Collaborative Theatre Making MA in association with Frantic Assembly at Coventry University

Delivered in association with internationally renowned theatre company Frantic Assembly, this Master’s degree provides a unique opportunity to develop collaborative theatre making skills relevant to professional level contemporary theatre across Europe, Australia, North America and Asia.

Teaching is split between the Coventry campus and professional studios and theatres in London. You will get the chance to participate in intensive practical performance projects with Frantic Assembly and study with some of the most talented professionals in the field. This includes Frantic Assembly’s Artistic Director and co-founder Scott Graham whose award-winning career includes an Olivier and Tony Award nomination for Best Choreography. At the same time, research events and seminars with leading academics and industry professionals involved in production, project management and funding will broaden your knowledge.

Why Coventry University?

An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.

Course information

This course has been designed to prepare you to be innovative and adventurous performers, theatre makers, educators and researchers. It aims to provide you with an advanced understanding and associated skills in performance techniques, improvisational process, composition and performance skills.

Your learning is underpinned by development of the professional, interpersonal and communication skills needed to successfully collaborate in theatre making and work as part of a team to maximise your own and each other’s skills, knowledge and creativity.

The course offers a suite of mandatory modules central to collaborative theatre making. They have been designed to simultaneously develop your practical, theoretical and professional practice skills, while offering you the opportunity to create your own individual pathway of specialism, particularly through your choice for the final major project.

Depending on your choice of optional module in the second semester, you can choose to study research methodologies for professional practice in more depth or gain a deeper understanding of arts practice within community and educational settings. If you are interested in developing your collaborative practice with young people, you can explore how to plan and structure a workshop, build trust and create a safe space for young people of all abilities to participate, create and make a piece of theatre.

You will be taught how to critique and use new and existing approaches to contemporary theatre making and performance, gaining a solid foundation in contemporary theatre theories and concepts, reflective practice strategies, professional level approaches to project management, design and evaluation.

Drawing on the working practices of Frantic Assembly, you will expand your own artistic practice and ability to create original and innovative work, culminating in public performances at an established performance venue.

Career prospects

There is a strong emphasis within the course on your future career, aimed not only to help you finalise your chosen career path, but also ensure that you have the professional level of artistic and business skills and knowledge to thrive in the demanding and highly competitive world of contemporary theatre.

Working alongside an award-winning collaborative theatre company with an international reputation can give you an unprecedented preparation for a career in 21st century theatre making. We will provide industry relevant experience and the chance to tap into the expertise of pioneering practitioners, which will enable you to self-initiate and manage projects within the wider performing arts sector.

Our Creative Futures employment team is on hand to offer tailored career and enterprise support if you wish to gain employment or take advantage of professional practice opportunities within course specific industries. Our dedicated enterprise officers also offer valuable assistance on how to begin as a freelancer/entrepreneur.

On graduation, students may want to pursue a career as a theatre maker, performer, producer or practitioner.

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The University's Careers and Employability team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.