Performance(MA)

About the Course

This MA programme offers an interdisciplinary and multicultural perspective in contemporary performance practice and research. The programme is unique, guiding students to conceive, devise and deliver their creative ideas through close engagement with cutting-edge theories and practice bringing together the arts with science and ritualistic practices. It will be of particular interest to practitioners, curators and researchers interested in performance in its widest cultural sense and its application to the various strands of contemporary cultural practices.

This MA will help you to develop a mature and critical understanding of a variety of creative forms and their relevant historical and cultural contexts. You will get the opportunity to create new forms and contexts for performance, theatre and dance that respond to emerging social, political and ecological issues. You will learn to write project and funding proposals and to document and archive your practice; developing a portfolio of projects to use for professional interactions with art organisations and institutions at national and international level.

Why choose Liverpool Hope?

The programme benefits from excellent amenities and facilities enhanced by a wide local and international professional network of organisations, commissions, venues and festivals

• Liverpool Hope's Creative Campus consists of two beautiful Grade II Listed buildings located in Liverpool city centre. The state-of-the-art facilities include two theatres, two dance studios and two black box performance spaces, a music technology laboratory, a recording studio, and studios for painting, sculpture, wood, ceramics, metal and textiles.
  
  
• The Capstone Building boasts music practice rooms, business incubation spaces and The Capstone Theatre, a state-of-the-art 260 seat performance space, engineered to be acoustically perfect.
  
  
• The Cornerstone Building includes the impressive Great Hall as well as excellent studios for drama, dance and fine art.
• The University has numerous partnerships with the most important cultural Institution of the city such as the Tate Liverpool, the Bluecoat and FACT.
  
  
• Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 2008 and Music City of Britain, is situated where two rivers meet the Irish Sea. This historic port and UNESCO World Heritage Maritime Mercantile city is home to numerous iconic sties and tourist attractions, including the magnificent Anglican and Catholic cathedrals and the world famous Albert Docks. It is also a city that is fast acquiring a reputation as one of the most important cultural destinations of Britain.

Hear from one of our Performance (MA) students

Curriculum Overview

The MA is taught by specialist scholars and international practitioners who support students at all levels. It is of utmost importance at Liverpool Hope that you will be mentored and receive personal development and supervision throughout your study in your distinguished subjects.

Through a praxis ethos where research informs practice and vice versa, students are encouraged to develop their skills, creativity, analytical skills and independence. Overall, the curriculum engages with a wide range of performance strategies including performance art, dance, ritual, site-specific performance, multicultural and/or hybrid forms of theatre.

The emphasis of the programme is on practice-based enquiry and interdisciplinary research. Students are exposed to innovative, integrative and intercultural perspectives on anthropology, politics, cultural theory, religious and ritual studies, but also on the social and human sciences, post-human theories and ecology.

Entry Requirements

Normally a First class or Upper Second Class Honours degree in a related discipline, eg: Drama, Performing Arts, Dance. Candidates with a good first degree (First or 2:1) in other subjects may also be considered.

International Entry Requirements

For students whose first language is not English there is a language requirement of IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 minimum of all components. In addition to this, we also accept a wide range of International Qualifications, for more information please visit our English Language Requirements page.

For additional information about country specific entry requirements visit the your country pages. 

Teaching and Research

67% of the research of this Department is at least at an internationally recognised level. 80% of their impact is rated as internationally recognised.

Teaching staff in the Department are distinguished scholars published in their fields and bring their innovative and specialised knowledge to bear on postgraduate teaching and research.

The Department builds on established undergraduate provision in experimental performance, live art, popular theatre, contemporary dance practice, classic drama and applied theatre, balancing programmes of study and providing opportunities for academic and practical analysis.

UK/EU Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for Home/EU students for 2021/22 are £5,200

Funding

We offer a number of scholarships and loans to help fund your postgraduate studies. Visit our scholarships pages for more details.

International Tuition Fees

The International tuition fees for courses starting in the 2021/22 academic year are £11,400 per year.

If you are an international student, visit our international scholarships pages.

Careers

This MA is designed to support practicing or emerging practitioners in the development of critical, technical and management skills and strategies for forging independent and self-motivated careers. The programme is aimed to lead to a variety of employment outcomes across the arts industry and beyond. Our graduates work as practitioners, teachers and cultural leaders.

Some students will develop their own artistic style as independent artists and learn to compete with their research projects for funding offered by charities such as the Welcome Trust or public agencies such as the Arts Council England. Some will extend and refine their performance skills and will be trained for auditions with theatre and dance companies. Others will focus on developing the necessary skills to work as art programmers, curators, producers or arts administrators for museums, art centres, private art galleries and art institutes.