MA Making Performance

Summary 2012/13

• Develop a detailed understanding of the cultural and social context of performance and the ways in which the making of performance embraces, resists or reacts to its context;
• Extend your knowledge of the practice of performance to a detailed, and complex level and benefit from major production opportunities in professional facilities;
• Study on a programme with strong professional links and placement opportunities.

The MA Making Performance is an exciting opportunity to discuss, explore and create performance in high standard professional facilities. The course examines practice as research, the development of creative projects, the creation of major work and the ways in which evaluation and analysis of performance can be undertaken.

2012 Entry Requirements

The normal entry requirements are:

• A first or second class honours degree in a relevant subject of a recognised university or comparable institution, or a qualification which is recognised as equivalent;
• Appropriate professional experience or performance background;
• Successful interview or interview and practical assessment (where necessary).

Summary 2013/14

• Develop a detailed understanding of the cultural and social context of performance and the ways in which the making of performance embraces, resists or reacts to its context;
• Extend your knowledge of the practice of performance to a detailed, and complex level and benefit from major production opportunities in professional facilities;
• Study on a programme with strong professional links and placement opportunities.

The MA Making Performance is an exciting opportunity to discuss, explore and create performance in high standard professional facilities. The course examines practice as research, the development of creative projects, the creation of major work and the ways in which evaluation and analysis of performance can be undertaken.

2013 Entry Requirements

The normal entry requirements are:

• A first or second class honours degree in a relevant subject of a recognised university or comparable institution, or a qualification which is recognised as equivalent;
• Appropriate professional experience or performance background;
• Successful interview or interview and practical assessment (where necessary).

Details

Who is this course for?

The programme is ideal for graduates, teachers, professional and semi professional artists and individuals with suitable levels of performance experience and academic skill.

What will I gain from this programme?

The programme is designed to enable you to:

• Extend your knowledge of the practice of performance to a detailed, and complex level;
• Gain a detailed understanding of the cultural and social context of performance and the ways in which the making of performance embraces, resists or reacts to its context;
• Acquire specialist expertise in an area of performance;
• Develop sophisticated methods of reflecting on, and critically evaluating performance;
• Consider approaches to practice-as-research which will provide opportunities to progress such work at MPhil and PhD level.

How we will support you

On joining the course you will be allocated a supervising tutor and become a member of the postgraduate student support network. This is a group which meets a minimum of twice a term to discuss issues as identified by the taught postgraduate and research postgraduate students.

What will I study?

You will study how performance can examine ideas and advance understanding whilst considering examples of contemporary performance and the major critical ideas and perspectives. You will have the chance to develop a chosen performance skill, and stage a major piece of work. The programme will be organised around the sharing of ideas and practice, and collaborative approaches.

The course comprises five modules. Three 20 credit modules are studied in the spring term. These are in the area of practice as research, an examination of contemporary performance through the development of a creative proposal, and development of a performance and practice portfolio. In the summer (May to September) you will use the departmental facilities for the development and presentation of a major piece of performance. This fourth module is followed in the autumn by a final module which is a dissertation analysing the summer practice project.

How will I study?

The course starts with seminars, workshops and master classes in the spring with a weekly performance laboratory where peer led experimentation and performance development is encouraged. In the summer you will move onto intensive rehearsal and performance development supported with tutorials. In the autumn the focus is upon one- to-one tutorials for the development of the dissertation. The whole programme is designed around a series of practitioner seminars where you are encouraged to discuss and share your approaches and ideas on performance.

Placement

The programme has been developed in consultation with external arts agencies and companies and opportunities to work with the University’s partners can be part of your negotiated programme of study.

Who will be teaching me?

You will be taught by staff in the department in the area of their professional or research expertise. The programme is also designed to include master classes and lectures from a wide range of professional artists.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through essay writing, creation of performance, and oral examination. You will also be encouraged to consider ways of presenting academic argument and analysis through media suitable for performance analysis including video, drawing and live events.

What are my career prospects?

By completing all or parts of this programme you will develop skills in research, analysis and complex and creative problem solving. You will also develop performance and practice skills. This will provide a number of possible future routes for employment including teaching, professional performance and research. The MA is increasingly a qualification in demand by employers.

Further study at Edge Hill University

This programme can provide options to continue study in the Performing Arts Department at MPhil or PhD level in a number of areas. Contact the research co-ordinator for an informal discussion.

