Art and Design

Master of Arts in Theatre

The Master of Arts in Theatre is a postgraduate programme that equips students with advanced knowledge and skills in theatre arts, performance studies, dramaturgy, and theatrical production. The programme prepares creative professionals for leadership roles in theatre, film, education, cultural administration, and the creative industries.

Core areas of study include theatre theory and criticism, acting and performance studies, directing, dramaturgy, scriptwriting, theatre history, African theatre traditions, applied theatre, stagecraft and production design, theatre for development, and research methods. Students engage with both classical and contemporary theatrical traditions from Kenyan, African, and global perspectives.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University through its School of Visual and Performing Arts at the Ruiru Campus. KU has well-established theatre facilities including performance theatres, rehearsal spaces, and production studios. The programme integrates theoretical analysis with creative exploration and practical applications.

Students develop competencies in performance, directing, scriptwriting, dramaturgy, production design, theatre criticism, applied theatre facilitation, and research. The programme combines coursework, studio practice, examinations, and a research project or creative portfolio, allowing students to specialise in their areas of interest.

The programme is delivered over two years through a blended learning model combining in-person workshops, studio sessions, and online coursework. Students participate in practical training using performance theatres, rehearsal spaces, and production facilities. Opportunities for collaborative projects, internships, and industry engagement are available.

Graduates pursue careers as theatre directors, actors, playwrights, drama educators, arts administrators, cultural officers, theatre critics, and creative entrepreneurs in theatre companies, educational institutions, media houses, cultural organisations, and the creative industries.

Skills Required

Acting and Performance Studies
Theatre Directing
Playwriting and Scriptwriting
Dramaturgy and Theatre Criticism
Theatre History and Theory
African Theatre Traditions
Stagecraft and Production Design
Applied Theatre and Theatre for Development
Arts Administration
Research Methods in Theatre Studies

Key Subjects

Theatre Theory and Criticism
Acting and Performance Studies
Directing for Theatre
Playwriting and Scriptwriting
Theatre History
African Theatre Traditions
Applied Theatre and Theatre for Development
Stagecraft and Production Design
Arts Administration
Research Methods in Theatre Studies

Certifications

International Theatre Institute Membership
East African Theatre Institute Certification

Specializations

Acting and Performance

Focuses on advanced acting techniques, performance theory, physical theatre, voice and movement, and character development for stage and screen performance.

Directing

Covers theatre directing theory and practice, including script analysis, blocking, working with actors, staging, and production management for theatrical productions.

Playwriting and Scriptwriting

Examines dramatic writing techniques, script structure, character development, dialogue craft, and adaptation for stage and screen.

African Theatre Traditions

Explores African theatre traditions, indigenous performance forms, oral literature, African dramatists, and the integration of African cultural elements in contemporary theatre.

Applied Theatre

Covers applied theatre practices including theatre for development, community theatre, educational drama, and theatre for social change in community and educational settings.

Theatre Criticism and Dramaturgy

Examines theatre criticism, dramaturgical analysis, performance theory, and the role of the dramaturg in theatrical production and cultural commentary.

Production Design and Stagecraft

Focuses on stagecraft, set design, lighting, sound design, costume design, and technical production management for theatrical productions.

Arts Administration

Covers arts management, theatre company administration, festival organisation, cultural policy, and creative industry entrepreneurship.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 216,000
Private, up to: Ksh 249,800
Job market: Low

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Theatre Theory and Criticism
Acting and Performance Studies
Directing for Theatre
Playwriting and Scriptwriting
Theatre History
African Theatre Traditions
Applied Theatre and Theatre for Development
Stagecraft and Production Design
Arts Administration
Research Methods in Theatre Studies

