MA Performance - Acting

Explore the course:

Course Overview

Course Content

Graduates

Entry

Fees

Auditions and interviews

Course Overview

Mountview’s MA Acting course delivers vocational, culturally engaged and practical performance training.

Over an intensive one-year programme of study, students will be thoroughly prepared for a career in theatre, TV, film and recorded arts. The MA is delivered through workshops and classes designed to expand the skillset and develop the individual strengths of each student.

With a strictly limited number of places available each year, early application is strongly encouraged.

Course Content

Students receive over 30 hours of direct teaching time each week, with a maximum of 17 students per class.

Over the first two terms you will undertake rigorous skills training in all areas of an actor’s professional practice, including acting technique, voice, movement, singing, stage combat and acting for camera and recorded media. In each term, the skills work is then applied to performance projects, working with contemporary and classical texts.

There will be additional lectures and seminars on devising, autobiographical and solo performance, as well as on concepts such as intersectional feminist, post dramatic, queer and critical race theories, socio/political theatre practices and the performance of knowledge.

Through the first and second term, all students undertake the Creative Project, creating an original piece of theatre or film, performed at the end of term two. The Creative Project is supported and developed by one-to-one tutorials and influenced by the concepts discussed in the seminar/lecture programme.

In the third term, students perform in a professional showcase for agents, casting directors and other prominent industry professionals, as well as a fully staged public production of a play and a screen project.

Students also work closely with Mountview’s Industry Liaison Manager to prepare for life as a working actor.

2025/26 Term Dates
Autumn term 8 September – 14 December 2025
Spring term 5 January – 29 March 2026
Summer term 7 April – 7 August 2026

Skills

Acting
Acting for camera
Improvisation
Voice
Movement
Dance
Singing

Performance

Open space
Contemporary play 1

MA Creative Project

Seminars
Lectures
Tutorials

2025/26 Term Dates
Autumn term 8 September – 14 December 2025
Spring term 5 January – 29 March 2026
Summer term 7 April – 7 August 2026

Skills

Acting
Acting for camera
Recorded Voice
Classical texts
Improvisation
Voice
Movement
Dance
Acting through song

Performance

Shakespeare
Contemporary play 2

MA Creative Project

Seminars
Lectures
One-to-one tutorials
Creative project
Performance

2025/26 Term Dates
Autumn term 8 September – 14 December 2025
Spring term 5 January – 29 March 2026
Summer term 7 April – 7 August 2026

Skills

Industry engagement
Career development

Performance

Showcase
Public production
Screen project

MA Creative Project

Written submission

Our Graduates

Recent graduates of MA Performance have gone on to work for the National Theatre, National Theatre of Wales, National Theatre of Scotland, Donmar Warehouse, Globe, Royal Court, Edinburgh Lyceum, Lyric Belfast, Turun Kaupunginteatteri Finland, Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, Foro Shakespeare Mexico, Shanghai Grand Theatre and across the West End.

On screen, recent graduates have worked for BBC, ITV, Netflix, Amazon, Warner Bros and Disney. Many have also created their own work, for companies including Bush Theatre, Royal Court, Soho Theatre, Theatre Peckham and Lyric Belfast.

Read an interview with MA Acting graduate Melissa Kiplagat here.

Read an interview with MA Acting graduate Vinnie Monachello here.

"Training at Mountview was both the most challenging and rewarding experience I've had. The support and guidance I received whilst facing fears and insecurities that performing naturally brings was fantastic."

- Varun Sharma, Mountview Alumnus

Entry Information

Admission onto the course is by audition. Applicants must be aged 21 years or over at the start of the course. Students who do not hold an undergraduate degree will need to undertake an access assignment to establish suitability for undertaking the MA.

If an applicant requires a student visa and their first language is not English, they will need to prove their knowledge of the English language before applying for their student visa. This must be demonstrated by passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider or having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, gained through study at a UK school that they began when they were under 18.

Mountview welcomes applications from people with disabilities and is keen to support all applicants to achieve their best. If applicants have any special requirements or access needs, these should be discussed with the course leader/administrator.

Mountview is committed to a comprehensive policy of equal opportunities for students in which individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities. No applicant will receive less or more favourable treatment on grounds of sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnic origin, disability, religion and marital/parental status or any comparable grounds.

Fees

Audition Fee (in-person)	£50
Audition Fee (online)	£40
UK/ROI students	£19,405
International students	£22,125

All fees listed are for 2025/26 entry.

Limited audition fee waivers and reductions are available for candidates with a household income of less than £21,000.

Additional costs include grey palette active wear for workshops and dance shoes – allow around £180. Headshots, Spotlight membership and some travel – allow £350.

Please note that at this stage, Student Finance Scotland and NI do not currently fund Mountview’s postgraduate programmes.

Funding and Scholarships

Auditions Info

MA Performance auditions will take place in-person over a full day, with the first round taking place in the morning and successful candidates being invited to stay for their recall the same afternoon.

For international candidates and those with exceptional circumstances, the option of an online audition is available.

There is a £50 audition fee for in-person MA Performance auditions and a £40 audition fee for online MA Performance auditions, with waivers and reductions available for candidates with a household income of less than £21,000.

For detailed information on what you need to prepare for auditions and for audition dates visit

Auditions and Interviews

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