Central launches new MA in Producing

Central School of Speech & Drama is happy to announce the latest addition to its postgraduate portfolio: MA Creative Producing, a course for commercially savvy professionals/artists who work to translate ideas into reality.

This course is built on Central’s history of training producers, such as Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who the New York Times described as “the most successful, influential and powerful producer of our time”, and David Jubb, Artistic Director of Battersea Arts Centre and pioneer of innovative new work.

“The cultural landscape has completely changed. It’s much harder to get arts funding so if a project is to get off the ground, it needs a commercially aware producer to bring it to fruition,” says Jessica Bowles, MA Creative Producing Course Leader.

“You could say that the producer is the broker who brings performance to the public domain. Central has a unique environment in which students can get to grips with contemporary theatre. They then put that into practice with producing roles within our extensive industry network. To work as a producer and to be taken seriously when looking for employment, you must have this kind of real world experience under your belt.”

Creative producers develop performance ideas for festivals, theatre companies, individual performers and special commissions. MA Creative Producing’s educational objectives therefore include skills in budget management, audience development, fundraising, public relations and the advanced use of social media.

Speaking of his study at Central, David Jubb says, “My time at Central was very important for my development. My MA in Advanced Theatre Practice gave me the opportunity to develop my passion for producing which, until that point, had been a foreign concept. The programme offered me the head space to better understand the value of producing and that great producing catalyses great theatre.”