Master of Directing for Performance (MC-DIRPERF)

The Degree of Master of Directing for Performance aims to provide opportunities for suitably qualified candidates to develop their potential for artistic leadership and attain in-depth knowledge of their practice as a director, artist, performance-maker, collaborator and researcher. The course enables individual pathways to be forged through three major streams of contemporary performance practice: directing and performance making; practice-led research; and applied performance in intercultural and community engagement contexts. These streams are designed to open up a broad range of career pathways into professional practice.

This distinctive coursework masters degree is inspired by the diversity of performance practices and approaches to directing present in Melbourne, one of the world’s most vibrant and culturally diverse cities. The course is underpinned by a commitment to the pursuit of artistic excellence, collaboration and interdisciplinarity within established and emerging local, national and international performance practices. The VCA offers a unique environment for students to develop an individual approach to directing and creative leadership in a context of interdisciplinary and intercultural learning. During the course students will experience a wide range of collaboration and leadership roles with designers, actors, production teams, writers, dramaturgs and choreographers at VCA, and a range of creative encounters with local, national and international artists, organisations and communities.

The course 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. The course actively encourages intercultural and international training and research experiences through fieldwork in the second year of the course.