How Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama’s new MFAs will power the next generation of creatives

The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff is launching four Master of Fine Arts programmes, marking an exciting expansion of the college’s commitment to nurturing the full creative ecology of theatre and screen.

Set to begin in September 2026, the courses have been created in direct response to industry needs and focus on four core creative disciplines: directing (theatre, opera and musical theatre); movement direction; voice, speech and text coaching; and writing drama.

With a growing demand for practice-based, high-level training across the sector, RWCMD is positioning itself at the forefront of professional development.

The MFA is an internationally recognised qualification that can unlock opportunities far beyond the rehearsal room. Although focused on making drama, for many creatives it can also be a passport to teaching at university level both here and abroad, making it easier to sustain a portfolio career. 

A collaborative, immersive approach

“The MFA qualification is really professionally focused and vocational in its outlook,” says Simon Reeves, the college’s head of learning and teaching. “Teaching in the first year is modelled around the activities, knowledge and skills that will enable you to excel in the sector. In the second year, these skills are put into practice as students are mentored through working as creatives, initially within the college and then outside with our industry partners.”

RWCMD is ideally placed to offer practical training, staging an impressive number of in-house productions. Public performances total more than 500 each year, making it one of the leading producing houses in Wales.

“We are very proud of our standing in the industry,” says Reeves. “We consistently feature highly in league tables, and our showcases are always well-attended. We have strong credentials in making work, having led the way in our commitment to new writing and collaboration as the first drama school in the UK to commission a full season of new plays, working with the likes of the Royal Court, Paines Plough, Young Vic and the Sherman Theatre. Alongside those, we regularly work with some of the most respected drama companies in the UK, including Welsh National Opera, the BBC and Bad Wolf Productions.”

‘These are unique and invaluable experiences that will set you apart from other graduates’ – Ali de Souza

He emphasises how the MFA courses reflect the collaborative nature of theatre as an art form. “These courses have been built to help professionals find their place and voice in the creative process, and appeal to those who want to recognise and explore the need for increasing diversity in drama.”

They also go a long way to solving the familiar dilemma of graduates who can struggle to find work due to a lack of industry experience.

“For the MFA in directing, you’ll direct a professional theatre production with professional actors, creatives and crew at a venue in Cardiff,” explains Ali de Souza, head of drama performance. “Writing students will also have the chance to work on collaborative projects, such as a writers’ room-style production of a TV script. These are unique and invaluable experiences that will set you apart from other graduates.”

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