Modules

10 in the programme

Theatre Theory and Criticism
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines major theatre theories and critical approaches including Aristotelian, Brechtian, postcolonial, and feminist theatre theory, with application to play analysis and performance criticism.
Acting and Performance Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers advanced acting techniques, performance theory, physical theatre, voice and movement, and character development for stage performance.
Directing for Theatre
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines theatre directing theory and practice, including script analysis, blocking, working with actors, staging, and production management for theatrical productions.
Playwriting and Scriptwriting
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers dramatic writing techniques, script structure, character development, dialogue craft, and adaptation for stage and screen.
Theatre History
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Surveys theatre history from Greek and Roman theatre through medieval, Renaissance, modern, and contemporary theatre traditions globally.
African Theatre Traditions
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Explores African theatre traditions, indigenous performance forms, oral literature, African dramatists, and the integration of African cultural elements in contemporary theatre.
Applied Theatre and Theatre for Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers applied theatre practices including theatre for development, community theatre, educational drama, and theatre for social change in community and educational settings.
Stagecraft and Production Design
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines stagecraft, set design, lighting, sound design, costume design, and technical production management for theatrical productions.
Arts Administration and Cultural Policy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers arts management, theatre company administration, festival organisation, cultural policy, and creative industry entrepreneurship.
Research Project or Creative Portfolio
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research project on a theatre topic or creative portfolio demonstrating mastery of theatre arts, assessed through written submission, creative output, and oral defence.

Specialisations

Acting and Performance
Focuses on advanced acting techniques, performance theory, physical theatre, voice and movement, and character development for stage and screen performance.
Directing
Covers theatre directing theory and practice, including script analysis, blocking, working with actors, staging, and production management for theatrical productions.
Playwriting and Scriptwriting
Examines dramatic writing techniques, script structure, character development, dialogue craft, and adaptation for stage and screen.
African Theatre Traditions
Explores African theatre traditions, indigenous performance forms, oral literature, African dramatists, and the integration of African cultural elements in contemporary theatre.
Applied Theatre
Covers applied theatre practices including theatre for development, community theatre, educational drama, and theatre for social change in community and educational settings.
Theatre Criticism and Dramaturgy
Examines theatre criticism, dramaturgical analysis, performance theory, and the role of the dramaturg in theatrical production and cultural commentary.
Production Design and Stagecraft
Focuses on stagecraft, set design, lighting, sound design, costume design, and technical production management for theatrical productions.
Arts Administration
Covers arts management, theatre company administration, festival organisation, cultural policy, and creative industry entrepreneurship.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures and studio sessions at KU's School of Visual and Performing Arts at the Ruiru Campus on theatre theory, performance studies, or directing. Students participate in practical workshops in performance theatres and rehearsal spaces, developing acting, directing, and production skills. Improvisation sessions, scene work, and script analysis workshops provide hands-on learning. Students may rehearse for departmental productions, working on acting, directing, set design, or technical production roles. Seminar discussions analyse plays, theatrical traditions, and performance theories from African and global perspectives. Guest lectures from visiting directors, actors, playwrights, and theatre scholars provide industry insights. Those in the research phase conduct independent research on theatre topics or develop creative portfolios, working under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

KU's School of Visual and Performing Arts has established theatre facilities including performance theatres, rehearsal spaces, and production studios.
Programme combines theoretical study with practical creative work, developing both analytical and artistic capabilities.
Kenya's growing creative economy and film industry create expanding opportunities for theatre graduates.
Programme includes African theatre traditions, providing culturally relevant perspectives alongside global theatre studies.

Against it

Theatre has limited formal employment opportunities in Kenya, with many graduates relying on freelance and entrepreneurial work.
Programme requires significant personal commitment to creative practice beyond formal classroom hours.
Limited funding and infrastructure for theatre arts in Kenya compared to more established creative industries in other countries.
Programme may require additional investment in personal equipment, materials, and production costs beyond tuition fees.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 73 art and design courses

Public180k to 216k

180k at Maseno University216k at Kenyatta University

Private161k to 250k

161k at KCA University250k at Daystar University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU 216K/yr verified ku.ac.ke. Daystar 249.8K/yr verified. Maseno, KCA unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Kenyatta University offers limited internal financial aid for postgraduate students. The Kenya Cultural Centre may provide grants for outstanding theatre practitioners.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University Financial Aid
Kenya Cultural Centre Grants

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
KU Financial Aid
ScholarshipKsh 100,000
KU postgraduate students demonstrating academic merit and financial need.
Kenya Cultural Centre Grants
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
Outstanding theatre practitioners and students demonstrating artistic excellence, supported by the Kenya Cultural Centre.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is available in full-time mode at KU's Ruiru Campus with September and January intakes. Blended learning combines in-person workshops, studio sessions, and online coursework.

