Department of

Performing Arts

MA Performance (Theatre) or (Theatre Collectives)

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ContentsMA Performance (Theatre) (Theatre Collectives) 3What is involved 4Course Content 6Meet the staff 8Meet the artists 10What people say about the programme 15Further information and how to apply 16

Performing Arts at ChichesterWe have an international reputation as a home for intensive, innovativeand dynamic performance making. Based around the Showroom, an ArtsCouncil-funded national touring venue, the Department offers the highlypopular and successful BA (Hons) Performing Arts (TheatrePerformance), the MA Performance (Theatre) (Theatre Collectives) andresearch degree programmes (MPhil and PhD). The Department is hometo a wide range of artist/academics and performance makers, drawn toChichester by its consistent reputation for supporting radical artists at allstages of their careers: everything the Department does is about makingexciting new performance art ...

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MA Performance (Theatre) or (Theatre Collectives)

The MA Performance(Theatre) (Theatre Collectives) This postgraduate degree isdesigned specifically forperformance-based artists andcollaborative theatre makerswho are committed toestablishing or developing aprofessional profile for theirwork.

We provide an unparalleled opportunityfor emergent and establishedperformance makers who want time andspace to make high-quality theatre work,develop their critical thinking and establishor refine their professional identity.

Key Features include:

• A supportive creative environment inwhich your own creative practice canthrive;

• Flexible delivery, ideal for distancelearning and International students;

• Rehearsal and administrative space andaccess to leading theatre technologies;

• A programme of external mentoring,with key international theatre artistsand producers;

• Postgraduate level academicdevelopment;

• Opportunity to participate and presentwork at research laboratory eventsand as part of the ShowRoom’sFormations programme;

• Marketing support for future projectsand on-going membership of theUniversity’s Graduating ArtistsScheme;

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What is involved…

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The year-long programme, isdesigned to be extremelyflexible, reflecting the diversityof approaches to makingartwork.

Students are expected to develop twoparallel projects: a work-in-progress pieceinformed by an extensive critical agendaand a major performance event. Theseprojects are underpinned by extensive(written) critical study and thedevelopment of a ‘professional portfolio’that helps define the nature and purposeof the creative projects in an externalcontext. (See Course Content).

Collectives and IndividualsA key feature of the programme is the‘Theatre Collective’ strand: we welcomeblock-applications from groups of artists,who are keen to develop their creativeidentity as part of a shared collective.Individuals are, of course, welcome, eitheras solo performers or as individualslooking to share practice in new contexts.

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MA Performance (Theatre) or (Theatre Collectives)

Chichester: Working EnvironmentStudents will be entering into one of themost vibrant and connected environmentsand communities for making radicaltheatre and performance.

The Department of Performing Arts atChichester has an established reputationfor working with a wide range ofestablished performance artists whorecognize the opportunities of creativeresearch and development within anapplied university context. TheDepartment runs the Showroom, a keyvenue in the national touring network,with a reputation for programminginnovative and radical work. For moreinformation visit the ShowRoom website:www.theshowroomchichester.co.uk

Distance LearningWhile coming to Chichester and beingpart of our actual community is anexciting opportunity for students, theDepartment has worked hard to establisha national and international ‘virtual’community.

We actively encourage students who arebased in different parts of the World tojoin us through our ‘distance learning’programme, which balances the coreexpertise provided by the University ofChichester with mentoring in their ownbase.

We are particularly proactive in recruitingstudents in San Francisco, California,where we are working with a range oflike-minded artists, organisations andvenues to create a vibrant satellitecommunity (See International Studentsinformation on page 16).

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Course content

This programme constitutes 180Credits and is delivered overtwelve months. The delivery isbroken into five compulsorymodules

The modules are:

Developmental Project(Practice led Research and Development,including a written dissertation, 60 credits)

Production (Practical Project, 60 credits)

Professional Portfolio(Professional development andrepresentation, 30 credits)

Research Methodology (Critical Studies, 15 credits)

Cultural Identity and Performance(Critical/Practical Research Project, 15 credits).

Production and Developmental Projectserve as the year-long core creativeprojects, supported by external andprofessional reflection throughProfessional Portfolio. These projects aredelivered in a rigorous, yet highly flexible,context, with regular tutorials andseminars with tutors and mentors.Students are given the opportunity toshare work-in-progress during any one ofthree events during the academic year.

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MA Performance (Theatre) or (Theatre Collectives)

Research Methodology and CulturalIdentity and Performance are taughtclasses, delivered through Semester One(Autumn) and Semester Two (Spring)respectively.

AssessmentTo gain a MA, students need to completemodules equivalent to 180 credits includingthe dissertation. A range of assessmentmodes are employed; though a largeproportion of the MA programme isassessed through practice. At least oneproject (usually Production) will bepresented in a public venue external of theUniversity.

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Meet the staff….

The Programme is run by a team of highlydedicated academics and artists, who also teach onthe highly successful BA Performing ArtsProgramme and on the Performing Arts/DanceMPhil/PhD programme.

For full profiles of our core staff team visit www.chi.ac.uk/performing-arts/staff-profiles

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MA Performance (Theatre) or (Theatre Collectives)

Ben FrancombeHead ofDepartment

Julie ThurstonAdministrator

Ian HornsbySenior Lecturer

Andrew WilfordSenior Lecturer

Louie JenkinsSenior Lecturer

Robert DanielsSenior Lecturer

Abi MortimerAssociate Lecturer

Carrie WhitakerAssociate Lecturer

James BakerAssociate Lecturer

Jane BaconProfessor ofPerformance

Pete PhillipsSenior Lecturer

Brian LobelSenior Lecturer

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Meet the artists….

