Acting of Dramatic Theatre (M0215A310001)

Programme objectives

The programme develops students’ talent prerequisites for acting with a focus on teamwork in the creation of a stage production. This makes it possible to successfully complete the Master’s programme and obtain a qualification for professional work in theatre, TV and radio, or other cultural platforms.

Profile of a programme graduate

A graduate of the Master’s programme in Acting of Dramatic Theatre is a versatile expert who:

• demonstrates broad knowledge of the history, theory and practice of theatrical arts with emphasis on the tradition of European and Czech dramatic arts, and is well-oriented in the basic primary and secondary scholarly literature;

• actively, independently and successfully executes practical acting tasks within the scope of producing a specific staging form and always with appropriate theoretical reflection; in so doing the graduate applies expert knowledge and the basic methods of the field;

• is thus able to (co-)create a dramatic character within the stage form in the scope of a full-length theatrical performance, while also demonstrating a sense for teamwork and independent creative thinking;

• is proficient in at least one foreign language (English) at the level set by CEFR;

• can find employment as a member of an ensemble dramatic or other theatre, or as an actor in project productions, film, television and radio; in each area of professional activity, the graduate is able to continue to develop his/her talents on individual tasks;

• can also apply his/her skills as a moderator, animator or radio editor;

• can further research and theoretically develop his/her experience in the field of acting practice within the scope of doctoral studies and/or as an acting educator in a higher education institution with an art focus.

Rules and requirements for creating study plans

General information about admission process

Applicants must successfully pass a three-round entrance examination which examines demonstrable talent prerequisites:

1st round – eliminative/individual: A practical examination of each applicant’s basic talent and technical prerequisites before an expert committee on the basis of pre-assigned tasks prepared in advance at home. Each applicant is assigned:

a) three monologues from works of dramatic literature of the applicant’s choice, each of about 3 to 5 minutes in duration and preferably in different genres;

b) two poems – again of the applicant’s choice; and

c) two songs, one of which must be obligatorily in the genre of folk.

The specific assignments of the tasks are included in the invitation to the entrance examinations.

2nd round – eliminative/individual:

a) movement prerequisites: Applicants take a test in movement directed by educators from the Movement Education Unit (Kabinet pohybové výchovy). Body plasticity, agility, sense of gesture, stage charisma, sense of rhythm and movement in space are examined. Applicants are assigned etudes in which they are asked to exhibit their creativity, imagination and ability to partner and cooperate, as well as their ability to develop an assigned situation.

b) voice prerequisites: This is followed by a test of singing and voice. Educators from the Voice Education Unit (Kabinet hlasové výchovy) will examine whether the applicant intones, and assess his/her rough vocal range and what his/her speech defects or other vocal limitations are.

c) general knowledge test: Applicants will elaborate in writing on 50 concepts in the area of art history with a focus on dramatic art in the scope of secondary school education.

d) practical test of specific talent prerequisites: Based on the tasks from the 1st round, the applicant’s dramatic and stage sense, ability to improvise and creative flexibility in assigning additional individual tasks are examined.

3rd round – eliminative/individual: An expert committee examines the group of 30 applicants who generally advance from the 2nd round as a potential class year. Based on tasks assigned with no advance notice to groups or pairs, the committee selects the final number of successful applicants according to their ability to cooperate as actors, and their playfulness and creative abilities manifested in collective or pair work. The number of admitted applicants ranges from 10 to 14.

Point system for assessing success:

In the 1st round, the maximum possible number of points is 100 from the acting examination.

In the 2nd round, the maximum possible number of points is 250 (50 from the test of general cultural knowledge, 50 from the individual movement examination, 25 from the individual voice examination, 25 from the individual singing examination, and 100 from the acting examination).

In the 3rd round, the maximum possible number of points is 100 from the talent examination.

Applicability to other types of academic programmes

Parts of the state final examination and their contents

Other academic duties

Characterisation of professional practice

Anticipated job placement for graduates (typical employment)