First students embark on pioneering international master’s in applied drama and arts education

Posted on: 01 October 2026

The first students embarking on a pioneering new applied drama and arts education masters course, Theatre SPACEs, began their studies recently.

The course, the first-ever Erasmus Mundus in applied drama and arts education in Europe, is being run by three partner and two associate universities across Europe, including Trinity’s School of Education.

First cohort of Theatre SPACES students

To mark the occasion, representatives from these European universities gathered in Bergen, Norway, to welcome the first cohort of 21 students to Theatre SPACEs. The Joint Master's programme will focus on theatre in social, community and educational settings.

The opening week brought together academic staff, researchers and practitioners from Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Arts Târgu-Mureș (Romania), the University of Hamburg and the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, who will teach and support students throughout the programme.

Professor Carmel O’Sullivan, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and an expert in arts and drama education, said: “Theatre has never been very good at staying inside its own walls, and neither will Theatre SPACEs! We’re bringing students, ideas and practices across countries, cultures and communities, exploring what can happen when theatre meets education, participation and social change.

“From Trinity’s perspective, it is tremendously exciting to see this ambitious European collaboration finally take the stage.”  

Trinity staff attending the Theatre SPACES gathering 

The gathering marked the beginning of a two-year international learning journey for the inaugural cohort of 21 students, selected from 1,074 applicants across 110 countries. The students who are based in Bergen this term, will spend time in Trinity in 2027 and 2028.

At the gathering, students had the opportunity to meet their fellow students, engage with teaching staff from across the partnership and begin explore the programme's interdisciplinary and international approach to learning.

As the first Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's programme dedicated to theatre in social, participatory artistic, community and educational contexts, Theatre SPACEs aims to prepare graduates to work across educational, cultural and community settings, using theatre and performance to promote participation, dialogue and social engagement.

Theatre SPACEs will give students the opportunity to see first-hand the transformative role drama can play in education and society. 

A distinctive feature of Theatre SPACEs is its combination of artistic practice, fieldwork, research and international mobility. Students will learn how theatre and drama methods can be used in schools, local communities, cultural institutions, prison education, and health and social care settings, while gaining practical experience through work-oriented and community-based learning opportunities.

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