Drama and Theatre Communication- One-year programme

One-year programme: Theatre and Drama

Are you interested in creating art and culture that includes and engages children and youth? Do you wish to explore, perform, and apply theatre in diverse community settings through an international program?

If so, our one-year program in Theatre and Drama in Intercultural Contexts is a great place to start.

The subject is structured around three themes. The main theme is Acting and Theatre Production, which is further developed in the sub-themes of Drama and Theatre Pedagogy, and Applied Theatre. It also explores how these areas can be relevant in today’s multicultural society within the fields of art and culture, as well as various forms of educational and social work.

Throughout the program, you will gain knowledge of acting, directing, dramaturgy, stagecraft, and focus on theatre methods and techniques across most relevant practitioners. You will also gain experience in creating your own theatre projects, where you develop your own artistic language within collective artistic processes in an international context.

This one-year course will prepare you to plan, create, and lead theatre productions, artistic projects, and other creative processes in schools, cultural settings, and community activities.

• The course is open to both national and international students
• Collaborations with local and international art and culture centres, museums, schools and educational institutions
• Study trips to local and international theatre festivals, theatres and art’s projects
• Various placement opportunities at children's and youth theatre, as well as cultural and educational institutions.

Content:

The course is structured around three themes: Acting and Theatre Production, Drama and Theatre Pedagogy, as well as Applied Theatre.

The teaching materials and methods are based on the unique characteristics of theatre in various societal contexts, such as the arts and culture field, as well as different forms of educational and social work.

Acting and Theatre Production

This theme introduces the basic elements and fundamentals of performing arts, focusing on acting, directing, and dramaturgical tools in theatre.

Students will work with acting techniques and methods based on the traditions of Stanislavski and Brecht, as well as physical approaches to stage presence in theatre, drawing on the work of Lecoq and Grotowski. Improvisation, character work, and scenic text development, both individually and collectively, are central and form the foundation of the artistic process.

Students will gain experience in creating their own theatre projects, where they develop their own artistic language within collective artistic processes. The course uses theatre production as a learning model, where directing, dramaturgy, concept development, working methods, and stagecraft in theatre are key elements. Additionally, the relationship between the theatre’s form and content will be further developed.

This work will provide students with a practical understanding of the various aspects of theatrical production. Teaching and guidance are based on the connection between practical work and theoretical reflection, where students develop the knowledge and skills needed to plan and carry out collective artistic processes.

Drama and Theatre Pedagogy

The topic emphasises drama and theatre as methodological and pedagogical tools, focusing on play, practical activities, intercultural work, and aesthetic learning processes in educational centres, learning centres, and non-formal education organisation projects.

The students will gain experience in how drama and theatre pedagogy that promotes democracy and active citizenship can be applied in the classroom. Furthermore, the students will acquire knowledge and skills in how drama and theatre pedagogy can be applied in practical and creative learning, where intellect, emotions, and the body are activated in a collective exploration of various school subjects and topics. These aesthetic learning processes, through sense, reflection, and creative-practical work, are based on a holistic approach to learning that provides deep learning and is a prerequisite for pupils' development and identity construction.

The students will gain experience in planning and implementing drama and theatre education in subjects, topics, and interdisciplinary projects in schools, which develop intercultural competence, engagement, joy of creation, and autonomy among the students.

Applied Theatre

In this subject, students will apply their experience from the aforementioned topics– Acting and Theatre Production, and Drama and Theatre Pedagogy– to explore social justice and promote social development through applied theatre as a tool for intercultural communication and relationship-building. The instruction will be closely coordinated with professionals from the arts and culture field, as well as various educational and social work settings, such as children's and youth theatres, learning centres, and leisure clubs.

