MA Theatre and Performance
Establish your artistic identity on our artist-led course
Establish your artistic identity on our artist-led course
- Define and refine your individual practice with the support of experienced theatre practitioners
- Create a new piece of work, an artist’s portfolio, a business plan and a practice-led-research project
- Utilise our strong industry links with national events, venues and festivals
Join us for a virtual Open Event
Wednesday 26 March | 10:30 - 11:30 (GMT) and 18:30 - 19:30 (GMT)
Wednesday 26 March
Our next Postgraduate Open Event is in:
Overview
Join an artist-led master's programme open to theatre makers of all styles and disciplines
Important
This course has been renamed from MA Performance: Theatre or Theatre Collectives for 2024 entry.
A practice-led, contemporary theatre and performance making programme suited to independent practitioners (at any point in their careers) looking to define and/or refine their professional creative practice, artistic identity and career goals. Options to study full time or part time.
Define your practice with the support of professional artists
Students will work to create a new piece of work, an artist’s portfolio, business plan and a practice-led-research project, with the support of masterclasses and mentorship from professional artists. Previous mentors and masterclasses include Shelia Ghelani, Manuel Vason, Bert & Nasi, Sh!t Theatre, Karen Christopher, Spymonkey, Luke Barnes, Lucy McCormick and Stacy Makishi.
Join our acclaimed alumni
Alumni include Abigail Conway, Jamal Harwood, Alfie Ordinary, Roughhouse Theatre, Sleeping Trees, The Paper Birds and David Sheppeard.
Shape your practical skills through practice-led research
Throughout the course, you will develop your practical and study skills to postgraduate level as you take part in interdisciplinary practice-led research methodologies and contribute the development of new work.
Aaron
Learn from experienced and expert theatre practitioners
Our team of internationally reputed theatre and performance artists, practitioners and researchers are here to help support your practical and personal growth, as you join an artist-led, theatre-making department.
Join a community of theatre-makers with strong industry links
Our vibrant and collaborative community of artists, practitioners and performers benefit from strong links with venues and regional, national and international festivals.
Access our range of excellent theatre resources and spaces
Our range of performance and rehearsal spaces and resources ensure that you have access to everything you need to support your creative practice.
On this course you will:
- Develop and enhance your individual practice with the support of professional artists.
- Create a new piece of work, an artist’s portfolio, business plan and a practice-led-research project
- Join a vibrant and connected environment and community for making contemporary theatre and performance.
- Utilise our strong industry links with national events, venues and festivals.
- Learn from our experienced team of contemporary theatre experts.
- Use our range of excellent performance and rehearsal spaces and resources.
The Course
Shape and refine your professional practice and artistic identity
Throughout the course, you will engage in a selection of both core and specialist modules that develop your knowledge of theatre-making and performance.
Core modules
- An introduction to postgraduate study and research methodologies
- Practice-led Research and Development project, including a written dissertation.
Specialist modules
- Professional Portfolio
- Performance Project .
Both modules are year long, in-person and complimented by intensive residences in the spring and summer semesters.
Andy Roberts
Theatre at the University of Chichester
The Theatre department at Chichester is rooted in contemporary theatre and performance practice. Our programmes are predominantly practical, underpinned by cultural studies and practice-led research. All programmes are designed to be flexible with options to study full time or part time, and blend taught and independent research approaches.
We are an artist-led, theatre-making department and we are particularly suited to people (emerging or established) looking to define and/or refine their professional practice, artistic identity and portfolio.
In all aspects, our focus is on new work and contemporary theory and practice. We welcome students whose practice and approaches fall in-between, or outside of, or crossover, conventional and/or traditional labels and contexts for theatre, performance and the live arts.
Our programmes are designed to be extremely flexible, reflecting the diversity of approaches to making contemporary theatre and performance. The Theatre Department at Chichester has an established reputation for working with a wide range of contemporary performance artists who recognise the opportunities for creative research and development within an applied university context.
Our programme is run by a team of leading-edge interdisciplinary academics and artists. We work very closely with a wide range of established artists and performance collectives – both members of faculty and associate artists – who recognise the unique contribution the University of Chichester makes to supporting new theatre and performance work. Your own work will be stimulated by a continuous programme of professional performances from a wide range of international artists, many of whom support the work of the department through teaching and mentoring.
On our courses you will:
- Join a vibrant and diverse environment and arts community.
- Make your own contemporary theatre and performance.
- Develop your critical and practical voice as a performance maker or academic.
- Be mentored and taught by internationally reputed theatre and performance artists.
- Have access to leading-edge technical and practical resources, space and expertise.
- Create opportunities to present work at national events, platforms and festivals, and/or present research and publish in academic events and environments.
