Mountview is currently the only UK drama school to offer Directing, Dramatic Writing and Producing as three distinct, specialised pathways within a single, unified Creative Practice MA framework. The course is designed for multi-hyphenate practitioners who are excited by collaboration and meeting the demands of the twenty-first century creative industries.
By bringing directors, writers and producers into one ecosystem, the course mirrors the professional world by fostering creative partnerships through shared engagement with modes of collaboration, creative enterprise, dramatic structures and critical contexts.
Students on the Directing pathway will develop professional-level directing technique through classes and seminars, as well as opportunities to work as an assistant director and to direct their own work.
The course concludes with the opportunity to put your learning into practice through the staging of a public facing, fully-realised festival of new work. VIEW Festival allows students to develop their pathway specific skills while also collaborating closely with the Dramatic Writing, Producing and Performance students.
Our MA Creative Practice graduates leave with an established network of industry contacts and prepared for high-impact careers as Directors, Creative Leaders, Theatre Makers, Artistic Directors, Commercial and Independent Producers, Venue Leaders, Playwrights, Screenwriters, and Dramaturgs.
STAFF AND PRACTITIONERS
The Creative Practice teaching team is led by Hamish Pirie and Dawn Ingleson as Joint Course Leaders, alongside Roy Williams as Distinguished Visiting Artist. Dawn worked extensively at the National Theatre as a creative producer and has also taught at LSBU, while Hamish’s directing credits include work at the Royal Court, Donmar Warehouse, Paines Plough and Traverse Theatre. Roy is a multi-award winning writer whose credits include Death of England: The Plays (National Theatre), The Lonely Londoners (Kiln and Jermyn Street Theatre) and Sucker Punch (Royal Court, Olivier Award nomination).
In addition to working alongside the core teaching team, MA Creative Practice students also benefit from industry masterclasses specific to their pathway, led by the world’s most prestigious creative powerhouses. Recent MA Creative Practice sessions have featured:
Emily Aboud Award-winning director, Tender and Lady Dealer (Bush Theatre)
Sean Holmes Associate Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe; former Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith
Denzel Westley-Sanderson Winner of the RTST Sir Peter Hall Directing Award
Ned Bennett The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Birmingham Rep)
Ola Ince Director of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (International Associate Director, London/Hamburg/Broadway/Utrecht) and Appropriate (Donmar)
Lucy Morrison Director of Hope Has A Happy Meal and This Is Not Who I Am (Royal Court)
This Musical Direction course has a 1-year MA or 2-year MFA option, offering students a more in-depth training experience. The course is an intensive for skilled musicians with ambitions to work in music leadership roles within theatre and beyond.
We have a strong reputation in the industry for rigour and quality, and previous students on the course can be found working on a diverse range of musical theatre productions across the West End, UK and internationally. The course is suited to experienced pianists, accompanists and conductors who have worked with singers, actors and instrumentalists, or would like to develop their skills in this area.
Mountview has developed an internationally renowned reputation for its commitment to musical theatre. Our state-of-the-art facilities in South London and the network of industry professionals who contribute to the teaching provide the ideal springboard for a career in music direction.
COURSE CONTENT AND DELIVERY
Teaching and contact time vary at different times of the year and depending on assignments. Each student has a bespoke timetable typically receiving between 15 and 25 hours each week. These comprise of core components and cross-course classes combined with allocated roles on projects and productions.
Across the year students will attend classes and seminars with leading practitioners and industry specialists; receive individual tutorials; assist professional musical directors on in-house and public productions; and lead musically on selected projects.
Assessment is ongoing and based on work throughout the course, culminating in summative assessment points in the second and third terms.
Mountview is currently the only UK drama school to offer Directing, Dramatic Writing and Producing as three distinct, specialised pathways within a single, unified Creative Practice MA framework. The course is designed for multi-hyphenate practitioners who are excited by collaboration and meeting the demands of the twenty-first century creative industries.
By bringing directors, writers and producers into one ecosystem, the course mirrors the professional world by fostering creative partnerships through shared engagement with modes of collaboration, creative enterprise, dramatic structures and critical contexts.
Students on the Producing pathway develop a robust and practical understanding of producing, across both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors. You will expand your understanding and critical awareness of current practices through extensive engagement with leading industry practitioners and academics.
The course concludes with the opportunity to put your learning into practice through the staging of a public facing, fully-realised festival of new work. VIEW Festival allows students to develop their pathway specific skills while also collaborating closely with the Dramatic Writing, Directing and Performance students.
Our MA Creative Practice graduates leave with an established network of industry contacts and prepared for high-impact careers as Commercial and Independent Producers, Creative Leaders, Theatre Makers, Artistic Directors, Venue Leaders, Playwrights, Screenwriters, and Dramaturgs.
STAFF AND PRACTITIONERS
The Creative Practice teaching team is led by Hamish Pirie and Dawn Ingleson as Joint Course Leaders, alongside Roy Williams as Distinguished Visiting Artist. Dawn worked extensively at the National Theatre as a creative producer and has also taught at LSBU, while Hamish’s directing credits include work at the Royal Court, Donmar Warehouse, Paines Plough and Traverse Theatre. Roy is a multi-award winning writer whose credits include Death of England: The Plays (National Theatre), The Lonely Londoners (Kiln and Jermyn Street Theatre) and Sucker Punch (Royal Court, Olivier Award nomination).
