MA Directing of Devised and Object Theatre (MA DOT) offers advanced studies in theatre-making with a twofold emphasis: devising a theatre performance from scratch and mastery of the visual dimension of theatre production.

This practice-led programme will support you to develop your own aesthetic point of view and practical theatre-making toolkit by offering multiple opportunities – culminating in a final MA performance project – to make and present original work.

You will study visual, spatial, object and (low tech) media-based approaches to theatre-making and see how these skills can be applied to related forms such as installation, sound performance and other contexts demanding strong visual and spatial dramaturgy. 

Programme Content and Structure:

What will I learn? 

• You will gain extensive experience of devising contemporary performance from initial concept/inspiration to the public presentation of the work, with a particular focus on object, space and the visual dimension of performance-making.  
• You will be able to situate your work within contemporary performance theory and practice, demonstrating critical knowledge of key dramaturgical issues and trends. 
• You will cultivate your artistic independence with a critical approach to contemporary theatre making and its socio-cultural context, clarifying your artistic interests and language and drawing on your own knowledge and experience to interrogate current issues. 
• You will be confident in generating new approaches to material and works in progress, developing a strong set of performance-making tools and selecting appropriate strategies and methodologies for specific contexts. 
• You will develop confidence and skill in creating performative spaces and establishing relationships with the audience. 
• You will grow your skills as a collaborator and engage in open, productive and creative dialogue with colleagues, producers and audiences.  
• You will cultivate a dramaturgical perspective, analysing the content, structure and dynamics of a performance work beyond notions of “right” and “wrong.” 

You have to produce at least three creative performances during the course, one is a graduation final performance and it´s reflected in the state final examination. In addition, part of the state final examination is writing and defending of thesis and oral examination covering the key dramaturgical and theoretical concepts. 

Applications:

• Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree (a previous degree or experience in a performing arts discipline are not prerequisites). The online filled out application must be completed by following annexes: 
• A creative project proposal for MA-level study 
• A letter of motivation 
• A portfolio of the applicant’s current creative, professional or theoretical work 
• A CV 

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

Lecturers teaching on MA DOT are active as theatre practitioners, dramaturgs and scholars.

Activities:

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

• participate in international festivals in Prague and in other Czech cities 
• collaborate with some artists on professional projects, create on friendly cooperating theatre scenes in Prague (Alfred ve dvoře, Alta, Ponec, Kampus Hybernska etc.), Brno (Terén), Pilsen (Moving station), Pardubice (Gampa, Divadlo 29) etc. 
• apply for and participate in residencies in the Czech Republic within residency programs, but also as part of residency opportunities with the presentation of work in progress at festivals (e.g. Bazaar festival, 4+4 days in motion, Malá inventura, etc.) 
• cooperate with galleries (e.g. Kunsthalle Prague on performative activities within partial exhibition projects) 
• interdisciplinary cooperation with other art faculty members, the philosophy faculty, etc. 
• every year 1st year students participate in a contextually selected current international European festival in the field of theatre, performing art and other forms.  

Graduate Profile:

The programme graduate will have orientation in the field of contemporary performance practice and theory with focus on most important dramaturgical issues and current trends. They will be able to critically understand them and to create new approaches to developed material, exploring it via performative tools. Further they will be able to designate appropriate methods for specific material, as well as specific ways to create performative space and the relationship to audience.  

They will be independent artists critically approaching contemporary theatre and the world, while being able to use their situated knowledge, their own experiences as a tool for exploration of the world issues.  

Graduates will further be capable of open and productive dialogues with the collaborators, producers and audiences. The dialogue methods that they will use will not be evaluative, judgmental dialogue but a creative dialogue that is open to difference, while being capable of catering to your own creative needs, with specific focus of looking for performative potentials rather than ‘right and wrong’. For this reason, the graduates will be also able to function as collaborators and dramaturgs for other artists and groups.