MA Authorial Acting offers in-depth study of authorial acting and psychosomatic disciplines, with an emphasis on authorial creativity and pedagogy. Developed by programme founder Ivan Vyskočil, authorial acting emphasises the performer’s original (or authorial) creativity.

The programme will work with your imagination and unique creative capacity as the author of your own concepts, material and performances, and develop your performance skills in voice, speech and movement. Authorship and a cultivated sense of playfulness in performance are explored in ethical, social, philosophical and pedagogical contexts.

The programme produces collaborative, original artists, independent and self-aware individuals. Confident in your artistic and inner personal voice, you’ll be equipped with the authorial and performance tools to express your point of view compellingly and creatively. 

Programme Content and Structure:

What will I learn? 

• You will be able to situate your work within the field of authorial acting and psychosomatic disciplines, both practically and theoretically. 
• You will gain extensive experience in conceiving and developing original authorial work, alone and in collaboration with others, and cultivate your capacity to effectively lead a creative team. 
• You will develop skills and strategies to share your discoveries and knowledge of authorial acting and psychosomatic disciplines with professional peers and lay people in person, through publication and in discussion. 
• You will write your own authorial texts for use in stage, radio, television and film contexts and apply your authorial skills to ideas and texts generated by others.  
• As a performer, you will attain advanced performance skills, cultivating your capacity to consciously employ voice, speech, gesture and movement in performance in a holistic, psychosomatic way and to draw on elements of your personality in performance, in both artistic and broader contexts. 

Teaching and learning on MA Authorial Acting is practice-led and aims to develop your skills as an author and performer. Advanced training in foundational psychosomatic disciplines (voice, speech, movement, dialogical acting, play) is integrated in the study of authorial reading and presentation, while theoretical subjects provide the border context for creation.

Modules, workshops and seminars are taught by practising artists, scholars and theorists from the Czech Republic and abroad. 

Applications:

Most applicants will hold a bachelor’s degree in a performing arts or humanities discipline. Applicants should be in good physical and mental health and will be expected to demonstrate an aptitude for collaboration and capacity for further creative development.

Applicants will be assessed on their capacity for development in the key disciplines of voice, speech and movement. Assessment of acting skills will include the ability to engage in play, work with a partner, react authentically and improvise. Applicants’ ability to author original texts or concepts will also be assessed. The online filled out application must be completed with these annexes: 

• a portfolio 
• a CV 
• a notarized copy of your bachelor’s diploma. 
• a letter of motivation  
• a letter of recommendation 
• authorial texts  

Applicants will complete an online application, followed by an individual or group (depends on the number of the applicants) audition and interview. Admission interviews will take place in English and cover the applicant’s motivation for study and general knowledge of art, culture, philosophy and current affairs.

Applicants will be asked to demonstrate knowledge of English at CEFR B2 level or above (no certificate required).  

Lecturers teaching on MA Authorial Acting are active as theatre practitioners, dramaturgs, theorists and scholars. The programme has strong links with artists, ensembles and institutions in the Czech Republic and abroad. 

During your studies, you will have the opportunity to engage in Prague’s vibrant performing arts scene. 

Graduate Profile:

MA Authorial Acting produces confident, creative artists who apply their skills in a wide range of creative fields in the Czech Republic and abroad. Graduates pursue their own projects in the fields of theatre, literature, art, design, video art, movement, dance and music.

They may find employment in mainstream or alternative theatre as actors, directors and dramaturgs, or in media as writers, dramaturgs, commentators and editors. Other graduates pursue careers outside of the cultural sector, such as teaching and counselling.

Many students combine their studies at DAMU with prior or subsequent study of other disciplines and become creative innovators in other fields.