Educational Concept

Course to become an actor / actress for the stage, film and television ? Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) / Master of Arts (M.A.)

Bachelor of Arts

The most important points of our training concept at a glance:
  • Training of a formative, narrative, acting and conflict-prone personality who is able to sensitively embody figures with conscious use of all physical and vocal possibilities
  • Promotion of ensemble ability, independence, imagination and creative will
  • Promotion of vocal, linguistic and physical possibilities as a means of expression
  • Independent design of performative-theatrical processes
  • Ability to adopt an attitude towards the reality of life in order to provide mental incentives to lead a life in a consensus society
  • Basics of the art of acting / acting methods
  • Scenic lessons
  • Projects under professional working conditions, working with different theatre styles
  • Improvisation techniques
  • Mask work
  • Introduction to film and media work, further media work (e.g. dubbing), playing in front of the camera
  • Forum (acting workshop)
  • Theatre and cultural theory
  • Theatre History
  • Analysis of theatre texts, productions, films
  • Independent learning of theatre texts
  • Contract and stage law
  • Development of own projects
  • Form of work and working method for project setup
Bodywork
  • Performing movement, fencing, dance
  • Acrobatics
  • Movement theory and martial arts, stage application
  • individual bodywork
Speaking
  • Speech training
  • Breath training
  • Phonetics Basics
  • Metrics
Singing for actors and actresses
  •  Voice training
  • Musical basics and song interpretation
  • Ensemble Singing
  • Chanson

The subjects mentioned are taught in different weightings, in individual and/or group lessons as well as in project work and workshops.

The master's programme in acting is aimed at actors and actresses who have already successfully completed their acting studies and have a command of established methods and common working methods. The course of studies is located between two training pillars:

1. consolidation and theoretical understanding of current acting methodology/ability to work as an acting teacher
2. practical and theoretical examination of newer performing and performative practices and collective working methods

The students can move between the two pillars according to their individual interests. This requires a flexible study design with individual focal points, as is made possible by the study programme with its optional compulsory modules and the possibility of independent, interest-based work.

The aim of the course is to broaden the acting horizon, as well as to reflect on the means of acting and to experimentally investigate them in the sense of artistic research.

The focus will be on the diversity of theatrical forms of representation and expression as well as performative practice as it is evident in contemporary theatre. The reflection of theatrical, performative and acting processes against the background of contemporary theatre aesthetics lays the foundations for the artistic exploration of embodiment practices and styles as well as for the development of individual acting possibilities of expression. By testing collective working structures and getting to know organisational forms and processes, competencies in the development of and collaboration in alternative theatre projects will be taught. In addition, the course opens up to the field of media: it offers the opportunity to acquire qualifications that enable students to play in front of the camera or to speak in front of the microphone.

In addition, there is an analytical view of the training path of the actor or the actress. The student is also given the opportunity to get to know the side of the coach and acting teacher and, in case of specialisation, to acquire the ability to teach certain acting methods. In this sense, acting classes of the bachelor's programme can also be accompanied.

The course is based on the student's own initiative. Project and study work is accompanied by mentors.  

Study contents

The study contents are partly optional and partly to be chosen from the elective area.

  • Consolidation and expansion of forms of acting expression, presentation in public shows and graduate internal auditions
  • theoretical and practical examination of forms of contemporary acting and performative theatre practice
  • Discussion of contemporary theatre formats and theatre aesthetics
  • Testing collective working methods
  • mentored work on own projects (individual and group projects)
  • Introduction to organizational processes and structures
  • Work in front of the camera and with media
  • advanced training of the speaking voice and production of a CD or DVD with radio play scenes, audio book excerpts etc.
  • independent artistic research within the framework of the Master's degree module
  • Participation in projects within the programme and in projects of the directing programme
  • in-depth reflection and testing of common acting methods
  • Introduction to teaching as a drama teacher, accompaniment of lessons and - in case of specialisation - taking over lessons under the guidance of experienced drama teachers
  • practical cooperation with partners in the network of European theatre academies

The subjects mentioned are taught in different weightings, in individual and/or group lessons as well as in project work and workshops. Some of them are optional and can be taken according to the individual focus of the student.