MA Theatre Directing 2017 alumnus’ play to run at Soho Theatre, London

A production from this summer’s MA Directors Festival has been given an extended four-week run in London’s Soho Theatre.

 The End of Hope by David Ireland, directed by Max Elton, will run from October 10th to November 11th at the prestigious London venue.

 This summer saw five MA Theatre Directing students from St Mary’s University, Twickenham make their directing debuts at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond, receiving critical acclaim. The decision to run The End of Hope at the Soho Theatre underlines the strong reputation the Masters Programme is building within the professional community.

Patsy Gilbert, Academic Director for Drama at St Mary’s commented:

 “We are absolutely thrilled with this news, which is not only a fantastic result or Max, who will have a great first professional credit on his CV, but shows growing approval for our elite programme.

 “Drama St Mary’s was proud to be part of this new and exciting collaboration with Orange Tree Theatre and the delivery of our inaugural year of productions and we are confident each of our five students this year have successful futures as theatre directors ahead of them.”

A dark new comedy by David Ireland, the End of Hope is an outrageous and revealing roller coaster of a comedy from award winning writer David Ireland following his critically acclaimed Cyprus Avenue.

Returning to Soho Theatre, Rufus Wright performs alongside Elinor Lawless in the play, which was described as ‘Complex, hilarious and fascinating’ by the Scotsman. Tickets are available directly through the theatre’s website.

Photograph: Lisette Barlow

Drama St Mary’s launched its Masters Programme, in collaboration with the Orange Tree Theatre, as the only one of its kind in the UK, being predominantly housed in a producing theatre, students spend a year exploring the art and techniques of theatre directing within the context of contemporary theatre making.

MA Theatre Directing is taught by both academics and theatre directors with the assistance of professional actors in the practical classes and is both academic and vocational.

 The programme aims to provide an advanced understanding of theatre production processes within a context of both contemporary theatre making and the dramatic tradition.

The Masters programme is aimed both at graduates who wish to advance their understanding of theatre practice in order to develop their work to a professional standard and at theatre professionals who wish to formalise their experience with a course of study and a qualification.