Program Overview

This course respondsto the need for a new generation of circus directors who are aware of the possibilities and limitations of using circus techniques in an artistic context. As well as studying a range of research methodologies the course covers the roles, strategies and practical skills of circus directing in two areas –the director as author and the director as facilitator.  Over the duration of the course, you explore the direction of circus performance for a wide variety of audiences in varying contexts. This might include sharing your work with specialist educators, student peers, studying other subject areas, and working with youth circus groups.

The course also gives you the support and freedom to build upon your practice and research profile by completing a dissertation or developing a circus production from start to finish. These experiences are valuable for developing actors, directors, educators, scholars and circus enthusiasts. The course equipsyou with the knowledge, skills and experience to pursue a professional career in the study and/or practice of directing circus.

In addition to working with undergraduate students youalso have the opportunity for placements with leading UK contemporary circus companies. Companies worked with to date include: Ockham’s Razor, No Fit State, Stumble and the Gandini Juggling Project as well as theyouth circuses at Circomedia and No Fit State. Youmay also be offered Assistant Director roles in Circomedia-supported emerging artist programmes such as Circus Shorts and VOLT

As with all of the Music and Performance Masters, this programme places you within a creative and vibrant artistic community dedicated to all aspects of music and the performing arts. Your programme therefore sits within a dynamic environment where we actively encourage you to work with other practitioners and scholars from other disciplines. You will also work with professional practitioners from a similar range of backgrounds who will bring differing perspectives to your work.

As well as teaching, you how to direct circus, the programme also prepares you for a range of career opportunities in the arts. Including, but not limited community work, workshop leading, teaching, arts work and doctoral study.

Programme Aims
Throughout the course, the curriculum aims to:

• Foster creative practices for directing circus-based performance work
• Promote autonomous and collaborative learning and directing skills
• Explore circus direction in-depth through a variety of research methods
• Engage with current debates and discourses of the discipline
• Understand career development and professional working practices through practical experience in the circus industry