Studies (B.A.)
ADK’s directing program faces up to the constantly changing conception of performing arts: Theater’s boundaries to other arts are becoming ever more porous, with its topics and issues increasingly determined by societal and political current events and the fast pace of change in our society. The idea of directing and directors’ sense of their own role are part of these transformations. The four-year directing program reacts to these continually shifting demands with training oriented towards the practical and confers the degree Bachelor of Arts.
The starting point is the development of the artistic personality. In addition to the teaching of theoretical foundations, studies emphasize work on the scene, transdisciplinary and projectbased work, and the numerous dimensions of authorship. Seven practical projects offer the opportunity to explore every format of performing arts and film: classical stage productions, stage spaces, installations, performance forms, audio drama, feature film, digital media. The entire course of study is shaped by intensive collaboration with all programs at ADK, the Film Academy, and the scenic and costume design programs at other state academies of fine arts both inside and outside Germany. Accessibility and inclusiveness, the intersections between theater and digitality, and sustainability form important touchstones of the curriculum.
Program contents
- Fundamentals of directing
• Directing seminar I–IV • Speech for directors and dramaturgs • Contemporary performance • Space and stage • Theater and media • Space and movement • Directing lab
- Fundamentals of film
• Extended directing (Film Academy), film research project with Film Academy
- Fundamentals of acting
• Fundamentals I—Introduction to acting work • Fundamentals II—Terminology of stage craft • Training in scene acting • Fundamentals III—Terminology of stage craft • Fundamentals IV—Play: form and freedom • Fundamentals V—Contemporary performance
- Conceptual/Production work
• Short projects with the set design and costuming classes of the Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design (ABK) • Scenic projects (subject modules A and B) praxis • Refl ection (DasArts method) • Nomadic research • Biopic preparation • Biopic • Space, sound, and film • Interdisciplinary project THEATER HISTORY & THEORY • Methods of digital theater • Visual arts • Theater history survey • Readings in theater history • Readings in contemporary drama I and II • Advanced readings • Production analysis • Performance analysis incl. theater attendance • Drama studies collection, Cologne Scenic projects (subject modules A and B) theory • Word and effect
- Arts administration
• Curating: Introduction | Production management, budget, sponsoring | Season planning for production houses⁄ festivals | Sustainability | Independent scene • Writing and presenting concepts • Presentation rhetoric • Applied cultural communication: PR— theory and practice, marketing, social media • Networking • Rights and obligations: contract law, insurance, stage regulations, tax law | Publishing and copyright, union and contract law • Future coaching
- Bachelor project
• Bachelor production • Written BA thesis • Independent project
Contact
Academic Office for Directing:
Ümran Melissa Yunus
+49 7141 30 99 622
uemranmelissa.yunus@adk-bw.de
Angela Staudt (on parental leave)
Application
- 1. Course Catalogues
For further informations, please contact the Academic Office Directing (Melissa Yunus | uemranmelissa.yunus@adk-bw.de)
The Course Catalogues for Directing Studies (1st-4th year) 2024|25
see PDF-Documents for download. - 2. Start of studies
The academic year 2025|26 starts in the winter semester on Monday, 22nd September 2025.
- 3. Admission
The admission exams will be held live in the form of a three-day workshop from Friday to Sunday. Invited applicants should therefore keep the entire weekend free. The exact requirements for this workshop will be sent to you in good time with the invitation to the exam.
The entrance examination for the academic year 2025|26 will take place from Friday, 27 April to Sunday, 29th April 2025 at the ADK.
After the entrance examination, the examination board will decide which applicants will be admitted to the programme based on their performance.
Applicants will be informed of the decision both by e-mail and by post.
- 5. Repetition of admission exam
If the admission exam is not passed once it can be repeated at earliest one year later.
Further repetitions are not permitted.
- 6. Head of course/ tutors
Head of course: Prof. Tomáš Zielinski
Tutor 1st year of study: Hon.-Prof. Carolin Hochleichter
Tutor 2nd year of study: Melanie Mohren| Bernhard Herbordt
Tutor 3rd year of study: Prof. Tomáš Zielinski
Tutor 4th year of study: Heinrich Horwitz - 7. Duration of studies
The duration of study is eight semesters
++ For the application process please click here and use the german version of our website! ++
LINK to the online application
All documents related to the application must be submitted in german language, since entrance examinations and studies at the Academy of Performing Arts are held in German.
Application Deadline is March 23rd, 2025.
Admission exams will be held from April 27th until April 29th, 2025. Detailed information will be commnicated in our invitation mail.