Directing Circus

You’ll study the roles, strategies and practical skills of circus directing. You’ll use a variety of research methods and promote autonomous and collaborative learning to explore circus direction. You’ll engage with industry professionals on current debates and discourses of the discipline.

Research Methodologies and Context
You'll have the opportunity to work alongside students from other Performing Arts disciplines. You'll develop a sophisticated understanding of and ability to research at a postgraduate level. The module recognises that research in the performing arts disciplines is a dynamic and varied field, which the methodologies explored on this module reflect. The module also provides specific context tailored to the individual needs of each Performing Arts MA course.

Directing Circus One: Performer as Source
Explore a range of roles, responsibilities and skills necessary for directing circus-based performance. You'll study different types of circus performance creation, and demonstrate skills through practice and knowledge sharing. You begin by learning about all the roles that a circus director may be required to fulfil, including dramaturgy, choreography and design, as well as the implications of different starting points such as performer-as-source and director-as-author. You engage in short, small projects, mainly working to facilitate the creative ideas and performance of the performer(s).

Professional Collaboration
This module gives you the opportunity to explore your subject specialism within a contemporary professional context to promote entrepreneurialism and/or professional practice. The shared elements of this module links Performing Arts practitioners from different subject areas, while subject specific content focuses on professional approaches. This module includes placements with leading UK contemporary circus companies.

Circus Directing Two: Director as Author
This module develops your directing skills with a longer, more in-depth project, with more emphasis on director-as-author, shifting the emphasis from taught learning to more independent learning. You direct circus-based acts or pieces to demonstrate your advanced level skills through practice, at a semi-professional level. You’ll also reflect critically upon your overall skills development for directing circus and place them in the context of the contemporary industry. Teaching includes workshops, seminars, and off-site visits to companies in rehearsal.

Major Project
Your final project will draw on skills and knowledge acquired in modules one, two, three and four. Drawing on an area of practice that is central to your interests and aspirations, your thesis content is decided in negotiation with your course tutors. It may take the form of a written submission or practical work or a combination of both. The initial stages of your project will commence with tutor guidance and then become self-directed in its later stages. A single summative assessment will conclude this final module of your Master’s degree.

This course includes or offers the following modules. Please check the programme document (below the main image on this page) for more information.

• Research Methodologies and Context
• Directing Circus 1: Performer as Source
• Professional Collaboration
• Directing Circus 2: Director as Author
• Major Project

You'll be assessed through the practical outcome of your projects and the written content of your blog.

Formative assessment is through tutor feedback on your rehearsal processes and on the draft essay. Summative assessment is through the practical outcome of your project, your written reflection of the project, and your essay.

You’ll engage in short, small projects, mainly working to facilitate the creative ideas and performance of the performer(s).

Teaching includes workshops, seminars, and off-site visits to companies in rehearsal.

Our professional engagement module includes placements with leading UK contemporary circus companies.

This course takes place at our Kingswood site, which is home to Circomedia’s degree programme and main office space.

It boasts four training spaces, including three aerial spaces, and a mirrored studio. There is also a student room with a kitchen, quiet study room, classroom, and IT suite.

This site also holds a library with a comprehensive selection of books and media on contemporary circus with physical theatre.

Course fees