Directing

Entry requirements

Most students on this course are 21+.

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree or equivalent professional experience.

Months of entry

September

Course content

This competitive course provides talented, emerging directors with up to the minute vocational training support by leading industry professionals.

It offers course members the unique opportunity to both assist professional directors on in-house and professional external placements, and to direct a fully staged, creatively and technically supported production in the final term.

At the start of the course, you will participate in core LAMDA training alongside MFA Acting students, working across the disciplines of acting, voice and movement to develop a deep working knowledge and understanding of the actor’s process.

You will also participate in seminars in directing practice, understanding movement direction, the aesthetics and processes of screen making and how to prepare for a production. You will apply your skills and knowledge by directing professional actors and fellow acting students in scene explorations and short-scene studies.

In your second and third terms, you will assist professional directors on projects, onsite or on external placements (where available). You will complete a design project with students from Royal Welsh College and during the spring, you will collaborate with LAMDA actors to devise an original piece of theatre – a further opportunity to put into practice what you have learnt and develop your dramaturgical skills.

Your year will finish with you programming and directing a public performance of a play/project of your choice in either one of our performance spaces or with a well-recognised external theatre (previous venues include The Orange Tree Theatre and Theatre503).You will also have an industry mentor, who will watch your production and discuss your future career with you. Previous mentors have included Natalie Abrahami, Tim Etchells, Mike Longhurst, Lyndsey Turner, Nancy Medina and Marianne Elliot.

Course highlights:

• Gain insight into an actor’s process through core LAMDA training with classes in acting, movement and voice.
• Participate in bespoke seminars on the craft of directing with core LAMDA staff and industry professionals.
• Assist professional directors on LAMDA productions and on external placements.
• Collaborate with LAMDA actors to devise a completely original piece of theatre.
• Direct an industry-facing play or project in the final term with full creative and technical support.

Fees and funding

If you’re starting a master’s degree, you could get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan to help with course fees and living costs. If you need any further information, please get in touch with our Admissions team.

Students can also apply for a Leverhulme Arts Scholarships, which awards between £3,000-£12,000 per annum and can support with fees and/or maintenance costs throughout the duration of a degree. These scholarships are available for all postgraduate courses.