MA in Performance Design

This specialist course provides vocational training to prepare you for a career in designing for performance. Over the year, you’ll develop a broad range of practical, creative and technical skills by engaging in skills-based classes as well as a combination of project and production work. You’ll also have opportunities to foster creative collaborations with students from your course, as well as other undergraduate and postgraduate creatives across the School. We aim to support you in creating a portfolio of project and realised design work, in preparation for launching your professional career.

Course overview

This specialist course provides vocational training to prepare you for a career in designing for performance. 

Over the year, you’ll develop a broad range of practical, creative and technical skills by engaging in skills-based classes as well as a combination of project and production work. You’ll also have opportunities to foster creative collaborations with students from your course, as well as other students across the School. We aim to support you in creating a portfolio of projects and realised design work, in preparation for launching your professional career.

* You are recommended to apply well in advance of the closing date.

Watch a brief interview with course leader Bronia to find out more.

 

Course highlights

• Learn your craft through specialist masterclasses led by core staff and visiting industry practitioners
• Explore a specialist area of interest , to support your intended career pathway *
• See your design work realised in at least one live production from the school and our partners.
• Exhibit your work in an end of year Graduate Exhibition, with invited industry and professionals – open to the public. 
• Meet industry professionals for one-to-one interviews, networking and feedback

Course structure

The course curriculum is structured across four modules, aimed at progressively enhancing your skills and experience. The course shifts from theoretical projects and skills sessions to specialised self-directed projects and realised design practice. 

• You’ll begin your first term by working on a design project, aimed at developing your approach to the design process as well as your collaborative skills. Alongside this, you’ll also attend skill-development classes in model-making, computer-aided design (CAD), costume history, and theatrical context and style. 
• In the second term, you’ll delve into your design specialisation in greater depth by exploring one of two pathways: 

> A large-scale, notional design project for a musical or opera alongside a professional director; 

Or

> A site-specific notional project to create a proposal and design in collaboration with an MA Drama Writing student. 

• Your chosen pathway gives you the opportunity to develop skills and expertise in your desired area of specialisation – whether it is set, costume, lighting, projection or prop design.
• Throughout the course you will work on ‘live’ projects that focus on realising your work at a practical level. Designing for the School’s theatrical and film based projects and working in collaboration with other MA courses.

> In the third and final term you’ll also prepare for career launch activities including meeting with industry professionals at the end-of-year graduate exhibition. 

The course’s collaborative approach and structured progression ensure your readiness for professional performance design standards.

 

Career pathways

This programme will equip you with an advanced level of specialist and transferable skills essential for a successful career in designing for stage, screen, events or other performance-based industries. In the final term, a significant portion of your time will be dedicated to preparing for your career launch. 

The highlight of career launch activities is the graduate exhibition where you will showcase your design portfolio in an open public event.  Additionally, you’ll engage in a series of interviews with professionals from the design industry at the exhibition, making it the ideal launch-pad for your career. 

Our graduates have an excellent track record of consistent employment as freelance design professionals and leading creative collaborations. Graduates are regularly successful in attaining trainee design positions at the RSC and as finalists and winners of the Linbury Prize for design. 

Recent graduates have designed for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Bristol Old Vic Theatre, Tobacco Factory Theatres, Shakespeare’s Globe, National tours and West End productions.

 

 

Find out more on the website:

 VIEW COURSE DETAILS