The training programme is planned to take 3 + 2 years. The structure of the programme ensures that students (theatre directors and actors), after the third year, will be able to create theatrical performances independently or within a permanent company (both municipal or independent theatres). The knowledge gained during the first three school years covers the knowledge of a four-year long acting training and also of a five-year long theatre directing training. Thus, the basic training meets all previous expectations. The additional two years in the training program shall serve to deepen the previously acquired knowledge and takes form as a real master programme. The essence of this new experimental approach is to draw a distinction between knowledge reasonable at basic level and the extra knowledge (higher degree). It is important to underline that we are not talking about average knowledge either at basic level, the professional knowledge and practical skills acquired during the basic programme do not mean a failure or inferiority of the graduated students. If somebody has lots of work and is attracted by the practical elements of theatre making, the basic course may be enough for them. But for us the challenge is elevating professional theatrical training to university level, and so we complete the foundational training with a Master’s course. Our minimum expectation of ourselves is to train students who are reflective about their relation to their profession, which they treat not as something cordoned off but as a part of the real world, and understand and practice as an active constituent of society.

Objectives :

1. Students are taught in a group because we’d like to train theatre artists who have a deep understanding and knowledge about theatre art as a whole entity, from both the theoretical and the practical perspectives.
2. Our aim is to ensure that the art of directing and acting be not imprecise abstractions but concretely defined and useful professions in students’ hands.
3. Our aim is that students understand the place of theatre art within the history of art, history of culture and society.
4. Our aim is that students approach the social, cultural and artistic issues with a holistic perspective.
5. Our aim is to train students with minds of their own, who become independent artists and professionals, who are able to position themselves to their own place in an artistic or other type of work, both professionally and ethically.
6. Our aim is that students know the past and present of theatre art, and have an independent vision of its future, including their own role in it.
7. Our aim is that the knowledge and practical skills acquired during the five years spent at the University make possible students’ participation in theatre’s most various directions.
8. Our aim is to provide students with the right social knowledge, and make them approach community issues in a tolerant, innovative and solidarity-based way.
9. Our aim is to ensure our graduates find a job more easily, even outside the theatrical scene.
10. Our aim is to train modest, diligent, but self-conscious professionals who are capable of making responsible decisions, independently of their field of activity.
11. There are no compulsory readings, only a recommended bibliography. Teachers will give indications for those who are interested in a specific topic, and will help them find further information related to the material.
12. The education has to be interactive and pragmatic. Teachers have to create as many situations as possible for students for expressing their opinions in oral or written form, through visual tools or in a playful manner.

 

1ST YEAR — basic training – acting-directing common class

Academic subjects

Art history (1x3 hour weekly)

An experience-based, interactive session, once weekly (which, occasionally, may be a whole day-long cultural event). This day introduces the class to the art of humanity: we get a start from contemporary art, since this period is the best-known and most familiar to the students. The teacher analyses the work, while referring to a work of art from the past, which can be linked somehow to the chosen contemporary work of art. During analysing parallels, we get to know about the period in which this work of art was made. The point is to understand that we deal with the past because without it the present time and present art concept would be incomprehensible. The focus is not on the chronological order but on understanding relationships, contexts and systems.

The session is based different artistic disciplines, which vary weekly:

• fine arts (sculptures, paintings, installations)
• architecture
• music
• photo-, film- and media art

Components of the sessions:

• Analysing a work of art
• Analysing the sources and the „original” work of art
• Characteristics of the given period, which are relevant in the given context
• Highlighting historical and cultural connections
• Practice: video/audio materials, installations

 

Theatre history (1x3 hours weekly)

Introduction to theatre art - not only in Europe: where, when and why theatre was formed, for which purposes it was used. Circumstances, eras, technical frameworks. The lecture is interactive and focuses on practical experimenting: students can try and discuss about what they are learning. The chronological order is not important; the focus is on experimenting: students have to understand how different cultural contexts and social conditions influenced theatre and what kind of theatrical forms they issued. Theatre is a mirror to the world.

