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Theatre for Young Audiences
The MA Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) is a multi-disciplinary programme designed for entrepreneurial theatre makers and practitioners including actors, directors, scriptwriters, producers, scenographers and others with a relevant background in theatre and performance. Storytelling, new writing and visual theatre, including puppetry, are a particular focus of the course. Applicants will also have a desire to learn more about the structures of creative enterprise and business that surround this burgeoning field of performance making.
Picture supplied by 'the egg'
The course intends to foster an intensively collaborative experience situated at Theatre Royal Bath’s the egg, one of the country’s leading providers of theatre and related practice in the field of Theatre for Young Audiences.
Course Structure and Content
Crucial to your experience of this new course is the use of the egg as the base of practice. You will be given the opportunity to immerse yourself in the operational life of one of the most innovative venues for TYA in the country: the egg “is a fantastic theatre that offers some of the best work for children and family audiences” (Lyn Gardener – The Guardian).
Coupled with the considerable resources of the Department of Performing Arts, this unique environment will give you the opportunity to work with others within your chosen specialism to create a new piece of theatre for young audiences. This creative journey will be informed and underpinned by you gaining:
This creative journey will be informed and underpinned by you gaining a practical, critical and analytical understanding of:
- Practical methodologies and processes for creating theatre and storytelling for young audiences
- Educational pedagogy in the creative arts for young people, including workshop facilitation and experiential learning paradigms
- The performance field through examination of the work of key companies and playwrights
- The role of digital technologies and traditional scenography in the creative process and product
- The arts business, associated funding models and market infrastructure in which the work is situated.
Picture supplied by 'the egg'
Modules
Modules will include:
- Theatre for Young Audiences: Content and Context
- Methodologies and Processes
- Design and Aesthetics
- Creating and Communicating Stories for Young People
- Professional Product and Portfolio
Teaching Methods and Resources
The MA Theatre for Young Audiences will consist of four 30-credit modules and one 60-credit module (180 credits) delivered over three trimesters. This totals a 12-month period of study for full-time students and a 24-month period of study for part-time students.
This MA will be delivered through a combination of residencies, master classes, workshops and online delivery. As the course uses the egg as its centre of operations, the delivery pattern will also incorporate and use the ongoing programme of activity at the egg.
At the close of the academic year the course aims to present a showcase of work in conjunction with the egg, to include touring performance, new writing and other work.
Assessment Methods
Assessment methods will include both written and practical work, including a final showcase presentation in conjunction with the egg.
Career Opportunities
As this course is based in partnership with the egg, a venue specialising in theatre for young audiences, the programme creates opportunity for sustainable career development to occur in three main areas:
- By designing the learning environment as entrepreneurial, work-based and collaborative, you will establish connections with wide industry and field-specific networks.
- By branding final products as being developed in partnership with the egg, you will have a product and/or portfolio with market value and longevity.
- The final showcase of work is used as a launch platform to attract commission and further contacts.
Picture supplied by 'the egg'
Entry Requirements
Normally, but not exclusively, an applicant will have a good first degree (2:1 or above). This may be in an area related to the creative industries. However, it is acknowledged that background career paths of applicants may be diverse. In fostering an ethos of interdisciplinary creativity and collaboration on the programme, we would welcome candidates who have arrived at this career choice through alternate pathways. In all applications, we will assess the application on the basis of Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) where appropriate, the interview and/or application form and the portfolio of work presented.
