MA Playwriting

At RADA, you learn by doing. You will engage in creatively rigorous and fulfilling vocational training that immerses you in the world of the professional playwright, ensuring you're artistically and practically equipped for the industry. Through continuous reflective practice you will workshop your writing, gain feedback and develop your creative work.

Teaching will be delivered by seminar (lecture and discussion), masterclasses, one-to-one tutorials, group tutorials and writing workshops.

Throughout your training, you will receive personalised feedback and career guidance to develop your expertise, resilience and leadership. The course will also include theatre trips, and prioritise an understanding of access, diversity, and inclusion.

This MA programme will enhance your creative and collaborative abilities while developing your playwriting craft. You will establish your identity as a creative practitioner with the skills and confidence to take an original idea from conception to production.

You will consider the role of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, and the impact they may have on the writing process and creative practice and industries.

Through this course you will write two plays; a one act play for a showcase reading, and the first draft of a full-length play for submission to professional production companies.

Course structure

This course is structured into four modules led by course leader Paul Sirett. Find out more about Paul here.

Writing for the Stage 1

This module explores the core transferable techniques of playwriting from the classical to the postmodern era and considers how they may be used by contemporary playwrights. You will study a wide variety of techniques, forms, and genres including Classical Greek and Roman drama, World dramaturgies, Elizabethan & Jacobean, Late 19th early 20th century naturalism, 20th century non-naturalistic playwriting, Mid-20th century American Classics, and The Playwriting Revolution of 1956.

Writing for the Stage 2

Through writing exercises and in-depth study this module explores the core techniques of playwrights from the 1960s to the present day with emphasis on contemporary plays and alternative, non-traditional models of playwriting. You will also write a Vision Statement for your own playwriting, learn how to pitch an idea for potential commission, and explore the aesthetics and practice of access.

One Act Play

The focus of this module is mainly on your own writing. You will be required to develop and write the first two drafts of a one-act play. Your play will be developed via a series of readings and feedback sessions involving the whole group, culminating in a reading of the second draft of your play in class. You will also be required to work dramaturgically on the plays of other students in the group.

Professional Development & Production

This module will focus on writing, learning the business skills necessary to embark on a professional career as a playwright, and culminate in a public rehearsed reading of your one act play. You will also pitch and write the first draft of a full-length play, itemise a proposed portfolio of work and develop a strategic career plan.

This course will enable you to fully understand your craft and its application in a professional setting. You will learn to be intellectually, aesthetically, and creatively confident, and to be wholly yourself in your writing.

For more detailed information on course content, assessment and outcomes, download our Programme Specification.

Timetable and workload

This course is taught in four terms over 13 months from September and runs over the summer for the fourth term into October.

Seminar study, reading, and report writing will also be supplemented by practical playwriting workshops. One-to-one tuition will be largely focused on your original writing. Guest speakers, and theatre visits will all enhance your professional knowledge. Speakers will include visiting Playwrights, Directors, Producers, Literary Agents and Literary Managers,

Classes will mainly take place twice-weekly and will include one weekday evening and Saturday sessions.

The rehearsal and showcase process may require your attendance as per the production schedule which may include daytime and evening sessions.

Assessment

You will be assessed throughout the course on your progress including attendance, contribution to classes, discussions, workshops, readings, seminars, and rehearsals.

Alongside this you will be assessed on writing exercises including written reports, vision statement, strategic career plan, original one-act play, showcase reading, draft full length play as well as set readings. This a vocational course; you will not be required to write a dissertation.

What will I learn?

• Cultivate your skills as a professional playwright and the ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively as a theatre maker.
• Critically evaluate key playwriting techniques for a variety of performance and production styles.
• Develop the skills necessary to take an original idea from conception to production.
• Build a repertoire of writing techniques to prepare for a career of changing professional, technical and artistic expectations.
• Explore the cultural, social, critical and artistic contexts of a diverse range of new and historical plays.
• Develop your creative practice, interrogate your craft and become a creative leader.
• Enhance your skills as a writer and increase your working knowledge of the techniques that underpin contemporary playwriting.