Programmes delivered by the Theatre Department enjoy:
- Dedicated teaching and rehearsal spaces.
- Leading-edge technical facilities and resources.
- Tangible partnerships with professional theatres and festivals in the region and nationally.
- Other connections with the industry: relationships with visiting artists and companies.
- A high employability rate with students working on stage, in film and TV, as excellent teachers, and in various areas of the creative industries.
Teaching and Assessment
Feel the support of our expert and experienced teaching staff
How you will learn
All programmes combine ‘taught’ and ‘research’ elements and are rooted in self-direction, the ideas and practical and/or research interests of the student.
The core hub of all our programmes focus on study and practical skills, and culminate in advanced practice-led research outcomes: essays, case studies, reflexive critical writing and your main thesis.
From there, the programmes contribute and build; with taught elements focused on the teaching and learning of content specific to the programme’s theme and topic.
Alongside this you will develop your own research and practical ideas, usually resulting in the creation and presentation of new performance work, either in-house or in public settings.
To do this, you will have the entire university’s resources at your disposal: technical support, professional mentorship and supervision, leading-edge professional standard media and technologies, and a range of other learning and practical support.
Feel supported to develop your own artistic identity
You will be encouraged to work further afield – across the region, UK, Europe and beyond – and externalise your work and identity.
You will have opportunities to establish a professional artistic and/or academic identity, and platform your own work in national and international contexts, which will help develop prospects for continuing education, in terms of teaching or continuing studies to MPhil and PhD, and in terms of your professional identity as a practitioner.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a range of assignments including:
- The creation of practical (public) performances
- Practical workshops and interactive/participatory research activities
- Monographs and artists books
- Business models and plans
- Research papers and presentations
- A written thesis.
Facilities
Discover dedicated performance spaces, specialist equipment and extensive resources
Assembly Theatre
On our Bognor Regis campus, the Assembly Theatre is used by Theatre students for rehearsals and performance, alongside a range of other spaces and sites to make and present work.
The Chapel
Our Chapel is also a fantastic venue for performances and rehearsals, and is the centre piece of the Chichester campus.
Practice and rehearsal spaces
We also have a number of soundproofed practice rooms for rehearsals and lessons, as well as lecture and seminar rooms.
Learning Resource Centre
The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) contains the library, a café, IT/teaching rooms and the Support and Information Zone (SIZ).
Library
Our campus library holds more than 200,000 books and over 500,000 eBooks.
More About The ShowRoom
The ShowRoom is recognised nationally for presenting some of the most exciting companies touring on the UK circuit, and the programme is shaped to support the learning of students.
We often run workshops and post-show discussion for Theatre students with visiting artists. We believe that one of the best ways to learn about professional theatre is by watching a training with arts industry professionals. This is at the heart of the ShowRoom’s ambition.
The ShowRoom is highly adaptable, with retractable seating, making it an excellent teaching and workshop space in addition to its role as a venue. It is run by our Theatre Manager and Department Technician, who work closely with our students, helping them to realise creative and adventurous ideas in a professional working space.
Other facilities include:
- Studio spaces exclusive to the department
- Rehearsalrooms
- Recording studio
- Editing facilities
- Audio/visual equipment
- In-house lighting and sound technicians to assist student projects.
Careers
Where you could go after your studies
Our MA Theatre and Performance leads to various outcomes and opportunities.
Over the years we have established and supported students as independent practitioners and touring arts companies/collectives, teaching (at all levels), and of course, PhD and further academic study and careers.
We also produce and support students looking to establish and develop careers in producing, creative writing, and arts management.
Course Costs
Course Fees 2025/26
UK fee
International fee
For further details about fees, please see our Tuition Fee page.
For further details about international scholarships, please see our Scholarships page.
University of Chichester alumni who have completed a full undergraduate degree at the University will receive a 15% discount on their postgraduate fees.
Entry Requirements
Typical offer (individual offers may vary):
Applicants will ideally have a 2.1 degree and a dissertation in Theatre/Performing Arts or a related subject.
We welcome applications from any other degree subject if the applicant has relevant professional experience, or an academic qualification equivalent to a degree plus relevant professional experience.
Applicants will also need to meet the minimum English language requirement of an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no component below 5.5, or an equivalent recognised test. Visit our English Language Requirements page for more information.
International students who don't meet the entry requirements
If you are an international student and do not yet meet the entry criteria for this course, you may be eligible for our International Premaster’s Programme. This is a one-semester programme that allows you to progress onto a master’s course at the University of Chichester.
Apply
Applications are made directly to the department. You will need to submit:
- Application form and personal statement, with references
- Evidence of work/a portfolio (a website, and/or resume with links to work).