• The session always starts by asking a question. The question may be formulated by the teacher, or may arise after watching a theatre performance (recorded) or reading documentation of a social event.
• Cultural, historical and social outlook
• The role, place, goals and circumstances of the theatre
• How theatre was performed, written and organised (managed)
• Theatre sponsorship and supports, the role of spectators, the social status of theatre people
• Practical exercise: students create five-minute fictional performances based on the examined periods and styles (the material can be light, even a parody, the point is to encourage them to create a material and make theatre)

 

Contemporary performing arts (1x3 hours weekly) in English language!

Students get to know what is happening today in the world under the heading ‘performing arts’. Since this is an outlook for the world, the working language is English. This is how we encourage and stimulate students to deepen their English knowledge and use it on daily basis.

• Workshops
• Performances
• Directors, actors
• Genres (drama theatre, opera, puppet theatre, circus, theatre in education, applied theatre)
• Festivals

 

Subjects of practical nature

Movement (1 hour daily)

Gymnastics

• the proper warming-up
• yoga, meditation, tightening muscles up
• fitness
• proper postures, body coordination
• basic knowledge about human body

Clown/circus (1 hour weekly)

• juggling
• clown exercises
• somersaults, complicated movements
• how to use props and objects

Contemporary dance, contact (1 hour weekly)

• body awareness
• intimacy
• community exercises
• choreographies

Classical dance (1 hour weekly)

• various types of dance (tango, valse, cha-cha-cha, ballet, etc..)
• cultural background of each dance types

Folk dance (1 hour weekly)

• different regional folk dances
• folk traditions
• well-known folk dances from all around the world (Austria, Serbia, Russia, etc)

Martial arts (1 hour weekly)

• art of movement
• concentration
• self-defence
• skill development

 

Elocution, speaking techniques (1.5 hours weekly)

Music theory and sheet music reading (1.5 hours weekly)

Rhythm-, and singing exercises (1.5 hours weekly) – individually and in choir

Instrumental music (1.5 hours weekly) – freely chosen musical instruments (guitar, piano, wind instruments, percussion instruments)

 

Practical theatre (basic concepts)

In the first year, the goal of the practical theatre course is to clearly define basic concepts to the students, who can gain practical experience in writing and in visualisation, with a special focus on actors’ and theatre directors’ roles.

1st trimester – Dramaturgy (story, situation, conflict, character)

Reconstructing a crime scene – students, guided by head teachers, investigate a crime scene, including criminal motives, background, situations, storyline, characters – an experience-based introduction to dramaturgy

• storyline
• characters
• motives
• conflicts
• dramaturgy

2nd trimester – Style (intentions, forms, space, costumes, props)

Scenes inspired by personal stories – work based on the students’ own personal stories using knowledge learnt during the 1st trimester

• individual writing
• collective writing
• creating scenes step by step
• focus on the dramaturgy
• building up characters
• how to use the space / playing area, costumes

3rd trimester – Improvisation (concentration, fantasy, team work)

Improvisations on a freely chosen or fix subject – students can use props but only which they can find around them!

• self-reflection
• tolerance (that’s a quite vulnerable territory since they have to make decisions very quickly and they play themselves)
• how to write a play based on improvisations
• stand up, rap/slam

 

Timetable (sample)

Monday

• 8.00-9.00 Gymnastics
• 9.10-10.10 Clown/Circus
• 10.30-12.00 Art history I.
• 12.00-13.00 Lunch break
• 13.00-14.30 Art history II.
• 15.00-18.00 Practical theatre

Tuesday

• 8.00-9.00 Gymnastics
• 9.10-10.10 Contemporary dance, contact
• 10.30-12.00 Theatre history I.
• 12.00-13.00 Lunch break
• 13.00-14.30 Theatre history II.
• 15.00-18.00 Practical theatre

Wednesday

• 8.00-9.00 Gymnastics
• 9.10-10.10 Classical dance / ballet
• 10.30-12.00 Speaking exercises
• 12.00-13.00 Lunch break
• 13.00-14.30 Rhythm-exercises and singing
• 15.00-18.00 Practical theatre

Thursday

• 8.00-9.00 Gymnastics
• 9.10-10.10 Folk dance
• 10.30-12.00 Music theory and music sheet reading
• 12.00-13.00 Lunch break
• 13.00-14.30 Instrumental music
• 15.00-18.00 Practical theatre