Related Programmes

MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy

A Great Study Environment

Performing Arts students at Edge Hill University enjoy excellent facilities and technical support, and benefit from having a purpose-built professional venue, The Rose Theatre, on campus. Our £5 million Centre for the Performing Arts contains a second fully-seated auditorium; three Dance Studios; four additional Performance Studios; three Rehearsal Studios; seminar rooms; costume, props and scenic design workshops; a fully-equipped scene dock; and state-of-the art equipment for developing skills in theatre technology.

Based in 160 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, the Ormskirk Campus is a unique and inspirational place to study. Industry standard resources and cutting edge technology combine to make an interactive and highly advanced teaching and learning environment. Everything you could want is on one site with fantastic modern spaces in which you can study and socialise and 25 acres of sport and leisure facilities.

The University library gives you access to thousands of books, journals, online resources and extensive PC and media provision. You'll get all the support you need to succeed, reflected in Edge Hill University being ranked in the top two in England for students' personal development, and the top three in the country for assessment and feedback, in the 2011 National Student Survey. The University is also featured in the top four in England for graduate employment.

How do I apply?

Apply online at www.ukpass.ac.uk.

Visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/applyukpass for more information on the application process.

Fees and Finance

Tuition fees are £4,320pa for full-time study on this programme in academic year 2012/13. Part-time postgraduate students in academic year 2012/13 will pay £250 per 10 credit module, £500 per 20 credit module and £1,500 per 60 credit module. 180 credits are required to complete the MA. Information for UK and EU students only. Full-time fees for international postgraduate students are £11,500pa for academic year 2012/13.

Edge Hill graduates joining an eligible postgraduate programme at the University in academic year 2012/13 could benefit from a 20% reduction in tuition fees. If you're a UK or EU student and will be paying the fees yourself, you might be eligible to receive this discount. See www.edgehill.ac.uk/reducedfees for more information.

Not got the entry requirements?

All applicants will be asked to attend an interview at which suitability for the programme be discussed.

Where can I find out more?

If you would like to receive a copy of our prospectus or be kept updated about forthcoming events, contact the Course Information, Advice and Guidance Team by emailing study@edgehill.ac.uk or calling 01695 657000.

If you want to attend one of our open events held throughout the year, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/postgradopendays to book your place.

You will also find Edge Hill University staff at many postgraduate study fairs taking place across the UK and Ireland.

Still want more?

If you have any questions you would like to ask the programme leader about this course, please contact:

• Bill Hopkinson, Performing Arts Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP
• Tel: 01695 584558
• Email: Bill.Hopkinson@edgehill.ac.uk

Overseas students should visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/international or email international@edgehill.ac.uk for further information.

Modules

You can exit after modules PAR7010, PAR7011 and PAR7012 with a Postgraduate Certificate. Also completing PAR7014 allows you to exit with a Postgraduate Diploma, or continue with module PAR7015 for the full MA.

PAR7010 Practice as Research is conceived as one of three 20 credit modules in the first phase of the MA Making Performance programme. It explores methodological approaches that underpin postgraduate student engagement and provides you with a grounding in contemporary ideas about artistic and creative practice, and their relationship to academic scholarship. The module examines the contemporary debate about Practice as Research (PaR) in general, and its relationship to the emerging positions concerning PaR specifically in the field of performance. It interrogates the ways in which performance practice can be “the site for opening new knowledge” (Piccini, 2005) through research methodologies.

PAR7011 Creative Proposal lets you propose appropriate and original forms of practice. The module focuses upon learning how to initiate and plan creative work, drawing upon an understanding of research for performance and performance as research. The module also involves initial work on the dissertation phase of the MA, asking you to outline your major piece of performance creation, and to construct around it both methodologies and critical context through reading surveys and bibliographic construction.

PAR7012 Practice Portfolio provides the starting point for practical investigations, in the context of the study of contemporary practice and the development of personal projects. Initial practical explorations are recorded, presented and debated as the context for the proposal of the major piece of performance work undertaken in module PA7014. The module complements the more theoretical study undertaken in PAR7010 and PAR7011, and informs the debates and discussions held there. Peer-led practical laboratories are central to the emergence of individual practice portfolios.

PAR7014 Creation of Performance is concerned with the creation of a major piece of performance. In the first instance the module focuses upon the specifics of preparation and development of a creative practical project. The module requires you to choose and justify methods of documenting the work which will provide the foundation for the dissertation element of the MA.

PAR7015 Reflecting on Practice represents the final phase of the MA programme and consists of a substantial work of documentation and critical evaluation. PA7015 is therefore the summative MA dissertation project which reflects upon and analyses the summer performance project (PA7014).