Theatre for Young Audiences (2014 start)

Launching in October 2014, the MA Theatre for Young Audiences (MATYA), in collaboration with Theatre Royal Bath’s the egg - one of the country’s leading TYA venues - combines storytelling, new writing, devising, puppetry and scholarship to equip students with the practical and theoretical skills to enter the burgeoning field of Theatre for Young Audiences.

Designed for entrepreneurial practitioners and scholars including actors, directors, scriptwriters,
producers, scenographers and others with a relevant background in theatre and performance,
the MATYA fosters collaborative work, immerses students in the operational life of one of the most
innovative TYA venues in the country, and provides them with invaluable artistic, academic and
professional contacts. We are now accepting applications for October 2014.

Why study Theatre for Young Audiences (2014 start)?

• You enjoy working collaboratively
• You are committed to working with young people
• You wish to establish your own companies or develop your own work

National student survey results

Overall student Satisfaction with teaching for courses in this subject area (2011): 88%

Course structure

The creative journey of the MATYA is informed 
by you gaining a practical and analytical understanding of:

• Practical methodologies and processes for creating theatre and storytelling for young audiences, including writing, devising, dramaturgy, puppetry, and design
• Educational pedagogy in the creative arts for young people, including workshop facilitation and experiential learning paradigms
• The broader context of TYA grounded in an understanding of the creative capacities of children
• The performance field through examination of the work of key companies and playwrights
• The arts business, including producing and funding strategies alongside the infrastructure of the TYA field.

Modules

The MA Theatre for Young Audiences consists of four 15-credit modules, two 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.

Modules include:

• Content, Context and Methodologies (includes theory and History, research Methodologies)
• Composition (writing and dramaturgy)
• Puppetry
• Devising and Collaborative Process
• Design and Aesthetics
• Industry and Entrepreneurship
• Thesis (practical or written)

Course assessment

Assessment methods will include both written and practical work. Students can choose either a
performance or written thesis, both of which culminate in a presentation at the Thesis Showcase &
Symposium at the egg in October following the completion of the MA year(s).

This MA is delivered through a combination of seminars, master classes, workshops and online
delivery, and incorporates the ongoing programme of activity at the egg.

Teaching methods

At the close of the academic year, the course presents a showcase of work in conjunction with the egg, including touring performance, new writing and other work.

Application method

To apply for the programme, please email us at admissions@bathspa.ac.uk; we will then contact you to discuss matters further. If you have any queries please contact the admissions department at the address above, or telephone us on (01225) 875624. We are now accepting applications for October 2014.

Course enquiries

For a detailed discussion about the programme, please contact the course leader Dr Laura Purcell Gates at matya@bathspa.ac.uk.

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.

Career opportunities

The MATYA will equip you with the performance, applied, academic and entrepreneurial skills to pursue a career in the field of Theatre for Young Audiences. Particularly invaluable are the industry contacts, experience, and professional platform gained through the course's partnership with the egg.

Graduates of the course move into work as theatre companies, writers, directors, producers, or academics.