Friday

• 8.00-9.00 Gymnastics
• 9.10-10.10 Martial arts
• 10.30-12.00 Contemporary performing arts (in English) I.
• 12.00-13.00 Lunch break
• 13.00-14.30 Contemporary performing arts (in English) II.
• 15.00-18.00 Class meeting, evaluation of the week, discussion about a public event

 

2nd YEAR — Development – acting-directing common class

Academic subjects

Art history (1.5 hours weekly)
in chronological order, with lots of visualisation, analysing artwork

Artists’ portraits (1.5 hours weekly)
learning about major artists: about their career, about their works, about their stories

Theatre history (1.5 hours weekly)
in chronological order, deep and detailed studies on the most important periods

Drama history (1.5 hours weekly)
the most important plays of the world literature, dramatic poetry, epic poetry, authors and their works, analysing texts

History of Greek theatre (1.5 hours weekly)
in chronological order, events, personalities, historical and cultural background

History of Greek drama literature (1.5 hours weekly)
the most important dramas, authors, analysing texts

History of the written text (1.5 hours weekly)
since theatre artists work with written texts, they have to respect written material, but respect can come only from understanding and liking texts.

• history of literacy and its roles
• history of literature
• important texts (US Declaration of Independence, Charter of Human Rights, etc.)
• analysing texts
• practice: text writing on a freely chosen or fix subject

Poetry and Rhetoric (1.5 hours weekly)
it is essential that they learn how to perform poetry, how to use different rhyme schemes or metrical forms in everyday life

• history of poetry
• analysing texts
• rhetoric (analysing important or horrible political speeches)
• speaking techniques and styles
• practice: performing freely chosen or fix poems, writing poems and performing them

Contemporary art (3 hours weekly)
discovering, analysing and understanding an artwork or artistic phenomena. Working language: English.

• theatre art
• film art
• fine arts
• music

 

Subject of practical nature

Movement – similar to the 1st year

Skill development

• Elocution, speaking techniques (2 hours weekly)
• Rhythm- and singing exercises (2 hours weekly)
• Music theory and sheet music reading (2 hours weekly)
• Instrumental music (2 hours weekly)
• Puppetry (2 hours weekly)

 

Practical theatre (genres)

1st trimester – Drama theatre (analysing plays, characters, realism)

Analysing one of Chekhov’s play (The Seagull) and a Greek play: scenes, characters, costumes, set. Acting students shall mainly receive tasks linked to the performing part, theatre directing students will deal with mostly directing part of the material. Overlaps are possible.

2nd trimester – Musical theatre (understanding music, singing as speaking, grotesque)

Working on an operetta (The Gypsy Princess by Imre Kálmán) and on a musical in English language (Christopher Gore: Fame). Students play music, sing and dance, both in classical and contemporary forms. Working together with a choreographer and a music director. Specification of tasks for actors and theatre directors remains valid during this trimester, too. (see 1st trimester)

3rd trimester – Puppetry (dramaturgy for puppet theatre, animation, parallel thinking)

Work on The Blue Bird by Maurice Maeterlinck. The work also contains theoretical studies about the history of puppetry and puppet theatre. Courses are led by puppetry artists, with the head teachers’ assistance.

 

Timetable (sample)

Monday

• 8.00-9.00 Gymnastics
• 9.10-10.10 Clown/Circus
• 10.30-12.00 Art history
• 12.00-13.00 Lunch break
• 13.00-14.30 Artists’ portraits
• 15.00-18.00 Practical theatre
• 18.00-19.00 Individual tutoring: speaking, music, musical instruments

Tuesday

• 8.00-9.00 Gymnastics
• 9.10-10.10 Contemporary dance, contact
• 10.30-12.00 Theatre history
• 12.00-13.00 Lunch break
• 13.00-14.30 Drama history
• 15.00-18.00 Practical theatre
• 18.00-19.00 Individual tutoring: speaking, music, musical instruments

Wednesday

• 08.00-09.00 Gymnastics
• 09.10-10.10 Classical dance / Ballet
• 10.30-12.00 History of Greek theatre
• 12.00-13.00 Lunch break
• 13.00-14.30 History of Greek drama
• 15.00-18.00 Practical theatre
• 18.00-19.00 Individual tutoring: speaking, music, musical instruments

