Develop your potential for artistic leadership and knowledge of your practice as a director, artist, performance-maker, collaborator and researcher.

The Master of Theatre (Directing) focuses on developing the collaborative creative skills, reflective processes, leadership attributes and industry know how of directors for performance in the broadest sense of the term, including text-based theatre, new writing, devised work, live art and community and cultural development. It is closely interwoven with both the existing Master of Theatre (Writing) and Master of Theatre (Dramaturgy).

The course is built upon core principles of: intellectual rigour, commitment to craft, artistic inquiry and self-reflection, ethical practices, interdisciplinarity and artform innovation.

The program is delivered through lab-based workshops, seminars, lectures, self-directed exercises, tutorials, practical master classes, and national and international internships, taught by our internationally renown teachers.

During the course, students will experience a wide range of collaboration and leadership roles with students from disciplines within the VCA such as design, acting, production, playwriting, dramaturgy, musical composition, film and dance, as well as a range of creative encounters with local, national and international artists, organisations and communities. As such this course also provides a unique opportunity to develop creative partnerships that can lead to future collaborations in the profession.

Who is this course for?

The Master of Theatre (Directing) is designed for graduates and/or professionals in the creative arts industry, who are looking to pursue a career as a director, artistic leader, performance-maker, collaborator and/or researcher.

24 months full-time. This is a 200 credit point program.

The Master of Theatre (Directing) offers a balance of theory and practice across the four semesters, organised to allow for a progression from the intensively-taught, skills-based, first year to a more independent, project-orientated second year which culminates in an independent, practice-led research performance project or written dissertation.

Sample course plan

View some sample course plans to help you select subjects that will meet the requirements for this coursework.

200-point program

2 years full-time

Networking opportunities

Artistic collaborations with directors, choreographers, designers and other performance makers at the VCA, provide a unique opportunity to develop creative partnerships that can lead to future collaborations in your profession.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course, graduates will have developed:

• Potential for artistic leadership and gain in-depth knowledge, practice and critical approache required to build the Australian performance culture of the future
• Specialist skills in directing for performance, such as processes of rehearsal, dramaturgy, devising, composition, performance-making
• Ability to work across disciplines and multiple contexts of performance practice
• Ability to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary projects
• Advanced dramaturgical awareness, providing the skills to understand one’s own and others’ work within its socio-cultural environment
• Advanced skills to build future collaborative networks nationally and internationally.

With the skills gained from your Masters, you can take on directing a variety of performance styles. Professional work could include directing for theatre, dance, music theatre, opera and other cross discipline productions.

Graduate pathways

Upon completion of the program, graduates can select to undertake further study in one of our research master degrees.

In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed either: An undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (such as the performing arts, music, visual arts, film, dance and

IELTS (academic English Only): 6.5 (no band less than 6.0)
TOEFL Internet-based test: 79 + ; Writing 21; Speaking 18; Reading 13; Listening 13;
Pearson Test of English Academic: 58 + no communicative skill below 50
Cambridge English: Advanced/ Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): 176 + no skill below 169.