Course Code

n/a

Duration

A post-graduate taught course lasting for one full academic year from late September until the following August. Formal teaching and coursework will be completed in April, after which students will focus on their dissertations, and need not be resident.

Description

The course offers a study of contemporary strategies of analysis in theatre and performance, with special consideration of the practices of Irish theatre, involving input from the professional field. The course structure consists of core modules leading to a directed research project and dissertation.

Course Co-ordinator

Dr Melissa Sihra (msihra@tcd.ie)

Core Modules

Contemporary Irish Theatre in Context: an exploration of the theatre practice of contemporary Irish and visiting theatre productions, and the institutional frameworks which shape the production or reception of contemporary Irish theatre. Invited speakers will discuss their work with students, supplemented by sessions focusing on contextual or background information.

Strategies of Analysis: an exploration of the various methodologies of critical enquiry in theatre and performance. The seminar covers areas of Gender, Race and Identity, Nationalism and Postcolonialism, Performance Analysis, History and Historiography, Globalisation, Psychoanalysis, Poststructuralism, Phenomenology and Postmodernism.

Movement Practices and Applied Performance Project*: This core module for the MPhil Theatre and Performance will offer a consideration of movement practices in performance from scholarly and practical points of view. In both semesters the class will meet on a weekly basis to practically and theoretically explore movement forms and key texts, watch video excerpts and review recent productions that foreground the moving body. In Hilary Semester, the class will undertake a performance project, where students will get the opportunity to apply their knowledge of the body in performance and develop strategies for practice-based research.

Teaching Staff

• Dr Matthew Causey
• Dr Nicholas Johnson
• Chrissie Poulter
• Dr Melissa Sihra (Course Co-ordinator)
• Prof Brian Singleton
• Dr Eric Weitz
• Prof Steve Wilmer

*Subject to University Council approval

Fees

Please check the Treasurers office for the summary of postgraduate degree fees.

Application

Admission Requirements: Candidates should have a good honors B.A. degree of upper second or above (a "B", average 3.0 or above, for North American students), or equivalent qualification. The application process includes an interview, which for overseas students may be conducted by telephone or video link.

General enquiries and correspondence concerning admission to postgraduate courses should be made to: The Graduate Admissions Office, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland. Phone: +353 (0)1 896 1166; E-mail: gradinfo@tcd.ie

For further information click the postgraduate courses link

Completed applications for admission must be made by 1st June of the year in which admission is sought.

Assessment

There are four elements to the assessment:

• Essays and/or oral presentations for core modules
• Dissertation of approximately 15,000 words