Thursday

• 08.00-09.00 Gymnastics
• 09.10-10.10 Folk dance
• 10.30-12.00 History of written texts
• 12.00-13.00 Lunch break
• 13.00-14.30 Poetry and Rhetoric
• 15.00-18.00 Practical theatre
• 18.00-19.00 Individual tutoring: speaking, music, musical instruments

Friday

• 08.00-09.00 Gymnastics
• 09.10-10.10 Martial arts
• 10.30-12.00 Contemporary arts I. (in English)
• 12.00-13.00 Lunch break
• 13.00-14.30 Contemporary arts II. (in English)
• 15.00-18.00 Practical theatre
• 18.00-19.00 Individual tutoring: speaking, music, musical instruments

Saturday

• 09:00-11:00 Speaking techniques
• 11:00-13:00 Rhythm- and singing exercises
• 13:00-14:00 Lunch break
• 14:00-16:00 Music theory and sheet music reading
• 16:00-18:00 Instrumental music

 

3rd YEAR — Practical studies – in two separated classes

During this school year the focus is on getting practical experiences about theatre making both by acting and theatre directing students. Acting students shall work with directing teachers, directing students may invite professional actors or acting students to their works.

Academic subjects
Mandatory for each and every student:

Theoretical approaches to the theatrical practice (2 hours weekly)

Contemporary art and contemporary society (3 hours weekly) in English

Film theory and practice (3 hours weekly) in English

Mandatory for theatre directing students, optional for acting students:

Set design (2 hours weekly)

• epoques and styles
• set designers
• theatre spaces on drawings and in the reality
• technical drawing
• practice (visit in a workshop, production of set elements, most important tools, etc)

Costume design (2 hours weekly)

• epoques and styles
• costume designers
• materials
• practice (drawings, cuttings and dressmaking, etc.)
• hair styles

Video/ audio-visual basic knowledge (2 hours weekly)

• picture editing
• cameras
• video editing
• home-video techniques
• acoustic
• sound systems
• practice (visit in theatres and sound studios)

Theatre management (2 hours weekly)

• administration
• marketing
• PR
• grant applications
• fundraising

 

Subjects of practical nature
Mandatory for each and every student:

Radio and Voice acting/dubbing (3 hours weekly)

Skill development

• Music theory and sheet music reading (2 hours weekly) — operas, operettas, musicals
• Rhythm- and singing exercises (2 hours weekly)

 

Mandatory for acting students, optional for theatre directing students:

Skill development

• Speaking techniques (7 hours weekly)
• Instrumental music (2 hours weekly)

Movement
1 hour on every single day of the week. It is possible that students decide together on what kind of movement is the most practical, useful for them – whether they wish to improve in folk dances, gymnastics, acrobatics, classical dances, etc…

 

Practical theatre (epoques)
There are two courses in parallel: one for the actors, the other one for directors. When working with actors, directing students provide the technical and artistic assistance, they work as stage technicians, costume and stage designers, prop masters, assistants, dramaturges, etc. When working with theatre directors, acting students are involved to the work as actors. The teachers work as directors with the actors and as mentors for theatre directing students. If possible, the performances created during the school year can be performed as repertory pieces in the theatre’s programme.

1st trimester – The English Renaissance: Shakespeare and Marlowe

2nd trimester – The French Classicism: Molière and Racine

3rd trimester – The German Romanticism: Goethe and Schiller

 

Timetable (sample)

Monday

• 09:00-10:00 Movement (optional for directors)
• 10:15-12:15 Set design (optional for actors)
• 12:30-14:30 Theoretical approaches to the theatrical practice (all)
• 14:30-15:00 Lunch break
• 15:00-18:00 Practical theatre (actors and directors in separated groups)
• 18:00-19:00 Speaking techniques (actors, individually)

Tuesday

• 09:00-10:00 Movement (optional for directors)
• 10:15-12:15 Costume design (optional for actors)
• 12:30-14:30 Music theory and sheet music reading (all)
• 14:30-15:00 Lunch break
• 15:00-18:00 Practical theatre (actors and directors in separated groups)
• 18:00-19:00 Speaking techniques (actors, individually)

