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Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama logo
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Award Attendance Study Duration Start Domestic fees International fees
MA On-Campus Full-time - 1 years October £11550 per year £22050 per year
MFA On-Campus Full-time - 2 years October £11550 per year £22050 per year
Course fee notes

Current fees for The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama can be found here: https://www.cssd.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees-and-additional-costs

About Scenography, MA - at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Some of the major innovations in performance practices over the past hundred years have been drawn from scenographic developments. The MA/MFA Scenography courses approach scenography from multiple practical and theoretical perspectives to create new opportunities for experimentation and authorship.

  • Develop authorship through performance design, working with a dynamic interplay of practice and theory, informed by a variety of disciplines including film, sculpture, sound, digital media, puppetry, choreography and architecture
  • A balance of independent and collaborative work
  • A professional focus through mentors, tutors and industry partners

Our approach

Through past and present approaches to performance design, the Scenography courses aim to explore dynamic and innovative interplays between the body, space and time, further informed by a variety of disciplines including film, sculpture, sound, digital media, puppetry, choreography and architecture. Your existing skills and practices are challenged, extended and refined as you investigate design processes and tools for creative developments.

With a balanced mix of collaborative and independent work, and a particular attention to the interplay of practice and theory, the courses include:

  • workshops and mentoring to explore speculative and operative uses/misuses of processes and tools, ranging from dramaturgy, model making and technical drawing to audio-visual media, casting, interactive sensor technologies and 3D printing;
  • studies in relevant historical and theoretical frameworks and contexts for understanding and developing practice.

Our students explore a variety of methods and creative approaches. Students are encouraged to constructively challenge ideas of hierarchy and authority in creative structures. The course values co-authorship and sensitive critical dialogues that acknowledge and allow for difference. We are interested in traditional texts and practices as opportunities to expose, critique, destabilize, subvert and move beyond the problematic values they may carry. We strive to act as a hub for re-imagining and implementing better and more diverse standards in scenography. 


Entry requirements

Contact Royal Central School of Speech and Drama to find course entry requirements.


Why study at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Specialist conservatoire training 

The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (Central) is a member of the University of  London and one of the UK’s leading drama schools. Based in Swiss Cottage, London,  Central offers specialist conservatoire-style training across performance, practice and  production, preparing students for careers in theatre, film, TV and live events. 

A focused learning environment 

Central is a small, specialist institution, which means students benefit from small class  sizes, close contact with tutors, and intensive practical training. Teaching is led by  experienced practitioners and academics, with learning shaped around professional  practice and real-world creative processes. 

Career-focused education 

At Central, future careers are built into the curriculum. Students graduate as specialists in  their chosen field, with strong professional insight, industry experience and a clear  understanding of how the creative industries work. Central’s long history and strong  industry links help students build connections and develop sustainable careers across the  performing arts. 

Professional facilities and London location 

Students train in specialist studios, rehearsal spaces and production facilities, including performance venues and technical workshops. Central’s London location places  students close to the heart of the UK’s creative industries, offering access to theatres,  production companies and professional opportunities throughout their studies.