabling you to build on your existing practice. These skills are in ever-increasing demand in a competitive production environment.

You will undertake masterclasses in producing with key industry leaders and innovators and take an active role in the organisation of events, productions and projects, underpinned by a solid critical understanding of the cultural industries and creative producing skills, relevant theory and current research in the performance field.

While learning, you will also gain a career head start by building a vital network of industry and peer contacts.

These courses are suitable for:

• experienced stage managers or production managers who wish to develop as creative producers
• those already engaged in creative producing activities who wish to extend their knowledge in the field
• business graduates with an interest in performance arts applications
• experienced theatre or performance artists or graduates who wish to produce their own work and gain entrepreneurial skills
• arts graduates who wish to instigate or curate the work of others.

The MA is for those with existing arts practice who wish to develop relevant knowledge and expertise, creative entrepreneurial and project management skills and become part of Central’s extensive network of industry collaborators.

A vocational, industry focused course

The MA and MFA have been developed in consultation with leading industry partners to provide a vocational course where you can apply your learning through a diverse range of practical projects. Central is involved in many external collaborative projects, so in addition to its own production activity and commercial theatre connections, its pioneering work in circus and site-specific theatre means excellent connections to a wide range of alternative theatre forms.

Embracing the challenges of creating a sustainable business is a core part of the course and Central is proud to have been recognised by the prestigious London Chamber of Commerce’s Commercial Education Trust (CET) for its entrepreneurial activity.

Information for international students

Find out more about applying to Central as an international applicant

Fees and funding

View Central's current range of scholarships and bursaries