Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (AMU)
Bachelor's in Authorial Acting
Prague 1, Czech Republic
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
15 Jan 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
01 Oct 2026
TUITION FEES
CZK 230,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* January 15th, 2026: 1st call; March 23rd: 2nd call
** fees might be subject to change. Additional fees may apply
Department of Authorial Creativity and Pedagogy, Theatre Faculty, DAMU
The Authorial Acting programme at DAMU offers a full-time, English-language curriculum that merges acting, authorship, psychosomatic training, and creative pedagogy.
Available as a three-year Bachelor’s, it is crafted for individuals who wish to develop their own voice and presence as independent creators — not merely interpreters of existing roles, but authors of original performance work.
The programme emphasises authentic, embodied expression, personal authorship, and the capacity to navigate public performance with integrity, creativity and ethical awareness. Grounded in the philosophy of psychosomatic theatre and dialogical practice, it encourages students to explore the human condition and social reality through movement, voice, speech, gesture, text, and personal narrative.
Why Choose Authorial Acting at DAMU?
Choosing this programme brings significant advantages:
- Unique psychosomatic and humanistic approach: The programme combines acting, authorship, body-mind awareness and social reflection — providing a holistic, personal method to creative expression.
- International, English-taught environment: The English-language track accommodates international students and fosters a multicultural, globally oriented community.
- Small, intimate group size: The BA and MA cohorts remain very small (only a few students per year), allowing personal mentorship, deep individual development and strong creative bonds.
- Integration of theory and practice: The curriculum balances rigorous theoretical reflection with practical, performative work — encouraging critical, socially conscious authorship rather than superficial performance.
- Flexibility and interdisciplinarity: Students are encouraged to cross boundaries — experimenting in theatre, media, pedagogy, visual arts or social contexts — making the programme suitable for future-oriented and experimental artists.
These strengths make Authorial Acting at DAMU a compelling choice for students who seek to create authentic, meaningful, and socially engaged performance, while developing their personal and artistic identity.
Conclusion
The Authorial Acting programme at DAMU offers a rare and inspiring path for those who wish to explore the boundaries of acting, authorship and psychosomatic expression. Grounded in a humanistic, dialogical tradition and enriched by theoretical, social and philosophical reflection, it cultivates independent, self-aware creators capable of transforming personal experience, inner voice and social awareness into authentic, communicative performance.
Whether the aim is to create original theatre, engage in social and educational practice, explore interdisciplinary work or simply deepen one’s creative presence — this programme provides the tools, the guidance, and the environment to grow as an author, performer and artist in a global, socially engaged context.
Programme Goals
Authorial Acting aims to cultivate creative personalities who are capable of generating original material, embodying it with psychological and physical sincerity, and presenting it in dialogue with society. The core objectives include:
- Creative authorship and originality: Developing the capacity for independent thinking and imagination, formulating personal themes, and transforming them into authorial performance or text.
- Psychosomatic and expressive mastery: Training voice, speech, movement, gesture, and presence as integrated instruments of expression — not only technically, but holistically, as natural extensions of one’s being.
- Performance as personal and social action: Understanding dramatic play not just as theatre, but as a means of communication, reflection and transformation — in both artistic and broader social contexts.
- Critical and ethical awareness: Situating creation within its ethical, social, philosophical and psychological dimensions, applying awareness to one’s work and its impact.
- Versatility and adaptability: Preparing artists capable of working across performance, pedagogy, media, social practice or community engagement, using their authorial voice in diverse environments.
Thus graduates emerge not only as performers, but as authors, educators, collaborators, and socially conscious creators.
Graduate Profile
Graduates of Authorial Acting leave DAMU equipped with a distinctive and flexible skill set, ready for diverse creative and social contexts:
- Authorial and expressive mastery: They can control voice, speech, movement, gesture and presence — not only with technical proficiency but as natural, embodied means of communication and expression.
- Creative independence: Capable of conceiving, writing and producing original theatrical or performance works — solo or collaborative — based on personal vision and themes.
- Public presentation and leadership: Able to deliver public performances, lead creative or pedagogical projects, and engage audiences in meaningful dialogue.
- Critical and contextual awareness: Well-versed in theoretical, social, ethical and philosophical dimensions of dramatic creation, enabling them to reflect on their work’s meaning and impact.
- Versatility across fields: Prepared to work in theatre, performance art, media, education, social practice or community contexts — able to adapt their authorial approach to various spheres.
Such graduates can embark on careers as independent artists, playwright-performers, educators, facilitators, cultural workers, or continue into further studies or creative research.
Career Prospects
Graduates of Authorial Acting are prepared for a wide spectrum of creative and professional paths:
- Independent theatre artists, performers, authors — creating original solo or ensemble works, performance events, experimental theatre, multimedia or intermedia productions.
- Directors, dramaturgs, creative leaders — developing and leading projects, theatres, cultural initiatives or collaborative performance labs.
- Educators, facilitators, workshop leaders — using psychosomatic and authorial techniques in education, social work, community theatre, therapy, or media pedagogy.
- Media and content creators — writing texts for stage, film, radio or digital media; combining acting, writing and conceptual work.
- Cultural entrepreneurs — producing festivals, events, interdisciplinary projects; combining art, pedagogy and social engagement.
- Further academic or creative research — continuing into MA, artistic research, theory, or cross-disciplinary study.
The programme’s emphasis on personal voice, holistic expression and social awareness makes its graduates particularly suitable for creative work that is meaningful, original and responsive to contemporary social challenges.
The programme combines practical training, theoretical study and creative output — building progressively from foundational disciplines to independent work.
- Psychosomatic Training & Basic Disciplines: Students engage in core courses such as voice, speech, movement, bodily awareness, and dialogical acting (a unique method developed in the department). This forms the foundation for authentic, embodied expression in performance.
- Authorial Development: Through classes in Authorial Reading and Authorial Presentation, students learn to write, shape and present their own texts and concepts. They experiment with monologue, dialogue, movement theatre, improvisation, and personal narrative — grounding creation in personal experience and inner themes.
- Theoretical and Contextual Studies: Courses in theatre history, dramatic theory, philosophy, psychology and ethics support the practical work — encouraging students to situate their creations in broader cultural, social and intellectual contexts.
- Creative Projects and Public Presentation: Over the course of their studies, students develop original solo or ensemble productions (small to medium scale), culminating in a final performance presentation (e.g. a 30-minute or longer authorial piece at graduation). The process is backed by written work — thesis (for BA), stage concept or dramaturgical documentation — and oral/theoretical examinations.
- Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Opportunities: The department encourages collaboration across artistic disciplines, inviting experimental forms, multimedia, social practice, and pedagogical work, offering a versatile base to engage theatre, media, education or community projects.
Overall, the curriculum is designed to develop both craft and personality — ensuring students do not merely learn techniques but grow as self-aware, socially engaged creators.