Doctoral degrees

Only in Czech language.

Alternative and puppet theatre and its theory

This doctoral study degree connects traditions, alternative movements and modern trends in drama. It is not only about the study of history, but also about findings links in alternative and puppet theatre. Candidates aim to understand the elements of stage art and the processes and rules of interaction between the components of collectively devised theatre. The main focus is on acting, directing, dramaturgy and stage design within a collective piece, on the specifics of alternative and puppet theatre and on contemporary tendencies (including documentary, immersive, group, site-specific and other modern types of theatre). Studies are closely linked to the faculty’s research projects. Although candidates also study the history of alternative and puppet theatre, they mainly focus on the relationship between traditional and alternative drama.

Authorial Acting, its theory and psychosomatics

This doctoral programme explores the relevance and applicability of authorial acting, psychosomatics and games in creative ways of communication, both simulated and natural. The course requires a deep level of understanding of principles of psychosomatics, authorial acting and dramatic game. These are prerequisites for the creative development of both theoretical constructs and practical applications. Candidates progressively explore the preconditions for authorial acting and its characteristics as a public performance. They also examine real tendencies and events relevant for authorial acting and test their findings in practice. Secondly, the course is about analysing the internal and external situational elements of personal development that form a holistic individual responsible for his/her public behaviour that is communicative, creative, and responsible, be it an act in or in a performance only created in the context of a new situation and new participants.

Scenic Art and Theory of Scenic Art

The doctoral course in Stage art and its theory builds on the courses of Directing, Dramaturgy and Acting at the Department of Dramatic Theatre at DAMU, on the course of Theatre and Film Set Design at the Department of Stage Design at DAMU and on related courses at other universities. Its philosophy is to deepen the knowledge of these fields and move beyond drama and other specialisations towards stage art as a wider concept.

The course is organised by the Institute of Stage Art Theory at DAMU, a research centre for both the aforementioned departments. The institute pursues the study of stage art as the foundation of theatre, meaning not a mere combination of arts, but a type of art studied in relation to other arts and in relation to staging in “real life” and in the media. In this sense the course does not only deepen but also widen professional qualifications.

The course’s fundamental idea is that the most effective way to investigate stage art is to reflect upon one’s own stage work. This concerns both artists and art theorists, who collaborate. Therefore, even theoretically-oriented doctoral students gain experience with creating their own dramatic production, opera or other theatre or stage pieces. They are able to do so because many of the faculty’s teaching staff are also active in theatres or other art institutions.

Theory and Practice of Theatrical Art

Theory and practice of creative drama Doctoral programme is organised by the Department of Theory and Criticism at DAMU. It studies the inner processes of creating drama and examines the different methods we can use to study the individual elements and the whole system of creating drama. Finally, It looks at how we can apply our theoretical findings in practice. The course is interdisciplinary. It includes all types and genres of drama, as well as links to the wider spiritual and cultural social contexts and to other types of art. Drama is seen both as a cultural phenomenon and an element of social life and should be studied in a close compound with fields such as sociology, history of art or semiotics. However, acting remains the foundation for all the possible links and opportunities that this approach offers. An actor’s movement through space is the base of all concerning drama. Drama is studied primarily theoretically, but students can also focus on its history. When studying history, we can analyse past phenomena in theatre and values that have shaped theatre and can still inspire it today. Instead of merely looking at historical facts and figures, we should instead focus on interpreting those historical elements that are relevant for contemporary drama.

Theory and Practice of Drama Education

The Doctoral programme of Theory and practice in drama education offers an opportunity for in-depth theoretical study and research of dramatical education of primarily, but not exclusively, children and adolescents. We study a complex set of formative methods which use dramatic play as both aims and instruments and which focus on children’s performance as a means of artistic, cultural, and psychological education. The programme is aimed at individuals deeply interested in the study of these processes on all levels of formal and informal drama education. We expect prospective researchers to already have an excellent grasp of both theory of drama and psychology and pedagogy. They should be interested in exploring and developing creative methods in children’s and students’ dramatical education. Crucially, selected students should be able to carry out independent research integrating issues in drama education and related disciplines in theatre studies, aesthetics, psychology and education. All students are expected to have prior or parallel experience with teaching at some level of school.