Should I take an open access, undergraduate, or postgraduate course?
Anyone thinking of applying for such a course should now be able to find one that suits them in terms of the emphasis and extent of the tuition focused on creative writing. The aim of this guide is to help you make a more informed decision about the possibilities offered. There are no formal guidelines or accepted models of good practice defined for the teaching of this area, so it is important to take time before committing yourself to a course which might not be suitable. It is also worth reading up on the little literature that does exists on methodology - some pointers are given at the end of this section - so you can be more objective about the teaching which you receive.
There are some clear advantages to taking a university course. Universities often have extremely well-equipped facilities for the production of work and resident technicians. Courses can provide the opportunity to work with actors and directors collaboratively. Through residencies, universities can also give you the chance to work with leading professional playwrights in person. Edward Bond has worked at UEA, Howard Barker at Aberystwyth and Essex etc. Unlike courses in the States, like those at Tisch and Julliard which are now regularly producing important playwrights in their own right, it is too early to assess the contribution of their British counterparts, as most courses have only been established here in the last few years -- although as the course run by David Edgar at Birmingham enters its second decade, its list of successful alumni is already impressive. |
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