Master of Theatre (Directing)

The Master of Theatre (Directing) focuses on developing the collaborative creative skills, reflective processes, leadership attributes and industry know how of directors for performance in the broadest sense of the term, including text-based theatre, new writing, devised work, live art and community and cultural development. It is closely interwoven with both the existing Master of Theatre (Writing) and Master of Theatre (Dramaturgy). The course is built upon core principles of: intellectual rigour, commitment to craft, artistic inquiry and self-reflection, ethical practices, interdisciplinarity and artform innovation. The program is delivered through lab-based workshops, seminars, lectures, self-directed exercises, tutorials, practical master classes, and national and international internships, taught by our internationally renown teachers. During the course, students will experience a wide range of collaboration and leadership roles with students from disciplines within the VCA such as design, acting, production, playwriting, dramaturgy, musical composition, film and dance, as well as a range of creative encounters with local, national and international artists, organisations and communities. As such this course also provides a unique opportunity to develop creative partnerships that can lead to future collaborations in the profession.The Master of Theatre (Directing) is designed for graduates andor professionals in the creative arts industry, who are looking to pursue a career as a director, artistic leader, performance-maker, collaborator andor researcher.Learning OutcomesOn completion of this course, graduates will have developed:Potential for artistic leadership and gain in-depth knowledge, practice and critical approache required to build the Australian performance culture of the futureSpecialist skills in directing for performance, such as processes of rehearsal, dramaturgy, devising, composition, performance-makingAbility to work across disciplines and multiple contexts of performance practiceAbility to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary projectsAdvanced dramaturgical awareness, providing the skills to understand one’s own and others’ work within its socio-cultural environmentAdvanced skills to build future collaborative networks nationally and internationally.

In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed either: An undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (such as the performing arts, music, visual arts, film, dance and digital arts), or equivalent; or An undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline (such as social sciences, architecture, landscape, computer science, cultural studies, applied sciences or international development fields), or equivalent; or an Honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline, with a weighted average mark of at lease H2B (70%) across the Honours year; or At least six years of documented professional practice in the creative arts industry.