This degree will give you contemporary, practical training, to become an integral part of the next generation of theatre directors.
Through skills classes and project-based learning, you will be given the time, resources and rehearsal room access you need to develop your craft.
Teaching will be delivered by industry practitioners and masterclass guests, with mentorship and placement opportunities. Each is designed to support you in clearly defining your artistic voice, aligning your passions, skills, and ambitions ready for a portfolio career.
Collaboration is at the very heart of what we do at Leeds Conservatoire. You’ll share core modules with students from the other Theatre MAs, generating new work in a collaborative environment.
You’ll work on developing work for the Leeds Theatre Festival and have access to rehearsal rooms where undergraduate students create their annual season of live performances. Through these projects and creative relationships, you’ll establish performances and a creative network, ready to transfer into your professional life.
You’ll develop the skills required to lead a company and creative team, coach actors, shape theatrical performance and ensure aesthetic integrity in the staging of work.
Working with visiting professional teams in a range of rehearsal settings, you’ll further your theatrical literacy, vocabulary and find your own voice as a director.
As a graduate, you’ll be able to lead a company of actors and creatives, in realising a singular vision for a theatrical production as a theatre director.
The MA Directing leverages the conservatoire’s strong relationships with regional theatres and companies. Our students have worked with productions at partner venues such as Leeds Playhouse, Slung Low, and Leeds Heritage Theatres. These connections not only ensure program relevance but also broaden your professional network.
During your placement, you’ll contribute to both external and internal productions. The School of Drama's season of live performances offers extensive access across two actor-musician productions, four plays, and three musicals.
This module is designed to introduce students to the principles and techniques behind successful, collaborative arts practice. The module will develop the students’ knowledge and understanding of collaborative performance settings, expanding their knowledge of how work is made.
The module emphasises the ability to critically analyse personal and professional experiences, allowing students to engage in deep reflection. Through this module, students develop as reflective practitioners who understand the value of their artistry in a collaborative setting and proactively seek to develop their skills.
Through this module, students will study the process of successful collaborators, who work across disciplines to make original performance. They will work together in interdisciplinary teams, using their individual experiences and expertise to generate ideas, creative responses to given briefs and present ideas to audience for funding/development support.
This module aims to develop the core skills of the director. It will also develop and challenge all directors to develop their understanding of the other specialist roles and develop a common language to collaborate on new and existing work with. This ensures they can engage a broader range of artists and teams professionally.
Directors will also work on a variety of directorial methodologies and look at how to best contribute to a variety of different roles including ‘Assistant’, ‘Associate’, and ‘Resident’ Director positions. Directors will also work with the MA Musical Theatre Writing together in skills development session that apply to all e.g. leadership.
Additionally, each creative has an area of specialism which they will explore by taking part in skills specific classes and shadowing opportunities both within the conservatoire.
This module aims to develop key skills in creating devised material within an ensemble setting. Actor Musicians, Actors and Dramaturgs will be encouraged to explore performance material created from personal storytelling, narrative and experiences, working in small companies on various projects.
These practical sessions will be tutor-led, where students are taken through a range of methodologies to explore producing work using various storytelling techniques.
As the students develop as an ensemble company producing their own work, they will be given the opportunity to run these small companies themselves.
Students may explore practitioners/companies such as Red Ladder, Interplay, Frantic Assembly, Kneehigh and The Pappy Show, but will adapt and tailor techniques to their personal vision and intentions appropriate to postgraduate study.
Dramaturgy students will help shape these pieces as the performers bring them to life.
This module gives you the chance to work DIRECTLY with industry professionals on both internal Leeds Conservatoire projects, and on UK wide industry leading shows. You’ll gain hands-on experience, build confidence, and make meaningful connections as you explore where your specialism can take you.
You’ll undertake a placement working directly with our undergraduate or postgraduate students, contributing to real learning environments and expanding your professional toolkit. Additional placement opportunities are offered each year through our growing network of external organisations, evolving in response to your area of study and our active partnership collaborations.
You’ll also be supported to design your own placement with an organisation that aligns with your creative goals and future ambitions to help you to shape an experience that truly supports your individual professional development.
In your final module, you’ll bring everything you’ve learned on the course together by directing a production as part of the Leeds Theatre Festival. Whether you choose to write your own original material or work as part of a creative team, you’ll take a central leadership role in shaping a production from first concept through to public performance.
As the Director, you’ll drive the artistic vision of the piece and work directly with the actors, leading rehearsals, and delivering a polished, professional-standard show. This is a hands-on opportunity to apply your full skillset in a real-world context, collaborating with writers, musical directors, actors, and musicians to bring a new work to the stage
Your final production will be performed publicly at the renowned Leeds Theatre Festival, attended by industry guests, employers, and creative professionals. It’s an exceptional platform to showcase your artistry, demonstrate your artistic leadership, and graduate with a major professional credit already on your CV.
This is your moment to define your creative identity, build industry visibility, and make a confident statement as an emerging Director.
Throughout the course you will be assessed through a series of showings of your work, essays, reflective portfolios and academic reflective writing.
Your final project will be assessed through performance in the Leeds Theatre Festival and a live ‘Viva’.
Our Performing Arts students benefit from bespoke new facilities in our brand new Playhouse Square building.
Teaching will take place at our St Peters Square, Mabgate and Playhouse Square buildings as well as external teaching spaces where necessary.
We are confirming teaching spaces for 2026/27, but teaching spaces in 2025/26 also included Slung Low Theatre Company in Holbeck, Dance Studio Leeds and Yorkshire Dance.
Take a look at our custom-designed studios with panoramic views over Leeds city centre.
See Performing Arts Facilities
Students may graduate into traditional positions in the field such as Directors or Artistic Directors.
However, this course is designed to encourage students to make their own work and have the skills to produce it and fund it themselves.
We envisage small theatre companies emerging from these MAs as the courses give the students the skills not only to follow employment opportunities, but to generate work for themselves.
Students will be taught by staff who are specialists within their field and include directors, performers, creatives, entrepreneurs and academics who work professionally in the theatre industry.
Course Type: MA Postgraduate Degree
Duration: 1 year
Study Mode: Full Time
Start date: September
Validated by: University of Hull
Alternatively you can apply directly to Leeds Conservatoire
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All students requiring a visa to study in the UK must meet the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) department's English Language requirement of IELTS 6.0 with no sub-test less than 5.5
Directing applicants will be asked to present an idea for a production of an established text, work with actors in person to assess their skills in this area and attend an interview.
The majority of our courses require auditions, interviews and/or portfolios. Audition processes for MA Directing will be communicated later in the year.
You will be able to find out more and read our full guidance on our Postgraduate Auditions page.
Full details on tuition fees are available on our Fees & Funding for Postgraduate study page.
Leeds Conservatoire offers the following discounts for taught on-site Masters courses:
For more funding options, visit our Postgraduate Scholarships and Bursaries page.
International Students
Details about tuition fees and scholarships for international students are available here.
