The Department of Theatre offers two graduate programs, one leading to a Master of Arts (MA) in Theatre, and the other to a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Directing for the Theatre.

The MA in Theatre includes a thesis and is focused on the fields of theatre theory and dramaturgy. The objective of this program is to bridge theoretical and practical approaches to the study of theatre by encouraging dialogue and understanding between practitioners and theoreticians. The program enables students to broaden their academic scope with regard to the epistemological and interdisciplinary specificities of theatre as an art form and as a discipline of study; it encourages the analysis of the Western world’s principal theatrical traditions from various discursive perspectives; it fosters a greater understanding of Canada’s two principal theatrical traditions and helps develop scholarly discourse in regards to each.

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Directing focuses on the practice and theory of directing. It allows students to develop their skills in the art of directing, and offers the unique opportunity to study both English and French theatre practices and traditions in a bilingual and bicultural setting. The program is designed to prepare students to work as directors in both the professional and academic theatre.

Both programs are offered full-time and extend over two years. They can be pursued in English and in French.

The program operates within the framework of the general regulations of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) of the University of Ottawa, which are posted on the FGPS website.

The professors included in the list below are members of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. This means that they are authorized to supervise or co-supervise theses. A complete list of the faculty and staff members associated with the program can be found at http://www.theatre.uottawa.ca/eng/

BEDDOWS, Joël, Associate Professor
Mise en scène; théâtre franco-ontarien; histoire du théâtre; jeux

BRISSET, Annie, Full Professor
Discourse analyses; culture and translation; translation theory; pedagogy of translation and interpretation (curriculum development)

CLAYTON, John, Full Professor
Russian romanticism; Pushkin; Chekhov; Russian theatre since 1895

CODERRE-WILLIAMS, Margaret, Associate Professor
Set ; Costume and Lighting Design ; Scenic Art

FOURNIER, Michel, Associate Professor
Littérature et anthropologie (mythologie, folklore, croyances, imaginaire); littérature française des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles; littérature pour la jeunesse; poétique et anthropologie de la fiction; histoire de la lecture et enjeux de réception

FRAPPIER, Louise, Assistant Professor
History of theatrical genres (especially tragedy); early modern French theatre (sixteenth and seventeenth centuries); urban ceremonies (especially royal entries); nineteenth-century Québécois theatre

LAFON, Dominique, Full Professor
Littérature française du XVIIe et du XXe siècles; théâtre, dramaturgie, théâtre québécois; approche historique et dramaturgique

MAKARYK, Irene, Full Professor
Shakespeare; Comparative literature

MEERZON, Yana, Associate Professor
Theory of drama and performance; cultural and interdisciplinary studies; russian drama and theatre

MROZ, Daniel, Associate Professor
Acting and performance (movement, voice, composition and interpretation); directing (repertoire and original performance creation); traditional Chinese martial arts and physical culture (wushu and qigong), contemporary approaches to martial arts and physical culture; world music singing and contemporary vocal music

ORR, Kevin, Associate Professor
Directing; New play creation; Artistic Direction; Actor and Director training

PRINCE, Kathryn, Assistant Professor
Shakespeare in performance; early modern drama in performance; theatre repertories and archives; theatre history

RUANO-DE-LA-HAZA, Jose, Full Professor
Spanish literature; Theatre studies; Renaissance poetics

RUPRECHT, Alvina, Adjunct Professor
Theatre in the francophonie; theatre anthropology; postcolonial and intercultural theory; theatre criticism

SCHRYBURT, Sylvain, Assistant Professor
History of directing; Québécois theatre; theatre archives

STAINES, David, Full Professor
Canadian literature; Medieval literature; Victorian poetry

WEISS, William, Associate Professor
Voice and speech training and speech communications (voice acoustics, perception and production)

All applicants must be able to understand speak and write proficiently either English or French. Applicants whose first language is neither English nor French must provide proof of proficiency in one or the other. The list of acceptable proofs is indicated in the “Admission” section of the general regulations of the FGPS.

In accordance with the University of Ottawa regulation, students have a right to produce their work, their research paper, their thesis, and to answer examination questions in French or in English.

Admission requirements for the MA program:

• An honours bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a specialization or major in Theatre or related discipline;
  OR
  An honours bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in another discipline, with a minor in Theatre and two or more years of relevant experience;
  OR
  An honours bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in another discipline, with three or more years of relevant experience.

• A minimum overall average of 70% (B), calculated in accordance with FGPS guidelines.

Documents required:

• A detailed up-to-date curriculum vitae;
• Academic performance in previous studies as shown by official transcripts, research reports, abstracts or any other documents demonstrating research skills;
• A statement of purpose of no more than three pages indicating the career goals and reason for interest in the proposed research area;
• A sample of an undergraduate paper (scholarly writing);
• Three letters of recommendation from professors who have known the applicant and are familiar with the student work.

Duration of the Program

Residence

Minimum Standards

La thèse de type traditionnel consiste en un travail de recherche appuyé d’une analyse documentaire et des théories et des méthodes d'analyse critique pertinentes au sujet traité (25,000 mots);

Le second type de thèse comprend deux parties : une œuvre de création et une analyse du processus de création. Le projet de création doit s’appuyer sur une hypothèse de recherche. Le document d’analyse doit décrire les antécédents historiques principaux relatifs au projet et présenter une synthèse des théories esthétiques à l’appui du projet de création (12,500 mots).

Dans les deux cas, la thèse doit correspondre aux standards de la FÉSP. On consultera en particulier la section G des règlements généraux de la FÉSP et le guide Préparer sa thèse ou son mémoire. Préalable : THE6990. /

The thesis can take one of two forms:

The traditional form involves research work supported by a review of the literature, critical analysis and synthesis (25,000 words);

The second form includes two parts: a creative project and an analysis of the creative process for that project. The project must be based on a research question. The analytical document must demonstrate knowledge of the historical antecedents and synthesize the aesthetic theories underpinning the creative project (12,500 words).

In both cases, the thesis must meet the standards specified by the FGPS. For details consult section G of the general regulations of the FGPS and the guide Preparing a Thesis or a Research Paper. Prerequisite: THE6990.

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