We encourage applications from people of any age, gender, disability, ethnicity, marital status, nationality, sexual orientation, parental status, socio economic status, religion or belief. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity, to pursuing non-discriminatory policies and practice, and eliminating unfair discrimination.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• A degree qualification (2:2 or above), a recognised equivalent international qualification, or an equivalent qualification in a related subject or discipline; and/or
• The ability to demonstrate professional or practical experience at a level commensurate with Master’s level study.
• Applicants for whom English is not their first language must prove that they can read, write, speak and understand English to a certain level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale. For this programme, this must be equivalent to CEFR level C1 or IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all areas

Application Process

The information below explains each stage of the process; you can read more details about the process, what to prepare, and how we support disabled applicants in our admissions procedure guide.

The admissions team will then contact you to either confirm an interview date or inform you if you were unsuccessful (please note that this could take up to six weeks).

Application Form

The application form will ask for:

• A portfolio of original dramatic writing of approximately 40 minutes playing time (about 35–40 pages).
• Your CV which should demonstrate your degree level qualifications and appropriate professional or work experience;
• An 600-word personal statement. This should demonstrate your understanding of the course and share your experience in the field.
• A reference from someone who knows your work.

Interview

If your application is successful, you will be invited to a 20-25 minute interview either in-person or online.

We may contact you in advance of your interview to gather more information relating to your previous experience and/or qualifications to ensure that this is the right course for you.

Application deadline

Your application must be completed and submitted by Monday 2 June, 11.59pm.

We strongly encourage international applicants to apply early to ensure adequate time for visa applications.

How to apply

1. Complete the online application form at the top of this page.
2. The admissions team will then contact you to either confirm an interview date or inform you if you were unsuccessful (please note that this could take up to six weeks).
3. If your application is successful, you will be invited to a 20-25 minute interview either in-person or online.

If you need more information, you can read our guide to the application form.

There is an application fee for the MA in Playwriting of £49. This covers the cost of processing and progressing each individual application. Application fees are not refundable.

Information for disabled applicants

We welcome applications from disabled applicants and encourage them to disclose relevant information regarding any disability when completing their application form, to enable us to provide additional support during the admissions process. Find out more about the ways RADA support disabled applicants in our Student Life pages.

If you are a disabled applicant and would like further advice or guidance, please contact the admissions team directly on admissions@rada.ac.uk.

Postgraduate fees for MA Playwriting for the academic year 2025-6:

Home (UK) students

£17,352

International

£25,000

Please see the fees policy for more information about how RADA calculates tuition fee increases for each year of a course.

Find out more about funding your training.

Am I a Home (UK) or International student?

There are strict regulations regarding residency which must be met in order to qualify for Home (UK) student status.

Home (UK) student

In order to be classed as a Home (UK) student you normally need to meet all of the following criteria on the first day of the first academic year of the course:

• You are settled in the UK (this means there is no immigration restriction on the length of your stay).
• You are ordinarily resident in the UK, and have been for the full three years before the first day of the academic year (ordinarily resident means that your main home is in the UK, and you are choosing to live in the UK).
• The main reason for you being in the UK was not to receive full-time education.

Irish nationals who have been living in the Republic of Ireland or the UK can qualify for Home fees as long as they meet the residence requirements which can be found on the UK Council for International Students' (UKCISA) website.

International students

If you do not fall under the Home (UK) definition, then you will be classed as an international student.

International students coming to RADA on a full-time course of more than six months will require a Student visa before coming to the UK to start your course. Without the visa you will not be allowed to enter the UK. Please visit the UK Visas & Immigration website for further details.

The definitions on this page are only a very brief summary and there are a number of exceptions to the conditions listed. For more detailed information, please refer to the UK Council for International Student Affairs guide.

Other costs

Almost all materials and resources you require for your course, including travel for any trips, are included in your tuition fees.

Other material costs (not included in your tuition fee): approximately £300 + laptop

International students will also need to pay for visa costs; please visit the UK Visas & Immigration website for further details.

Read our regulations and policies relating to admissions and current students here.