SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Master of Arts: Theatre and Performance

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
10599	Master of Arts: Theatre and Performance
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Master's Degree	Field 02 - Culture and Arts		Performing Arts
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Level 8 and above	Level N/A:Pre-2009 was L8+	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 06120/18	2018-07-01	2018-12-31
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2019-12-31		2022-12-31

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The primary goal of the MA Theatre and Performance programme is the production of mature, highly skilled, independent and creative theatre practitioners (actors/directors) capable of creating, producing and managing their own work. The programme emphasises the need to produce graduates who can adapt to the changing conditions of an industry in flux.

The programme provides advanced training in the field of study including techniques of research, critical analysis, and scholarly and professional presentation appropriate to Drama, Theatre and Performance. The degree will equip the candidate with the knowledge and the skills necessary either for employment in the theatre industry, or for further independent research toward the degree of PhD.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

A degree of Honours bachelor or its equivalent, in the discipline or a cognate discipline recognised by the Faculty.

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING
Non-Honours graduates who have shown by examination or publication or a record of appropriate training that they have reached a level in the subject or a cognate subject equivalent to an Honours degree may be permitted to register for the degree.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

(a) Critical cross-field outcomes (generic to all teaching and learning)

The Masters graduate is able to demonstrate mastery of theoretically sophisticated subject matter;

The Masters graduate is equipped with proficiency in research methodology sufficient to proceed to a PhD. Graduates have mastered the skills of critical thinking, problem solving, collection and analysis of data, and effective professional written communication.

(b) General outcomes (contextually demonstrated general knowledge, skills and values of the programme)

The Masters graduate is able to:

conduct independent research in the discipline;

communicate verbally and orally with professional audiences;

apply in-depth and specialised disciplinary knowledge and research skills to discipline based problems;

analyse and critique communications and productions of an academic and popular nature;

appreciate the ethical issues associated with research and knowledge production in the discipline;

understand the processes whereby knowledge in the Humanities is constructed.

(c) Specific Outcomes (including professional outcomes, contextually demonstrated)

The MA (Theatre and Performance) graduate will be:

able to conceptualise, create and produce original pieces of theatre and/or performance in a variety of contexts and languages at an advanced professional level;

able to perform in, or direct these original pieces of theatre and/or performance;

familiar with:

contemporary philosophical and theoretical issues in Theatre and Performance studies;

a range of theoretical and performance traditions from different cultural contexts;

a wide range of examples of contemporary performance practice;

able to apply the above to:

critically analyse performance;

engage in current debates pertaining to contemporary theatre practice in South Africa and internationally;

research, construct and support a sustained theoretical argument in a systematic manner;

inform the student's own theatre and performance practice;

able to conduct advanced literature searches to inform reviews of specialised literature;

able to prepare academic papers for peer review;

able to write research proposals;

able to write funding proposals and reports for a variety and stakeholders;

able to teach drama and theatre at tertiary level.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

(a) the achievement of these outcomes is assessed in the integrated assessment of the programme.

(b) The achievement of these outcomes is assessed in the integrated assessment of the programme.

(c) The achievement of these specific outcomes will be assessed according to the following criteria:

The MA (T&P) graduate must demonstrate an ability to:

conduct research appropriate to the creation of original theatre productions;

generate textual material in a variety of forms using a variety of creative methodologies;

Select and structure textual material generated into an appropriate form;

plan and carry-out a rehearsal process;

produce original theatre productions including the:

planning

fundraising

administration of the run of the production in a theatre.

An MA (T&P) graduate following the directing option must demonstrate an ability to option must demonstrate an ability to

research and analyse a text for a production;

develop a specific directorial concept for a production;

prepare a director's script for a production;

structure individual performances and the production as a whole;

shape the movement of a production in space in terms of blocking;

shape the movement of a production in time in terms of rhythm and beat work;

realise an appropriate style for a production;

facilitate the development of characters and performance with actors;

utilise the various technical elements of the theatre in service of the production as a whole.

An MA (T&P) graduate following the performance option must demonstrate an ability to

research and analyse a dramatic text towards performance;

plan and carry-out a rehearsal process;

transform him/herself for a performance and from performance to performance;

develop an appropriate style of performance;

construct appropriate presence in time and space;

solve performance problems through the application of improvisational or formalised acting techniques;

engage creatively with other performers in an ensemble;

communicate a stage performance to an audience in line with a directorial concept.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT
The integration of skills learnt in the MA Theatre and Performance programme will be assessed by means of diverse combinations of formative and summative assessment methods.

Students are required to produce and present two seminar papers over the course of the two years of study, and to submit for performance, under the auspices of the Department of Drama, a portfolio of five practical creative projects which make an original contribution in the selected field of study. These include: two minor directorial/performance projects; a design project; a one-person performance reflecting a personal creative vision and exploration; and the thesis production which entails the creation, direction/performance and producing of a new original theatre/performance piece. In addition the thesis production must be recorded on video and a copy of the verbal text recorded (where appropriate) and these must be submitted as part of a composite document which also includes the performance text and a written explication of the theoretical basis of the work. Throughout the process of producing these five projects the student receives ongoing supervision from a range of staff members, and verbal assessment of performance from staff and other postgraduate students. In addition, general progress of students I the course is assessed on an ongoing basis and communicated to the students through organised feedback sessions.

The thesis production and the composite document submitted is subject to external examination. The external examiner will also undertake and oral examination of the student in respect of the student's creative work.

The student's performance in the above system of integrated assessment will be evaluated according to the criteria listed under associated assessment criteria.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Title(s) of related qualification(s):
PhD

This qualification serves as an entry point to the related qualification(s)

Other articulation possibilities, either generic or specific (please specify):

Entry to this qualification in mid-stream:
Not possible.

Exit from this qualification in mid-stream:
The coursework components completed may be recognised by another institution.

Other higher education programmes which articulate with this qualification without 'going back to square one':
The Masters Degree articulates with the PhD in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities. When dissertation progress is reviewed at the end of each academic year, the Faculty Board, on the recommendation of the supervisor and the Head of the Department, may recommend that the candidate's registration be upgraded to a PhD and that the period of Masters registration beyond the minimum period of one year be recognised towards the two year minimum period of study for the PhD.

MODERATION OPTIONS

The University of Cape Town has a system of external peer review and evaluation of each course. One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices of the department.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

The academic staff of the University of Cape Town will be used in a manner which is consistent with the quality assurance system of the University.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015.

NOTES

N/A

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

1.	University of Cape Town