MA Directing
1 year course
The course runs for one year from September 2023. At the end of the year, you will gain a masters degree awarded by LAMDA.
Highlights
Understand an actor's process through core LAMDA training with classes in acting, voice, movement and singing. Participate in seminars in text analysis, interpretation and screen processes. Assist professional directors on onsite or digital projects, work on an original short film and an actors’ workshop at LAMDA. Collaborate with LAMDA actors to devise an original piece of theatre. You'll direct a play of your choice in the final term to an audience of industry invited guests.
Who's the course for?
Minimum age 18, however most students are 21 and over on this course. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree or equivalent professional experience.
Overview
Tuition fees
For academic year 2023/24:
UK applicants: £17,766 per year
International applicants: £24,941 per year
Tuition fees are reviewed annually
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Application process:
Application form, first round interview and second round interview, if successful.
Application fee:
£15 First round interview fee [from November 2022]
£24 Second round recall interview fee [from March 2023 onwards]
Application deadline:
Monday 20 March 2023 at 3pm [UK, BST]
About the course
In your first term, you will observe and participate in core LAMDA training alongside postgraduate acting students, working across the disciplines of acting, voice, movement and singing in order to develop an understanding of the actor’s process.
You will participate in seminars in text analysis and interpretation, and the aesthetics and processes particular to screen, as well as directing your fellow students in short scene studies.
In your second and third terms, you will assist professional directors on projects, onsite or digital productions, an original short film and an actors’ workshop at LAMDA. And during the spring holiday, you will collaborate with LAMDA actors to devise an original piece of theatre – an opportunity to put into practice what you have learned and develop your dramaturgical skills.
Your year will finish with you directing and realising a play of your choice in one of our performance spaces including invited industry. Over the past two years, these guests have included Natalie Abrahami, Ned Bennett, Giles Croft, Mike Longhurst, Roxanna Silbert and Lyndsey Turner.
Key information
We have been training visionary and versatile directors for almost 20 years, and they have gone on to build rewarding and sustainable careers in the industry. The transformational impact of our training lies in our receptiveness to current industry practice, a commitment to preparing you for all aspects of performance production and to nurturing the individuality of your focus and passion.
During this one-year postgraduate MA Directing programme you will build your practice through an intense programme of practical classwork, reflective tutorials and attachments as assistant directors on LAMDA productions, supporting the work of professional directors. Your training will culminate with you directing a play of your choice which will be shared with industry professionals.
Teaching takes place at LAMDA in Barons Court, west London (30 minutes from central London), although course components may be offered either via blended learning (a mix of online/onsite delivery) or components may be delivered via 100% online tuition.
You must have completed a college or university course, or have adequate professional experience to meet the demands of the course. You must also have been sufficiently involved in theatre (professional or student) in order to demonstrate serious professional intent on pursuing a career as a director.
You must also be a fluent English speaker. Non-native speakers do not need to provide an English language test report when they apply as we assess English at the auditions and interviews. However, you’ll need to provide a valid IELTS test report with an overall score of seven if you’re offered a place. We can only accept IELTS for UKVI.
Tuition fees
For academic year 2023/24:
UK applicants: £17,766 per year
International applicants: £24,941 per year
Course fees confirmed in an offer letter may be increased in further years of study by an inflationary amount determined in accordance with measures set by government.
Application fees
First round interview £15
Second round interview £24.
Find out about fee waivers here.
Your future career
In addition to masterclasses from visiting professional directors, you will also undertake assistant director attachments within LAMDA, working with both in-house and visiting directors. Most recently these have included Chris Sonnex, Amelia Sears, Jade Lewis, Matt Hassall, Anna Marsland, Anthony Lau, James Yeatman and Sam Curtis Lindsay.
Industry professionals are invited to watch your final production and offer their feedback. Over the past two years, these guests have included Natalie Abrahami, Ned Bennett, Giles Croft, Mike Longhurst, Roxanna Silbert and Lyndsey Turner.
