Directing Circus (Taught)

Become a new kind of performance director, voicing circus as a 21st century artform.

• Join a creative lively, creative community of circus practitioners in Bristol – the UK’s city of circus.

• Work with our professionals to hone your directorial skills and stay up to date with the most recent developments in the sector.

• Challenge yourself and your assumptions through studio-based research within Circomedia’s industry-standard facilities and performance venue.

This MA is for makers of circus. It's been developed to address a recognised need across the global circus community to create and support a new kind of performance director – one who is aware of the possibilities and challenges of using circus techniques in an artistic context. The course gives the opportunity to work in a new medium and in a dynamic and developing artform.

As an MA student at Circomedia, you’ll engage in both group and independent learning. You’ll have the chance to work with world-leading professionals in the industry and debate the most recent developments in circus and physical theatre performance and direction.

You’ll get the chance to study a range of research methodologies, as well as roles, strategies, and practical skills for directing circus. The tutors at Circomedia encourage you to explore the need for directors to be originators, facilitators, and to deliver new circus performance to a waiting public.

All kinds of directors are welcome to apply for this course. As well as circus, our applicants have backgrounds in visual art, live art, theatre, dance and street performance. Each student is encouraged to bring new flavours to the creation of circus performance.

This course is delivered by Circomedia in collaboration with Bath Spa University.
You apply through Bath Spa University, and you're taught by Circomedia. You can learn more about the course structure and content on the Circomedia website (link below).

This course includes or offers the following modules. Please check the programme document (below the main image on this page) for more information.

• Research Methodologies and Context
• Directing Circus 1: Performer as Source
• Professional Collaboration
• Directing Circus 2: Director as Author
• Major Project

You'll be assessed through the live showcasing of your projects for a public audience in our circus venue and through negotiated written content.

Formative assessment is through tutor feedback on your rehearsal processes, seminars and one-to-one tutorials, and on your draft writing/presentations.

Summative assessment is through the practical outcome of your project, and your written/presented reflection of the project.

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS