Theatre Directing - The Lir Academy

Course Overview

The Master of Fine Art in Theatre Directing programme is the first entirely practiced-based master's programme of its kind in Ireland. It was introduced following extensive consultation with the Irish theatre community and is a direct response to the stated needs of the industry and of talented emerging artists. This innovative course is taught in The Lir, National Academy of Dramatic Art at Trinity College Dublin, which is the professional training institution of the School of Creative Arts.



Throughout the training, students will also develop skills of the practitioners of theatre other than the theatre director, with a view to becoming proficient in and conversant with the creativity of others, and to enhance the craft of the student director by broadening their experience of theatre making. Students will explore the crafts of the actor, designer, stage manager, production manager and stage technician through workshops with teachers and professionals in the various disciplines.



Is This Course For Me?

If you have a passion for theatre and are interested in the collaborative process of creating a production, from concept to completion, you should consider the M.F.A. in Theatre Directing. Theatre Directing combines the skills of leadership, management, and artistic creativity to bring a production to life.



Course Structure

Students can opt to take this course either part-time (over 24 months) or full-time (over 12 months).



Full-time and part-time students will take three concurrent modules in the first two terms. The final module 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 masterclasses from professional directors and theatre-makers.

Students on the M.F.A. in Theatre Directing will take five compulsory modules, Theatre in Context, Contemporary Theatre Practice, Directing Workshop Theatre Production and Dramaturgy for Theatre Directing.



In addition to the core classes and workshops, individual and group tuition from the Course Director for Theatre Directing will be a key feature of the training. In addition, masterclasses by visiting practitioners will supplement the student experience. Professional placements are a key feature of the programme and all students will showcase their work in public performances at the culmination of the course.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fill out all the information required on the online form, which includes the submission of two references, one academic and a professional reference, copies of the transcripts of previously completed education levels, and a CV.



In addition, applicants are also required to upload a copy of the following documents separately, within the Additional Documents section:



a) Letter of application – a letter that outlines the applicant's theatre education and theatre directing experience to date (this may also include experience in other areas of theatre as well as directing in film). Applicants are required to have some theatre directing experience to be accepted onto the course.



b) Statement of purpose – a statement outlining the applicant’s ambitions in terms of theatre directing. Applicants should describe the role of theatre in their life, justify the choice of a career in theatre directing, the work they want to make, why they wish to pursue further education.



c) Portfolio – a portfolio of the applicant’s theatre and directing work. The Lir Academy accepts portfolios as PDFs, websites or in any other convenient format.



d) Critical assessment – a critical assessment of recently directed work. This is an analysis of a production directed by the applicant. It is an overall evaluation of the process; from the initial artistic impulse, the ambitions for the work, pre-production plans and the development of the work, an analyses of their process when working with designers, actors, and the production team, and finally a reflection and critical analyses of the work achieved and any learning outcomes.

Closing Date: 31st March 2025

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Next Intake: September 2025

Career Opportunities

This programme is tailored to provide talented individuals with the necessary skills to pursue a career in the professional theatre and related industries. Many now work as practitioners in the creative industries (in roles such as playwrights, producers, performers, facilitators); others go onto further study at Ph.D. level and begin careers in academia. Graduates are also eminently suited to fields such as publishing, broadcasting, or education.