Wednesday

• 09:00-10:00 Movement (optional for directors)
• 10:15-12:15 Video/Audio-visual basic knowledge (optional for actors)
• 12:30-14:30 Instrumental music (optional for directors)
• 14:30-15:00 Lunch break
• 15:00-18:00 Practical theatre (actors and directors in separated groups)
• 18:00-19:00 Speaking techniques (actors, individually)

Thursday

• 09:00-10:00 Movement (optional for directors)
• 10:15-12:15 Theatre management (optional for actors)
• 12:30-14:30 Rhythm- and singing exercises (all)
• 14:30-15:00 Lunch break
• 15:00-18:00 Practical theatre (actors + directors as team members)
• 18:00-19:00 Speaking techniques (actors, individually)

Friday

• 09:00-10:00 Movement (optional for directors)
• 10:15-13:15 Contemporary art and society – in English (all)
• 13:15-14:00 Lunch break
• 14:00-15:00 Class meeting, discussions
• 15:00-18:00 Practical theatre (directors + their chosen actors)
• 18:00-19:00 Speaking techniques (actors, individually)

Saturday

• 09:00-11:00 Speaking techniques (actors, individually)
• 11:00-12:30 Film theory and practice I. (all)
• 12:30-13:30 Lunch break
• 13:30-15:00 Film theory and practice II. (all)
• 15:00-18:00 Radio and Voice acting (all)

 

4th YEAR (master level)
During this school year the focus is on deepening previously gained knowledge both from the theoretical and practical perspectives. Actors and theatre directors may obtain a diploma after the 3rd year (see above), but those who wish to continue their studies – and are recommended by their head teachers – can complete the Master’s course, too. Students who are not recommended by their head teachers cannot continue to the Master’s course. Thus there is no special entry exam, acceptance to the MA course is based on the results of the BA course. Head teachers can also decide whether they recommend the acting or theatre directing MA course for each student.

Theoretical subjects, movement courses and practical filmmaking courses are for everyone; practical theatre is in separate groups.
 

Academic subjects

Mandatory for each and every student:

Theoretical approaches to the theatre practices (3 hours weekly)

Introduction to philosophy (3 hours weekly)
as minimum level students have to know the most important philosophers and their theories

Social and political studies (3 hours weekly) in English
Political events and systems, and social changes in the recent years − articles, essays, documentary films.

Contemporary art (3 hours weekly) in English
Artworks from various fields of art and from various genres, which had a special resonance.

The New Circus (3 hours weekly) in English
Videos, analysing performances

 

Subjects of practical nature

Movement (5x2 hours weekly)
In each trimester actors and directors work together, in one group, led by an invited artist (choreographer, dancer, etc.). For actors it is obligatory to practice movement, for directors attending courses is obligatory, just as taking part in the common work, but not practising.

Filmmaking training (3 hours weekly)
Actors and theatre directors are led through all phases of the filmmaking procedure, starting with the casting, then rehearsals, shooting, then editing and opening/premiere. The course will also talk about film festivals, nominations, etc.: which are the most important festivals, in which category, in which profile, etc.

Tutoring
Individually for actors, very precisely targeting the current work which can be musical, drama or textbased.

 

Practical theatre (theatre and politics)

Theatre directing students can invite actors from the acting class but also from outside (professional actors). Actors work with theatre directing teachers. The performances created are in repertoire in one of the theatre’s performing venues.

1st trimester – The Greek theatre (tragedy and comedy)
The forum.

2nd trimester – Medieval mistery plays and commedia dell’ arte
Moralistic and outrageous plays.

3rd trimester – The avant-garde of the 20th Century
Provocation.

 

Timetable (sample)

Monday

• 09:00-11:00 Movement (all)
• 11:15-12:45 Theoretical approaches to the theatre practices I. (all)
• 12:45-13:30 Lunch break
• 13:30-15:00 Theoretical approaches to the theatre practices II. (all)
• 15:00-18:00 Practical theatre (actors and directors in separated groups)
• 18:00-19:00 Tutoring (individually)

Tuesday

• 09:00-11:00 Movement (all)
• 11:15-12:45 Introduction to the philosophy I. (all)
• 12:45-13:30 Lunch break
• 13:30-15:00 Introduction to the philosophy II. (all)
• 15:00-18:00 Practical theatre (actors and directors in separated groups)
• 18:00-19:00 Tutoring (individually)

