Directing for Stage and Screen is for those who have a passion for directing for both the live theatre and for onscreen film and television as well those wishing to develop audio-visual elements for the live performance context.

We offer this course at both MA and MFA; the MA is one year and the MFA requires a second year of further study. Please choose which qualification you would like to apply for by selecting your choice at the apply button.

The programme will prepare you for entry into the moving image and theatre industries through the production of work which could be distributed via film festivals and / or theatrical performance. The programme will also act as a base for doctorial study, an academic career or professional work in theatre and film practice.

The focus of the practice-based training offered in the programme is intended to prepare you for work in the exciting and innovative moving image and theatre sectors through high-end technical instruction, development of professional performance and production methodologies, creative writing, performance praxis and stage craft, and an insight into the industry’s structures and business models.

You will also benefit from the programme’s wide networks in the theatre and moving image industry; you may also gain wider industrial film experience via Schema, UEL’s Student Production Unit. Schema coordinates a variety of film projects with external organisation and is a conduit for internships and work placements.

You will leave the programme with a substantial portfolio of work for both immediate production / screenings and as basis for fundraising for future productions. You will also have learnt a wide range of technical skills, in both production and post-production. You will leave having developed an innovative practice and an understanding of industry.

You'll be taught by a range of staff, most of whom are active practitioners in the field which ensures that the practice-led research which is disseminated in the studio, or actually takes place there, is relevant to industry and practice. It also means that the course is well placed to take advantage of the myriad of professional networks which staff bring with them. Within each module there is a practical component and support/contextual component with the intention that knowledge and skills are always introduced and developed in relation to studio projects.

When not attending timetabled lectures, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and Moodle.

Our academic support team provides help in a range of areas - including learning and disability support.

Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.

The approximate percentages for this course are:

Year 1: scheduled teaching – 300 hours; guided independent study – 900 hours.

Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching will be a mix of both daytime and evening sessions, partly dependent on module choice.

We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 15 working days of the submission deadlines.

Who will teach on this course

Dr Tom Drayton

Prof Dominic Hingorani

Mr Jo Shoop

Dr Johannes Maier

Dr David Chapman

The MFA / MA Directing for Stage and Screen course takes a practice-based approach as it explores different stage and film directing methodologies – Realism, Narrative Cinema, Moving Image, Contemporary Devising and Screenwriting.

You will gain the skills needed to become a creative and innovative Director in Film and Theatre with the opportunity to experiment and learn your craft taking your ideas from concept to realisation on the stage or screen.

The Director and the Text module draws on the Stanislavskian approach to staging plays and gives you an in-depth understanding of how to work with actors.
 
The Narrative Cinema module gives you a grounding in scripting, crew dynamics, production planning and practical filmmaking skills in the production of a short fiction film.
 
The Devised Project module works in collaboration with a major cultural organisation, at present the V&A Museum, to create an original performance work to be staged and hosted in the museum.

The Moving Image module looks at a wide range of experimental approaches to moving image work and explores a range of film technologies, including16mm film, green-screen and multiscreen installation.

The Screenwriting module will introduce you to the process of screenwriting. Through an analysis of the art of writing for screen, including developing story structure, characters and dialogue, as well as the mechanics of screenwriting such as format and structure, students will advance their own professional scriptwriting practice.  
 
Your Final Project will be your chance to realise an ambitious, high production value, festival-ready film or stage play which acts a ‘showcase’ for the innovative directorial practice you have developed on the course