The work aims to provide students with a practical understanding of various aspects of applied theatre, where teaching and guidance are based on the connection between practical work and theoretical reflection. The approach is rooted in critical and humanistic pedagogy, with an emphasis on Freire, Boal, and Barba. Students will gain experience planning workshops and various interdisciplinary arts and culture projects. They will also gain experience developing applied theatre practices for leisure clubs, learning and immigration centres, as well as experiencing different forms of collaboration and partnership within different organisations, promoting intercultural competence, democracy, and active citizenship

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Knowledge:

• A candidate who has successfully completed the course will have knowledge of:
• Key movements and forms of expression in theatre, drama, theatre pedagogy, and applied theatre in the arts and cultural field, in schools, and in social life
• Various acting techniques, working methods, dramaturgy, and directing methodologies as a foundation for creative stage work
• Key trends in intercultural work within the arts and cultural sector, in schools, and in social life
• Theatre that includes children and young people in intercultural contexts
• The ability to function effectively across cultures, to think and act appropriately, and to communicate and collaborate with people from different cultural backgrounds—whether domestically or abroad
• Aesthetic learning processes through drama and theatre as a prerequisite for learning
• Key features in the development of theatre as an art form, various approaches within drama and theatre as art subjects in schools and applied theatre in different social contexts.
• Interdisciplinary work and methods in artistic practice
• Communication, collaboration, and innovation
• Relevant research methods in the field
• Technological tools and new media in creative work within theatre, drama, theatre pedagogy, and applied theatre.

Skills

• A candidate who has completed and passed the course will be able to:
• Master basic skills in acting techniques, directing, and dramaturgy, with particular emphasis on creating original theatre productions in various contexts
• Master fundamental knowledge of concept development, composition, and scenic design in directing work
• Master basic skills in different working methods in theatre, such as the method of active analysis and various devising processes
• Be able to describe, interpret, and evaluate artistic and creative work and apply this knowledge critically and constructively in feedback situations.
• Master basic skills in drama and theatre pedagogy and applied theatre
• Be able to critically reflect on ethical dilemmas that arise in applied theatre work
• develop a reflective and experience-based approach to theatre and drama, as well as theatre pedagogy
• Master basic skills in acting and theatre production, drama, and theatre pedagogy, and applied theatre in an intercultural context
• Facilitate deep learning and aesthetic learning processes through drama and theatre pedagogy in an intercultural context
• Plan, execute, and evaluate theatre productions, drama and theatre teaching plans, and applied theatre in interdisciplinary settings within the arts and culture, schools, and community life
• Master and actively use digital tools in theatre productions, drama and theatre pedagogy, and applied theatre, as well as in theoretical, practical, and artistic expression
• Be able to apply relevant research methods related to the research and development assignment
  
  General competence
• A candidate who has completed and passed the course:
• Should be able to plan, develop, and create theatre productions through collective artistic processes within the arts and cultural field
• Be able to apply theatre’s expressive forms in developing performances for, by, and with children, youth, and various communities.
• Be actively engaged with societal challenges and its diversity by creating art and culture that includes and engages children and young people.
• Should be able to plan, develop, and lead drama and theatre pedagogical work in an intercultural context within schools and educational institutions
• Should stimulate engagement, creativity, problem-solving and curiosity in students through the use of drama and theatre as an aesthetic learning process in schools
• Should be able to explore socially relevant issues and promote social development through applied theatre as a tool, with a focus on democracy and citizenship
• Have competence in an intercultural approach to work, being able to combine the cognitive, physical, and emotional/motivational aspects as crucial factors in understanding not only external behaviour but also the unwritten norms that shape different cultures.
• Have competence in development processes

Career prospects

Studying Theatre and Drama equips you with theoretical and practical knowledge that can open doors to various creative and exciting opportunities.

The programme equips you with the skills to work in theatre productions and engage in art and culture dissemination, spreading and sharing cultural values and art forms within society and communities.

The program constitutes the first year of a bachelor's degree in Theatre and Drama, with the possibility of continuing to a master's degree in Theatre and Drama.

The program can also be part of a master's education for teachers and lecturers.

Additionally, the study is relevant as continuing education for professionals in the arts and cultural fields, educational and social work, and those seeking to enhance their skills in interdisciplinary collaboration, active citizenship, and intercultural communication.

The study forms a foundation for further studies at bachelor and master levels within subject areas such as:

• Drama and Theatre
• Integrated Master’s in Teacher education in primary school
• Lecturer Education