Wednesday

• 09:00-11:00 Movement (all)
• 11:15-12:45 Political and Social Sciences I. in English (all)
• 12:45-13:30 Lunch break
• 13:30-15:00 Political and Social Sciences II. in English (all)
• 15:00-18:00 Practical theatre (actors and directors in separated groups)
• 18:00-19:00 Tutoring (individually)

Thursday

• 09:00-11:00 Movement (all)
• 11:15-12:45 Contemporary art I. in English (all)
• 12:45-13:30 Lunch break
• 13:30-15:00 Contemporary art II. in English (all)
• 15:00-18:00 Practical theatre (actors and directors in separated groups)
• 18:00-19:00 Tutoring (individually)

Friday

• 09:00-11:00 Movement (all)
• 11:15-12:45 The New Circus I. in English (all)
• 12:45-13:30 Lunch break
• 13:30-15:00 The New Circus II. in English (all)
• 15:00-18:00 Practical theatre (actors and directors in separated groups)
• 18:00-19:00 Tutoring (individually)

Saturday

• 10:00-12:00 Tutoring (individually)
• 12:00-13:00 Lunch break
• 13:00-16:00 Filmmaking training

 

5th YEAR (master level)

Academic subjects (only in the first semester)

History of the applied theatre (3 hours weekly) in English

Political and social studies (3 hours weekly) in English

Contemporary art (3 hours weekly) in English

Grant applications, scholarships, festivals, fundraising (3 hours weekly) in English

 

Subjects of practical nature (only in the first semester)

Individual tutoring

Radio plays (3 hours weekly)
Directors and the actors chosen by them create a radio play of a chosen material.

 

Practical theatre (Development and manifestation)

1st semester – Applied theatre
Directors and actors work together (for one last time). During the semester they get to know different forms of applied theatre and the most influential personalities of this genre from around the world. How can theatre be used as tool? How can theatre change the world? During the course students create their own theatre-in-education programme or debate theatre performance. The programmes and performances can be tested in schools or in different external venues or institutions.

2nd semester – Individual practising in a theatre company
Students prove their knowledge and skills in a municipal theatre or in an independent theatre company. Head teachers may help them as consultants, but students have to complete their artistic tasks without significant help. It would be essential to make each of them face a challenging task, during which directors can realise their own projects/plans, and actors can play challenging roles. Teachers and the school itself have to help students by ensuring good working possibilities and ideal working conditions for each student. But after receiving their MA diploma, actors and directors become freelancers - the school or teachers will not work as their agents. Life together is over.

 

Timetable (sample)

1st semester

Monday

• 9:00-10:00 Tutoring, consultation (individually)
• 10:00-13:00 History of applied theatre (all) in English
• 13:00-14:00 Lunch break
• 14:00-18:00 Professional practicing (all)
• 18:00-19:00 Tutoring, consultation

Tuesday

• 9:00-10:00 Tutoring, consultation (individually)
• 10:00-13:00 Political and social studies (all) in English
• 13:00-14:00 Lunch break
• 14:00-18:00 Professional practicing (all)
• 18:00-19:00 Tutoring, consultation

Wednesday

• 9:00-10:00 Tutoring, consultation (individually)
• 10:00-13:00 Contemporary art (all) in English
• 13:00-14:00 Lunch break
• 14:00-18:00 Professional practicing (all)
• 18:00-19:00 Tutoring, consultation

Thursday

• 9:00-10:00 Tutoring, consultation (individually)
• 10:00-13:00 Grant applications, scholarships, festivals, fundraising (all) in English
• 13:00-14:00 Lunch break
• 14:00-18:00 Professional practicing (all)
• 18:00-19:00 Tutoring, consultation

Friday

• 9:00-10:00 Tutoring, consultation (individually)
• 10:00-13:00 Radio play (all) in English
• 13:00-14:00 Lunch break
• 14:00-18:00 Professional practicing (all)
• 18:00-19:00 Tutoring, consultation

Saturday

• 10:00-13:00 Professional practicing (all)
• 13:00-14:00 Lunch break
• 14:00-17:00 Professional practicing (all)

 

2nd semester

Timetable scheduled individually

 

Árpád Schilling