The Level 7 Certificate in Directing for Theatre in Maynooth University is a part time course that runs every second Saturday from October to May each year. Each year the course attracts students from the amateur drama circuit, youth theatre sector, fringe, university and college drama societies, and professional actors who would like to develop directing skills.
It offers practical training in theatre directing and is facilitated by professional directors from the Irish, UK and US theatre. The course is coordinated by Peter Hussey of Crooked House Theatre Company, and is taught by Sebastian Harcombe (former Head of Acting at RADA, Drama Centre and Drama Studio, London), Louise Lowe (Anu Productions and Abbey Theatre), John O' Hagan (Performing Arts Department Head at Lindenwood University, Professor of Theatre and the Creative Arts and Communications Division Director at Principia College, and Assistant Professor of Theatre at the University of Wyoming), Bairbre Ní Chaoimh (freelance director), Anna Galligan (Carlow Youth Theatre and Carlow Institute of Performing Arts), and Mary Linehan (former Kildare Couty Arts Office and co-founder of Smashing Times Theatre).
It focuses on methods, tips and techniques, application of theory and practice. Working with actors; Introduction to Stanislavski; Introduction to Viewpoints; Actioning and working with text; Devising new material for performance; Introduction to Physical Composition and Movement Theory; Site specific and site-responsive theatre; Scene study; Physical Comedy; Auditioning and Rehearsal.
This course is aimed at the following potential students.
An easy payment plan is available upon registration. For Application contact :
| Course Location | Maynooth, Kildare |
| Course Type | Classroom Based |
| Course Qualification | NUI Cert. Level 7 |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| Awarding Body Details | Level 7 Certificate |
| Course Start Date | 26th September 2026 |
| Course End Date | 29th May 2027 |
| Course Duration | 100 hours Saturdays |
| Course Time | 10am to 5pm |
| Course Fee | 1400 |
| Entry Requirements | Applicants must be 21 years of age on 1st January of year applying for course |
| Course Code | DIR1 |
The aim of this course is to provide participants with a broad overview of key theoretical frameworks in relation to substance misuse and dependence, and to enable them to develop basic helping and intervention skills.
The Department of Adult and Community Education in Maynooth University takes a very different approach to teaching and learning than a lot of people will have encountered through their previous educational experiences.
The course had been developed by the Department of Adult and Community Education, Maynooth University in collaboration with stakeholders in the field of Adult Guidance.
This Certificate Modular Programm contains different modules : Theorizing Society, Project Planning and Management, Sociology of the Body and Sexuality, Philosophy of Adult & Community Education, Introduction to Anthropology, Youth Culture : The Meaning of Style & Rites of Passage, Social Research, Critical Social Theory.
