Program Overview

Studying theatre and drama at Essex enables you to examine some of the most influential play-texts ever written, and to be ready to take part in shaping the essential performances of tomorrow. This degree is a chance to unlock and explore your creativity. You will develop as a scriptwriter too, by learning with professional and award-winning dramatists. You will produce a varied portfolio of dramatic works, culminating in a full-length original play, which will enable you to hone and develop your own unique voice.

On our four-year MLitSt Drama and Scriptwriting, you will be part of an interdisciplinary department where literary critics work alongside practising poets, dramatist, film-makers, novelists and journalists.

You have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of optional modules across different topics and areas of specialism, including;

• Dramatic literature from Ancient Greek tragedy and Shakespeare, to modern plays from around the world
• Contemporary playwriting and devising techniques
• Staging political ideas, human rights and social justice issues
• Gender, identity, orientation and sexual politics on stage
• Creating Applied Theatre in educational and community contexts
• Emergent trends in interactive performance-making and audience participation

In your fourth year, as a post-graduate student, you will be able to choose from the following masters level modules in drama and scriptwriting;

• The principles of dramatic structure and scene construction
• Techniques for working as a playwright with youth and community groups
• The origins and possibilities of poetic theatre and verse drama
• Options for poetic practice or novel-writing
• Radio drama