Postgraduate Degrees
MFA in Theatre Producing
1 year / 2 years
The Master in Fine Art Theatre Producing programme is the first of its kind on the island of Ireland - a dedicated programme for emerging talent. It is a distinctive, practice-based, one-year postgraduate degree, led by esteemed theatre professionals. Applications for 2024 are now open.
Apply NowOverview
This MFA in Theatre Producing will equip students of exceptional talent with the skills necessary to pursue a career in professional theatre and related industries through the development of skills, professional practices and creative approaches to theatre producing. It encourages a self-reflexive approach to learning with a view to developing independent thinking and collaboratively-focused producers. On completion of this postgraduate degree, students will be equipped to start work as theatre producers. They will qualify and graduate from Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin - see more on Trinity here.
Talented students from all over the world come to take part in our training. and graduates from our existing strands have had considerable success working as professional directors, designers and playwrights across Irish theatre and internationally.
The programme has been designed in the context of the theatre industry and the reality facing emerging theatre producers today. Producers are now most commonly working alone, as sole traders, without the support of a wider institutional framework. As a result, they need to be resilient, resourceful and confident in a broad range of practical skills across the entire production process. Students will acquire the specific skills required to work as professional producers whilst also considering the evolution of the art form itself, as well as developments in the global theatre industry.
Collaboration is a vital part of the success of our postgraduate programmes. Students on the course will also participate in classes with our other MFA students studying MFA in Theatre Directing, MFA in Stage Design (Lighting, Costume and Set) and MFA in Playwriting. These shared modules have been noted as particularly useful in building a community for graduates to draw upon after they complete their studies.
In addition to the core classes and workshops, individual and group tuition from The Lir’s Head of Theatre Producing will be a key part of the training. In addition, master classes by visiting practitioners will supplement the student experience. The MFA will culminate in the students applying all the professional skills acquired through the taught modules in a fully staged theatrical production presented to a public audience. Productions will either be staged in The Lir Academy or as part of Dublin Fringe Festival who have agreed to act as a professional partner on the delivery of this programme. This will be further supported by industry placements from key partners such as the Dublin Theatre Festival and The Gate Theatre. This will also give students the opportunity to build relationships and their network. The students will reflect on the research, development and delivery of the production in a critically reflective creative journal.
Students can take this course either part-time (24 months) or full-time (12 months). Full-time and part-time students will take three concurrent modules in the first two terms. The final module (Module 5) will be taught in the third term and subsequent summer months (for full-time students) or in the second year of the course (for part-time students) and will culminate with a professional production staged in one of The Lir’s performance studios. Term Three will be supplemented by an ongoing series of master classes from professional directors and theatre makers.
Careers
This MFA in Theatre Producing will upskill and equip students to specialise in this chosen area. It is tailored to provide talented individuals with the necessary skills to work as Theatre Producers and in the related industries.
Learn more about the experience of our MFA students in the video at this link and also at this link.
More
Read about The Lir Academy Tutors here.
Contact admissions@thelir.ie for further queries.
The initial deadline for application is March 31st. We recommend applicants submit before or on this date to have the best chance of securing a place. Following that, applications will remain open until June 30th, 2024.
Documents for application for the MFA in Theatre Producing click to
In addition to the information required on the online form, you are also required to upload a copy of each of the following:
a) a letter that outlines the applicant’s theatre education and highlights the applicant’s theatre producing/directing/curated experience to date.
b) a ‘statement of purpose’ that refers to the applicant's ambitions in terms of theatre producing.
c) a résumé (CV)
d) a portfolio of your work
e) a critical assessment of recently produced/curated/directed work
f) two references/testimonials; one from those familiar with your work and one from third-level education
APPLICATION FORM FOR MFA THEATRE PRODUCING (BOTH FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME) IS THROUGH TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN AT THIS LINK.
Modules click to
Full-Time Programme (taught over 13 months from September 1st to the following end of September)
All modules are compulsory.
Michaelmas Term
1) Theatre in Context (10 ECTS) This module is shared across all MFA strands, including theatre directors, designers and playwrights. Students will attend five live theatre productions together over the course of the term and attend a weekly three-hour seminar. Part of each seminar will comprise a meeting with the artists, curators and practitioners who led the creation of the live performances attended by the students. Leading arts leaders, directors, funders and stakeholders will also be invited as guest speakers at the seminars.
2) Performing Arts Ecology (10 ECTS)
Students will learn about the leading public agencies, semi-state bodies and resource organisations which lead, fund, oversee and support all performing arts activities. Seminars will cover current governmental and departmental priorities as expressed in national and sectoral policy commitments as well as specific policy developments in areas such as Equality, Human Rights & Diversity, artist pay & conditions and spatial arts provision. Seminars will include industry guests to discuss issues of ethical concern to the performing arts sector. Students will also consider good governance practices and how successful organisations respond to changes in the performing arts ecology.
3) Producing Practices 1: Budgeting, Finances & Contracting (10 ECTS)
These seminars are designed to develop the student’s specific producing skills through practical exercises exploring different HR and finance deliverables including production budgets, sponsorship proposals, grant applications, production contracts and license agreements. Students will deliver their own documentation each week for discussion and critique. In addition, students will consider relevant finance, taxation, governance and HR legislation including recent amendments and potential legal developments in the future. Students will become conversant with all Irish funding sources as well as European funding opportunities through the Creative Europe programme.