Recent guest tutors on the Producing pathway have included Alison King (Turtle Key Arts), Daniel Cooper (The Yard), Joseph Smith (Stage One), Will Bridgeland (Candoco Dance Company), Katie Town (Theatre Royal Wakefield), Jo Crowley (Aakash Odedra Company), India Crawford (Arts Council), Belinda Clark (Brixton House), Ed McGovern (Crossroads Live), Davy Berryman (The Lost Estate) and David Ralf (Theatre Deli).
MA Creative Practice students also benefit from industry masterclasses specific to their pathway, led by the world’s most prestigious creative powerhouses. Recent MA Creative Practice sessions have featured:
Prepare yourself for a successful career in Stage Management by studying at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Their BA (Hons) Stage Management degree provides in-depth, practical training; they aim to produce confident graduates who are ready for a successful career in the industry as soon as they leave. You’ll gain authentic industry experience while developing the vital skills needed in each role of a stage management team.
his Dance and Musical Theatre course is a two-year vocational programme that equips you for a career in the performing arts industry.
During your studies you will have specialist training in dance, singing and acting to develop a well-versed range of skills including Musical Theatre, voice, script work, Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary. This course will focus on strengthening both technical and performance abilities through practical classes and live performance opportunities.
Our campus boasts an impressive range of facilities including a dance studio with sprung Harlequin flooring, a fully equipped theatre space with state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, plus an additional three rehearsal studios for you to use while you study with us.
This qualification offers learners the opportunity to develop their musical theatre and dance skills over their course of study through a process of self-evaluation, practice and review, which are key skills for progression to higher education. The qualification also supports learners in building their own choreography portfolio in preparation for entry to employment in the performing industry or higher education. Learners should always check the entry requirements for degree programmes with the higher education providers that are offering them.
Some progression opportunities are:
Acting for stage and screen, do you have a passion for Acting this highly practical course will give you training in both stage and screen acting to become a versatile employable actor. Maybe you dream of directing or writing your own scripts. Throughout the course students will experience a wide variety of performance styles whilst working under our theatre company INSPIRE.
This Level 3 National Foundation Diploma & Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice (Acting) is a Study Programme which, if successful, leads to the 90 credit qualification over one year and progression to the full 180 credit qualification over 2 years. If you are interested in a career in Acting and want an A level equivalent course which offers training in all aspects of Acting, our course could be the right choice for you. It will provide you with a strong foundation for progression into Drama schools, higher education or a career within the performing arts or entertainment, leisure or communications industries.
This course is free for 16-18yrs; for 19-23yrs, course is free if you have not achieved a full Level 2 qualification.
For all other students fees apply:
Course fee £7395; Exam Fee TBC
If you're aged 19+ you may be able to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover the cost of the course.
This course provides skills and knowledge in all aspects of theatre and performance and can be used to progress into higher level study, or as a foundation for your future career. It can provide you with the opportunity to study and develop skills in various aspects of performing arts through live performances and a range of projects you will not only develop your technical skills, but your performance skills too. The course will give you the opportunity to gain experience and an understanding of what is needed to become a performer. It will also help you decide whether you wish to study in industry, and prepare you for further training.
Course structure:
Course is free for 16-18yrs; for 19-23yrs, course is free if you have not achieved a full Level 2 qualification.
For all other students fees apply:
1st year course fee £1,286; Exam Fee £134
At Mechanics’ Performing Arts we deliver a full time Higher National Certificate/Diploma in Dance that is designed to train performers, choreographers and dance practitioners at a higher level for those who wish to pursue a career within the dance industry.
This course provides professional dance training in Commercial, Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Choreography, Conditioning and community dance teaching. After this course many of our graduates convert this qualification into a BA Hons by studying a further years training of a BA Top Up course. Many of our graduates decide to continue studying at Mechanics’ Performing Arts to study on to further study their own tailor made BA Hons Top Up Degree in Performance Industries.
The BA (Hons) Dance Performance, Teaching and Choreography aims to produce highly skilled dance performers, teachers and choreographers who are able to confidently deliver across a wide range of dance genres.
Providing ample opportunities to participate in practical workshops, masterclasses and performances, the degree will expose you to a variety of dance specialists throughout your three years on the programme, preparing you for employment in the commercial dance space.
A highly practical programme, this degree affords opportunities to attend auditions for work as a professional dancer and/or teacher, attend dance conventions, events and performances and to sit professional teaching exams with the ISTD and RAD.
As part of the degree you will also explore and develop a deeper understanding of the current methodologies used to teach within the private sector.
This course is designed to deliver and perfect the core and basic skills required to be a make-up artist, an integral part of that being hairdressing techniques required for the industry. This courses will be a stepping stone into the industry or higher education. Work experience and competition opportunities are an integral part of the courses.
Modules:
Courses are free for 16-19 who have not studied higher than GCSE's. Even if you have studied a different course at college or sixth form we may still be able to help. Speak to the admissions team for more information. There maybe free or reduced costs for adults, contact the admissions team to see if you are eligible.