How you are assessed

4 components

Studio Practice
Practical40% of the mark
Practical assessment including performance projects, directing exercises, scriptwriting portfolios, production design projects, and studio critiques conducted throughout each semester.
Continuous Assessment
Coursework20% of the mark
CATs, theatre analysis essays, play reviews, dramaturgical reports, and seminar presentations conducted throughout each semester.
Final Examination
Examination40% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering theatre theory, history, and criticism, including essay questions and play analysis.
Research Project or Creative Portfolio
Research100% of the mark
Original research project on a theatre topic or creative portfolio demonstrating mastery of theatre arts, assessed through written submission, creative output, and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kenyatta University offers the MA in Theatre Arts through its School of Visual and Performing Arts at the Ruiru Campus. KU is a CUE-accredited public university. Other listed public universities include Maseno University, University of Nairobi, Moi University, and MMUST.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University offers the MA in Theatre Arts through its School of Visual and Performing Arts at the Ruiru Campus. KU is a CUE-accredited public university.
International Theatre Institute (ITI)
Professional membership
UNESCO-affiliated international organisation for theatre professionals. Graduates may pursue ITI membership for global networking and professional recognition.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Theatre Director
Low demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 300,000
Directs theatrical productions for theatre companies, educational institutions, or independent productions, overseeing casting, rehearsals, staging, and production management.
Drama Educator
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches drama and theatre arts in secondary schools, colleges, or universities, combining practical instruction with theoretical study of theatre.
Playwright
Low demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 250,000
Writes plays for theatre companies, educational institutions, or broadcast media, creating original dramatic works for stage and screen.
Arts Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 280,000
Manages arts organisations, theatre companies, cultural festivals, or cultural institutions, overseeing programming, funding, and operations.
Cultural Officer
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 220,000
Promotes cultural activities and arts programmes in government, NGOs, or cultural institutions, supporting cultural expression and heritage preservation.
Actor
Low demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 300,000
Performs in theatre productions, film, television, or broadcast media, bringing characters to life on stage and screen across various genres.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as theatre directors, actors, playwrights, drama educators, arts administrators, and cultural officers in theatre companies, educational institutions, media, and cultural organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Final Draft
SoftwarePrimary
Professional screenwriting and playwriting software for script formatting, revision tracking, and collaborative writing for stage and screen.
Adobe Premiere Pro
SoftwarePrimary
Video editing software for recorded performances, promotional materials, and digital content creation for theatre productions.
QLab
Software
Show control software for theatre productions, managing sound cues, video projection, and lighting during live performances.
Vectorworks Spotlight
Software
Entertainment design software for stage lighting design, set design, and production planning for theatrical productions.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Theatre studies is just about acting.
The programme covers directing, playwriting, dramaturgy, production design, theatre criticism, arts administration, and applied theatre, providing comprehensive theatre education beyond performance.
A theatre degree has limited career prospects.
Graduates work in education, media, film, cultural administration, arts management, community development, and creative entrepreneurship, with growing opportunities in Kenya's creative economy.
Theatre is not a serious academic discipline.
The programme involves rigorous study of theatre theory, history, criticism, research methods, and cultural studies, combining creative practice with academic scholarship.
African theatre traditions are not covered in this programme.
The programme includes study of African theatre traditions, indigenous performance forms, oral literature, and African dramatists, integrating African cultural perspectives with global theatre studies.
You need to be a talented actor to study theatre.
The programme develops skills in multiple theatre disciplines including directing, writing, design, criticism, and administration, accommodating diverse creative strengths beyond acting.
Theatre studies is irrelevant in the digital age.
Theatre skills including storytelling, performance, production, and audience engagement are increasingly valued in film, television, digital media, and creative industries.