Hilary Term
1) Contemporary Theatre Practice (10 ECTS)
This compulsory module will introduce students to a range of contemporary theatre practices. In advance of each seminar, students will read play texts and critical and view recordings of seminal 20th and 21st-century productions. Students will research leading international theatre artists and contextualize their productions with reference to theatre history. The principal aim of the course is to enable students to become conversant in the styles, forms, theories and practices that constitute contemporary theatre-making in Ireland and across the world. The Contemporary Theatre Practice module is shared by all Master in Fine Art students (directors, designers and playwrights).
Creative Leadership (10 ECTS)
Students will consider the building blocks available to lead on the development of original theatrical productions (play licencing and commissioning contract templates, project management strategies and skills etc) and will develop a suite of instruments required to deliver a specific production or artist development initiative (project Gant charts, writer’s contracts, dramaturgical support processes etc). Meetings with directors of leading theatre organisations will develop the student’s understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in institutional leadership. Consideration of vision documents and strategic plans will further develop the student’s understanding of creative leadership in action. Individual seminars will focus on crisis management strategies and resilience workshops will empower students to respond to the personal challenges of creative leadership.
2) Producing Practices 2: Venues, Audiences & Touring (10 ECTS)
The seminars are designed to develop the student’s specific producing skills through practical exercises exploring different production deliverables including venue hire contracts, marketing plans and touring budgets and schedules. Students will deliver their own documentation each week for discussion and critique
Trinity Term & Summer Months
Theatre Producing Projects (30 ECTS)
This module will be taught through individual supervision of students’ research, preparation and delivery of the production of a play or performance (of at least 45 minutes’ duration) for public viewing. Students will either produce a production in one of The Lir’s Studios as part of the annual Gradfest festival (working alongside MFA design and directing students) or as part of the Dublin Fringe Festival (working alongside early-career professional artists). Students will be supervised by the Strand Course Director. Students will also participate in a professional placement and complete a reflective journal which will be assessed by the Strand Course Director.
Part-Time Programme (taught over two years)
Year One
Contemporary Theatre Practice (10 ECTS)
Theatre in Context (10 ECTS)
Performing Arts Ecology (10 ECTS)
Creative Leadership (10 ECTS)
Year Two
Producing Practices 1: Budgeting, Finances & Contracting (10 ECTS)
Producing Practices 2: Venues, Audiences & Touring (10 ECTS)
Theatre Producing Projects (30 ECTS)
Fees click to
Fees for 2023/24
Full-time fees (EU/UK)….€12,250
Full-time fees (Non-EU)…. €22,290
Part-time fees (EU/UK) €6,120 p.a.
Part-time fees (Non-EU) €12,260 p.a.
Student levies and charges... €293 (full-time,)
€225.50 (part-time p.a)
Please note, tuition fees and other charges are subject to annual review by Trinity College Dublin which may result in a fee increase each year. All students (Undergraduate and Postgraduate, EU & Non EU) on courses/programmes of study of more than one year should be aware that tuition fees and other charges (Commencement/graduation fee, Sports Centre Charge and USI levy) may be subject to increase annually. The annual revision is approved by Trinity’s Committee and College Board and typically increase by approximately 3% per annum or more in any given year.
For funding opportunities, please this link.
Apply NowBursarys, Scholarships and Funding click to
1. The Lir Academy Bursary
This fund is open to all EU students who have been offered a place on the Undergraduate Bachelor in Acting, Undergraduate Bachelor in Stage Management and Technical Theatre or any of the Postgraduate courses at The Lir, National Academy of Dramatic Art, or are already studying here.
Students can apply for the bursary once a place has been offered on the course.
Non-EU students cannot apply for The Lir Academy Bursary, but they are eligible for other Trinity College bursaries. More information here.
2. SUSI Grant
The SUSI Grant can be accessed by EU and international students who have lived in Ireland for three out of the past five years. The grant is income-assessed and you can use the Eligibility Reckoner online to see if you qualify. See that at this link.
3. The Lir Academy Bursary
The Lir Academy Bursary is available for EU students and it is income-assessed. Applicants can only apply for it once they have been offered a place. For more information about this contact us via admissions@thelir.ie or click here.
4. Trinity College Dublin Funding
Trinity College Dublin offers a variety of funding opportunities for EU and international students. You can see more at this link.
5. European Excellence Awards
A bursary towards fee costs for EU-fee status students. Applicants can only apply for it once they have been offered a place. Applications usually open in March and close at the end of June each year. If you are an EU-fee status student, you can read more about the European Excellence Awards at this link.
6. Higher Education Authority for non-EU/EEA countries
Each year the Higher Education Authority (HEA) run an International Education Scholarships Programme. Under the initiative, 60 scholarships will be provided for one-year study at Bachelor, Masters or PhD levels to successful candidates who have an offer of a place at an eligible Irish higher education institution. The offer is open to students from non-EU/EEA countries and is applicable to all fields of study. This will be updated annually on their website at this link.
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The Lir Academy is already a leader in theatre training in so many areas - acting, stage management and technical theatre, direction, design and playwriting. This new MFA in Theatre Producing is the missing link. It promises to be transformative - not only for the people who undertake it, but for the entire theatre sector. It’s a groundbreaking course that will have a huge impact on the future development of theatre in Ireland.
Anne Clarke - Producer & Founder, Landmark Productions and Lir Board Member
