There is a growing awareness on the part of governments, NGOs and theatre (theater) workers of the value of theatre, performance, and culturally-related skills to development and community activity. Taught jointly with the Faculty of Arts & Humanities, this MA in Theatre and Development combines a study of how societies change in the contemporary global context, with a study of the role of theatre practice in societal change in recent decades in the developing world. The Masters provides training, both academic and practical, towards work and research in the fields of theatre and development, development planning, cultural practice, media, drama, performance theory, theatre and politics. The degree will include training in development theory and practice, social policy and cultural politics. Students are also required to carry out a work placement in the UK or abroad, applying theatre practice to development issues. You will be expected to have a good academic background in either the Arts or the Social sciences to be eligible to apply.

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Please click on image below to download course leaflet:



Programme structure and content


Click here to see schematic of programme structure and content (Opens a one-page PDF)

DEV study units are taught by a team of social scientists of international repute. The Development Studies contribution to the MA in Theatre and Development (MATD) draws on ten year’s experience of teaching a multidisciplinary MA in Development Studies (MADS). The MADS is a fully multi-disciplinary programme which includes an explicit element of analysing cultural change as an important process in understanding how societies change in the contemporary global context - this forms a bridge to the theatre part of the MATD. Ecological, economic and political processes of change are also analysed to give students a holistic, dynamic picture of development with which they can approach creating and understanding theatrical productions.

The EAS units - World Theatre and the Work-Placement - draw on the drama programme’s extensive links with practitioners in India and South Africa and are linked in two senses to each other, as well as following on from the DEV input described above. World Theatre explores the role of theatre practice in societal change, particularly in recent decades in the developing world; the Placement unit commences with an in-depth study of specific instances of Theatre for Development, analysing both forms of theatre practice and forms of organisational and strategic linking to development projects. The placement itself then permits students to explore work of this kind in situ.

The Placement offers an opportunity to work with a group or organisation, either in the UK or abroad, which applies theatre practice to development issues. Methods and focus will vary according to the location, nature of the local situation and the type of group or organisation. Students are provided with initial contact with suitable organisations where necessary. They are expected to set up the placement themselves and negotiate suitable areas of activity in conjunction with the receiving organisation: backup assistance and supervisory help is provided. The placement runs for a period of 6-10 weeks. It is assessed by a written project report compiled by the student and checked against feedback from the receiving organisation obtained by questionnaire.

For more information on the non-DEV parts of this Masters programme visit the Faculty of Arts & Humanities web pages.

Students are required to take three units (3 x 20 credits) from those offered by the School of International Development:

Compulsory Units

Autumn semester
Theatre for Development LITDM003

Spring semester Contemporary World Theatre LITDM002
Theatre and Development LITDM006 - Placement
Also the dissertation: DEV-M08X

Optional Units

• Optional units may be chosen from the following list (which may change), subject to any prerequisites and occasional timetable constraints.
• All units carry 20 coursework credits.

It is recommended that students take the modules DEV-M007 Introduction to Education for Development and DEV-M015 Gender Concepts for Development in the Autumn Semester and either DEV-M052 Conflict, Peace and Security, Educational Policy & Practice in Development (DEV-M046) or DEV-M020 Research Skills for Social Analysis in the Spring Semester.

Students are required to select 60 credits from the course catalogue with the approval of their School.

Autumn Semester:

Gender Concepts for Development
Governance, Democracy and Development
Gender and Rural Livelihoods
Introduction to Education and Development
Introduction to Social Development
Microeconomics of Development
Econometric Methods for Development
Research Techniques and Analysis
Understanding Environmental Change

Spring Semester:

Conflict, Peace and Security
Contemporary World Development
Educational Policy and Practice in Development
Environmental Economics for Development
Food Systems and Rural Development
Gender, Difference and Social Policy
Globalisation, Industrialisation and Development
Health and Development
International Economic Policy
Macroeconomics of Development
Political Ecology of Environment and Development
Rural Policies
Research Skills for Social Analysis
Tools and Skills in Environment and Development
 

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Note: 

• If the timetable allows, and with permission from the convenor, students may audit other modules in the Autumn or Spring semester.  This means sitting in on lectures and seminars but not submitting coursework or taking exams.
• DEV aims to video capture its lectures from Autumn 2009 onwards; this will allow students to watch any lecture a few days afterwards.

Skills training & development practice
DEV provides a range of optional seminars and workshops during the one year masters programme for the teaching and strengthening of student skills.  Sessions to support learning - in particular essay and dissertation writing - occur throughout the year.  In the Spring semester and early on in the summer, DEV also provides development practice training. Click here to find out more.

Employment in Development Related Areas
There is a growing awareness on the part of governments, NGOs and theatre workers of the value of theatre, performance and culturally-related skills to development activity; funding is increasingly available for projects, organisations and individuals operating in this area in e.g. India, Africa and South America.

The range of development and other relevant organisations includes:

• bi-lateral/multi-lateral official development organisations;

• academic establishments;

• performance training institutions;

• non-governmental organisations;
• private sector consultants;
• theatre companies and arts organisations with an outreach programme;
• national governments of developing countries.
   

Advice on Funding

UK/EU Applicants
Both Schools offer fees scholarships to students with excellent academic records. You do not need to apply for any of these awards: the Schools nominate candidates who have accepted a place, following a careful selection procedure.

International Applicants
For information on funding to study in the UK, the best sources of information are your local British Council or British High Commission offices. There are awards available but you need to start applying at least one year in advance. Candidates from Commonwealth countries are eligible to be nominated for the Department for International Development Shared Scholarship Scheme. Only one award is allocated to the University so it is very competitive.

Fee reductions are offered to selected candidates from Japan, Taiwan, Korea, India, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Nominations for awards are made by a selection committee in the Schools. You do not need to apply.

Faculty Members

• Ralph Yarrow (EAS)
   

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To apply on-line, click here

To apply using a word or PDF application form which you can then send by post or email, click here

To find out more contact:
Postgraduate Admissions
School of International Development
University of East Anglia
Norwich NR4 7TJ UK

Email: pgdev.admiss@uea.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1603 592807 (international)
Fax: +44 (0)1603-451999 (international)

We look forward to hearing from you.

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