The University of Chichesterworks very closely with a widerange of established artists andperformance collectives – bothmembers of Faculty andAssociate Artists – whorecognize the uniquecontribution Chichester makesto supporting new theatre work.All these artists are working – orhave worked recently – with ourstudents.

Our artist-partners include (among manyothers):

Bootworks – Award-winning residenttheatre company, run by Senior Lecturer,Rob Daniels, supported by the ArtsCouncil and British Council, who haverecently toured to China, Japan, Brazil andEurope. www.bootworkstheatre.co.uk

Search Party – Performance Duo, JodieHawkes and Senior Lecturer, Pete Phillips,whose work has been seen recently inAustralia, France and Kazakhstan.www.searchpartyperformance.org.uk

Brian Lobel – Senior Lecturer and prolificPerformance Maker, touring widely,nationally and internationally, with anumber of performance events.www.blobelwarming.com

Louie Jenkins – Senior Lecturer and SoloPerformer (founder-member of FactoryFloor – a women’s performance network),whose work has been seen recently acrossBritain and in California.www.factoryfloornetwork.wordpress.com

Action Hero – (pictured opposite)Bristol-based, internationally-renownedperformance artists, who – amongst manyother things – are our key ‘culturalexchange’ partners, working with a rangeof artists in San Francisco.www.actionhero.org.uk

MA Performance (Theatre) or (Theatre Collectives)

Action Hero

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MA Performance (Theatre) or (Theatre Collectives)

Helena Hunter – Critically-acclaimed London-based performance artists, currently engaged in athree-year formal association with the University.www.helenahunter.com

1927 – International block-busting(!) theatrecompany, whose smash-hit The Animals andChildren took to the Street, was commissioned bythe ShowRoom and has been seen across theGlobe! www.19-27.co.uk

The Paper-Birds – Award-winning Leeds-basedfemale collective, graduates of the MA TheatreCollectives programme. www.thepaperbirds.com

Main image, The Paper Birds in Others (2010), above left, Carpe Minuta Primaby Brian Lobel – composite photograph of Brixton Village Market installation,above right Pete Phillips in Search Party's Save Me

Meet the artists….

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Andy Roberts in Predator, Bootworks Theatre 2012

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MA Performance (Theatre) or (Theatre Collectives)

What people say about theProgramme:“This course is an exciting intriguingproposition. If it had been available when wewere starting Stan's Cafe we would havefound it a very attractive proposition”.

James Yarker, Stan’s Café www.stanscafe.co.uk

“The MA in Theatre Collectives has beeninvaluable to me as an artist, a collaboratorand as an individual. I feel the course isstructured to support and encourage theacademic and practical learning anddevelopment of the business and theindividuals who essentially make that business.As the Artistic Director of The Paper Birds Ican feel the impact of the course shifting,shaping and enhancing the work of thecompany”.

Jemma McDonnell, The Paper Birds – graduate, MA Theatre Collectives

“The MA in Theatre Collectives at Chichesterwas the perfect testing ground for mypractice, I was given the time and space tocreate new work and, through the mentoringprogramme, the opportunity to tour thecountry meeting practitioners and artist’s inthe industry. There’s something really specialin that freedom to explore.”

Andy Roberts, Co-Director, Bootworks Theatre – graduate MA Theatre Collectives

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AttendanceSessions are held at Bishop Otter Campus(Chichester). Some modules operateduring the daytime, but a degree offlexibility is available for distance-learners.Intensive weekend residencies and summerschools will be arranged in accordance withstudent need: the programme is designedto work around the calendars of workingartists.

International studentsThe programme is particularly suitable forinternational students who are keen toengage in the Department’s CulturalExchange programme. Students areencouraged to come to the UK to sharetheir work during residency periods, butthe core programme can be delivered overdistance and a mentor will be provided intheir area of residence. For moreinformation on our Cultural Exchangeprogramme, contact Louie Jenkinsl.jenkins@chi.ac.uk

DurationFull-time: 12 months (begin September);Part-time: 24 months

Entry requirementsThe degree is open to individuals (Theatreprogramme) and collectives (TheatreCollectives programme) who are anxiousto develop practice in partnership. If twoor more people wish to work inpartnership a specific learning contract willbe designed to ensure appropriate balanceand interaction.

All candidates, individually, will possess agood honours degree inTheatre/Performing Arts or relatedsubject, or any other degree plus relevantprofessional experience, or an academicqualification equivalent to a degree plusrelevant professional experience.Candidates will be invited for interview andwill be invited to present a short, informal,presentation on their working practice.

How to applyFor and application form contact theAdmissions Office, admissions@chi.ac.uk

Further informationFor all further formal or informal enquiries,contact Department Administrator, JulieThurston (j.thurston@chi.ac.uk).

Further information and how to apply

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MA Performance (Theatre) or (Theatre Collectives)

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The ShowRoom, Chichester

MA Performance (Theatre) or (Theatre Collectives)

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Find out moreContact: 01243 816002Email: admissions@chi.ac.ukWeb: www.chi.ac.uk/performingarts

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