Applied Theatre and Social Change University of Leeds

Overview

On this Applied Theatre and Social Change MA degree offered at the University of Leeds you will explore the application of theatre practice as a tool to effect social change. It allows you to develop your own practice with a specific focus on the role of the facilitator in community contexts. 

Key facts

• You will have opportunities to apply your learning through workshops and practice-led research.

• In addition to this, your practice will be supported with expert guidance from established practitioners. 

• The course aims to introduce students to the wide array of practices that form applied theatre including Theatre in Education, Theatre with Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Intergenerational Theatre and Theatre for Development.

• As well as practice, you will investigate current issues, debates and theories around applied theatre in diverse contexts such as education, health and mental health, community work and the criminal justice system. 

• You’ll gain a critical understanding of issues relating to applied theatre such as ethics, boundaries and evaluation, alongside structures of good practice in workshop and project planning.

• Facilitation training is a core element of the master’s degree. You will undertake facilitation training as part of your induction process to the course, and one-to-one support will be offered throughout the year by staff with expertise in theatre for social change. 

• Leading practitioners from the field will also hold sessions throughout the year to share their experiences, practices and learning.

Careers and opportunities 

• This course will equip you with a range of skills within the area of applied theatre. You’ll have an understanding of applied theatre and its use to effect social change as well as advanced skills in communication, collaboration, presentation, analysis and research.

• You may decide to apply your learning in the context of arts administration or arts policy work. You may wish to further your understanding by undertaking specialist professional training in areas like arts therapy. Graduates from this degree would be well suited to teaching, or to pursue research interests at PhD level.

• Previous graduates have gone on to work for highly reputable companies such as Collective Encounters, develop their own companies like Bradford-based company Bloomin Buds or worked as freelance facilitators.