Welcome to Theatre Dramaturgy at the University of Kent!
Theatre Dramaturgy is a taught M-Level Theatre Studies specialist masters programme at the University of Kent. As part of the four year, extended undergraduate Masters-programme, it leads to the award of MDrama, over 120 credits. On postgraduate level, it leads over 180 credits to an MA Theatre Dramaturgy, including a final dissertation project.
Applications for the MA are taken from early January each year, with a deadline of 15 July, and the programme commences in September, with the requirement to submit a first project portfolio at the beginning of term at the end of September.
The modules you will take are:
DR 893 Methodologies 15 credits (7.5 ECTS) - Compulsory
DR 853 Creative Producing & Dramaturgy 45 credits (22.5 ECTS) +
PLUS Two of the three options below
1. DR 862 Production Dramaturgy 30 credits (15 ECTS)
2. DR 837 Dramaturgy: Professional Placement 30 credits (15 ECTS)
3. DR 894 Thinking Theatre 30 credits (15 ECTS)
PLUS
DR 996: MA Dissertation (60 credits - 30 ECTS) - MA students only
While in the UK the profession of the 'Dramaturg' is still virtually unknown, most theatres in Europe, US and Australia regularly employ dramaturgs. Of course, every British theatre, venue and production uses 'dramaturgy', and the tasks and jobs associated with a Dramaturg exist in British theatre as well, but these people are often called 'Artistic Director', 'Creative Advisor', 'Educational Officer', 'Literary Manager', 'Rehearsal Diarist' or 'Outside Eye'.
The dramaturg's task, essentially, is to build bridges: between theory and practice; between the director, the actors, and the script and/or playwright; between artistic intention and the realities of the budget; and not least between a theatre, its productions, and the audience. This course develops and rehearses these multiple roles and proficiencies, from production dramaturgy to PR-work, from scholarly background research to budgeting, producing and creative programming, with which dramaturgs help to realise, support, and publicise productions that genuinely fulfil theatre's cultural function as a place for a society's self-reflection and critical inspiration.
Masters students on Theatre Dramaturgy will encounter, acquire skills and work in the following areas:
Venue programming
Production Research & Development
New Work Development
Developing Educational Resources and Events
Developing Production Publicity
In all of these areas, we work on and with (virtual and real) examples of text-based theatre and drama, but also physical theatre, dance, music theatre, children's and youth theatre, and other forms and genres, and you will have the opportunities both to pursue your own interests as well as to discover new areas.
Some of our partners and guest workshop leaders have included professionals from the Gate, Paines Plough, National Theatre, RSC.