Theatre Studies

Theatre is the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being. (Thorton Wilder)

Degree programme objectives

The aim of the Bachelor studies is to make students familiar with the history of Czech and world theatre, staging practices and theories describing typical features, and rules of different theatrical genres and ways of researching into theatre and drama. In the undergraduate study programme, students are instructed in understanding that the primary function of theatre is not only to entertain, but also reflect on the nature of human existence in various contexts. A piece of theatre and/or drama is, thus, a unique and involved commentary on human reality in an aestheticized, yet no less telling, form.

The Bachelor study programme is targeted at those who are interested in understanding historical and socio-cultural processes through the medium of theatre and drama, assessing its aesthetic aspects, developing their analytical skills, and learning to formulate their opinions in writing and discussions with fellow students and teachers. Students are supposed to be interested in current theatre and drama, critical thinking about these phenomena, and development of their verbal and writing skills.

The major research interests of the Department of Theatre Studies is Czech and world theatre history, theatricality of non-theatrical phenomena, current Czech and world drama and staging techniques, translating for theatre, and theatre criticism.

Study plans

Theatre Studies

full-time, single-subject

Admission Procedures
Admission to Bachelor's and long-cycle Master's degree programmes in 2025/2026
Submission deadline until midnight 28/2/2025

Information on entrance examinations designed for this degree programme
This programme is taught in Czech.

The criteria for admission for studies are the results of the written Field of Study Examination. The Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University disregards the results of SCIO National Comparative Examinations.

You can file your e-applications for studies from 1 November to 28 February.
Field of study examinations will be held from 22 April to 27 April.
The date and time of the examination will be stated in the electronic invitation for the examination, which will be uploaded to your e-application. The faculty will not be sending paper invitations. Applicants applying for the major study plan and minor study plan in a combined study must comply with the conditions for admission into both plans.
Learning Potential Test (TSP)

For admission for studies in this degree programme, you do not need to take the TSP.

Field of Study Examination

This examination is only in Czech. It is intended to check the applicants’ knowledge of the given field of study. It checks the applicants’ motivation for study, perspective on the areas of culture, history, and current theatre, and formulation and analytical skills. It is given in the form of a written field of study test.
Basic description of the Field of Study Examination:
Field of study test (90 minutes maximum): a written test of the basic cultural overview, history, and comprehension of a scholarly text in a foreign language (English or German, depending on your language skills).
Admission without the entrance examination
For admission for studies in this degree programme, you cannot be exempted from taking the entrance examination.
Recommended reading for the examinations under this field
These book titles will give you an insight into how theatre can be thought and written about from a contemporary and historical perspective. (It is not necessary to read them completely for admission, but they will certainly give you an idea of what to look forward to.)
- BEJBLÍK, Alois. Shakespearův svět. Praha: Mladá fronta, 1979.
- BROCKETT, Oscar Gross. Dějiny divadla. Praha: Lidové noviny, 1999. (Lze použít i novější vydání.)
- HAVELKA, Jiří. Zmrazit čerstvé ovoce: útržky úvah o divadelní zkoušce. Praha: Nakladatelství AMU, 2012.
- HOŘÍNEK, Zdeněk. Cesty moderního dramatu. Praha: Nakladatelství Studia Ypsilon, 1995.
- JUST, Vladimír. Proměny malých scén (rozmluvy o vývoji a současné podobě českých autorských divadel malých jevištních forem). Praha: Mladá fronta, 1984.
- KOPECKÝ, Jan a BERNARD, Jan. Co je divadlo. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1983.
Evaluation criteria valid for the applicants applying for a place on this degree programme
- Total number of points in the Field of Study Examination: 100
- Limit for successfully passing the Field of Study Examination: 50 points (inclusive)
Points are not deducted for incorrect answers.

Studies

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Objectives
The aim of the Bachelor studies is to make students familiar with the history of Czech and world theatre, staging practices and theories describing typical features, and rules of different theatrical genres and ways of researching into theatre and drama. In the undergraduate study programme, students are instructed in understanding that the primary function of theatre is not only to entertain, but also reflect on the nature of human existence in various contexts. A piece of theatre and/or drama is, thus, a unique and involved commentary on human reality in an aestheticized, yet no less telling, form.
The Bachelor study programme is targeted at those who are interested in understanding historical and socio-cultural processes through the medium of theatre and drama, assessing its aesthetic aspects, developing their analytical skills, and learning to formulate their opinions in writing and discussions with fellow students and teachers. Students are supposed to be interested in current theatre and drama, critical thinking about these phenomena, and development of their verbal and writing skills.
The major research interests of the Department of Theatre Studies is Czech and world theatre history, theatricality of non-theatrical phenomena, current Czech and world drama and staging techniques, translating for theatre, and theatre criticism.
Learning Outcomes
After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:
- think about issues connected with theatre in the broadest sense of meaning and in various contexts (political, social, aesthetic, etc.)
- orientate themselves in Czech and world theatre and drama history, and theatre/drama theory and methodology
- orientate themselves in current theatre and drama
- analyse theatre performance as a socio-political phenomenon reflecting all its individual components, message, form, genre, etc.
- look up relevant information to a given period in the history of theatre/drama and theatrical/dramatic piece
- to be able to evaluate the sources and access their relevance
- use one's critical thinking to analyze cultural phenomena of various kinds
- employ one's expressive skills to reflect on cultural phenomena both orally and in writing
Occupational Profiles of Graduates
The undergraduate gains not only the adequate professional knowledge and skills, but also other practical general skills usable in any other field of Humanities, as well as in personal life. These include the ability of working with different kinds of texts and assessing them critically, academic and journalistic writing skills, general knowledge of Czech and world history and culture, understanding of current socio-political issues, the capacity of deep and complex thinking analysis of various phenomena. In case the students seek employment in theatre filed, they are instructed to continue in Master, potentially even PhD programme in Theatre History and Theory. Graduates can find employment in numerous cultural fields, namely theatre and cultural journalism, editor in different types of publishing houses, theatre management, archives and museums, PR positions in cultural institutions, management of theatre festivals, promotion of theatre and drama, and in the academia.
Goals of Theses
The minimal number of pages for the Bachelor final thesis is 40 standard pages (i.e. 72,000 characters) including footnotes, title sheet, contents, index, list of works cited, and summary. Students are allowed to use all kinds of published texts and data available, if subject to further treatment. Students are supposed to prove their ability to approach their sources critically, process them effectively, make them subject to theoretical rethinking and conceptualization, and find in them answers to their research questions. When arranged with the tutor, the thesis can be based either on the research of archival materials, or issues concerning current phenomena related to theatre and/or drama.
Access to Further Studies
The undergraduate (when meeting the requirements for admission) can continue their studies in any of the follow-up Master programmes, preferably in Humanities or Social Sciences. Students are advised to combine, even at the undergraduate level, the Theatre History and Theory study programme with another one (e.g. Czech Language and Literature, foreign language, Art History, Philosophy, etc.), thus widening the scope of their knowledge, as well as theoretical and methodological background, and consequently the possibility of future employment.