Applied Theatre

Overview

About the program

The Applied Theatre Professional Doctorate at The University of Manchester is offered as one of a suite of Professional Doctorates overseen by the University's Institute of Cultural Practices. 

It draws on the supervisory expertise of Manchester's Drama staff, who have long been at the forefront of research in applied theatre and performance, both nationally and internationally.

Professional doctorates take explicit account of the professional practice-base of the candidate and integrate this as a central knowledge base for an advanced research project. Professional doctorates reflect the need for structured forms of professional development and reflective practice across the arts sector.

The programme aims to develop dynamic and interactive knowledge practices and outcomes that will have an impact across academic and non-academic contexts. 

It will support the development of reflective practice that can respond to and influence the complex, unpredictable and shifting social and cultural contexts within which practitioners operate.

The programme introduces practitioners to a range of dynamic and challenging concepts and methods with which to reflect critically and constructively on their professional practice. 

The programme will be taught within a learning environment and methodology informed by the principles of reflective practice, action or practice-based research and enquiry based learning.

This pedagogical approach enables students' professional context to become a primary research resource.`Applied theatre' is taken as an umbrella term referring inclusively to any form of theatre/performance practice seeking to engage or intervene in social and/or political contexts such as schools, communities, prisons, refugee groups, healthcare contexts, etc. 

Researchers in Manchester founded the TiPP Centre (Theatre in Prisons and Probation) in the 1990s, and `In Place of War' in the 2000s (an international network of artists working in war zones).