Physical Theatre – Artist Diploma

This course, founded in 1965 by Bettina Falkenberg and Günter Titt at Folkwang University
of the Arts, is the only one of its kind in Germany for physical theatre performers.

Born from the tradition of the mime theatre, and shaped by the personalities of Jean
Soubeyran, Jacques Lecoq, Pierre Byland, Günter Titt and Peter Siefert, this course of
study has developed from pantomime, to comedic movement theatre, and finally
culminating in what is now the physical theatre.

The course caters to young ‘theatre makers’, who tutored into developing the skills for
creating their own original pieces: they learn how to recognise topics, capture their
concept, develop them with a unique take, and to finally perform them at a high level.

The key ingredient for expression is and always will be the many physical means to tell a
story with or about the body, its movement and mime. The basis for success is a holistic
approach towards training the body, voice/speech and gestures. A curricular interlinking
with the study courses drama and directing, and with projects in the realm of dance and
music enhance and broaden the scope of learning and teaching.

The objective is the development of a creative, responsible and confident artist, who will
be able to find his or her own path in theatre world by implementing own projects, or within
established theatre organisations.
History of the Physical Theatre course
 In 1956 Jean Soubeyran was commissioned by the Folkwang School to conduct
courses in pantomime
 In 1957, Günter Titt continued this work, both for students of the Drama Institute
and for the Opera class.
 In 1962 this tuition, initially implemented in the form of a course, was incorporated
into the syllabus as a fixed component in acting training. This brought into being a
new training model that was later adopted by many acting schools.
 In 1965 Günter Titt, together with Bettina Falckenberg, set up the Pantomime
major. Initially it was possible to take a double major in mime and acting, but in
1980 this was abolished.
 In 1987 Milan Sladek took over the leadership of the program.
 1992-94 Günter Titt taught in cooperation with Karsten Itterbeck and Thomas Stich.
 In 1994 took over the leadership of the program.
 In 2005 Thomas Stich, a lecturer in the major since 1992, assumed leadership of
the program.
 In 2006 Thomas Stich was appointed Professor of Mime / Physical Theater.
 In 2008 the course became modular in form as part of the redesign of the training
program in line with the Bologna Process and was given a new name: Physical
Theatre.
Study Plan
Basic Information
 Course Duration: 8 semesters
 Courses start each summer semester (April)

Undergraduate: Semesters 1 – 4
 Ensemble work
 Basic drama syllabus
 Improvisation
 Solo & Duo – scenes
 Make-up: Neutral make-up, masks, character masks
 Movement training, movement composition
 Acrobatics / Acrobalance
 The study of movement, Alexander technique
 Mime technique, Decroux, Lecoq
 Fencing, fight scenes
 Voice, speech, dialogue
 Concept work, story telling techniques
 Theatre history
 Colloquiums, visits to performances of the physical theatre (theory and practical
knowledge)
 Workshop pool as a compulsory elective
 Participation in directing projects
 Live Art/Performance practice
Mid-term review at the end of the winter semester:

 Two own works: One solo, one duo, 10 – 15 mins. each, one of which coached.
 A movement composition of 10 – 15 mins.
 Voice component: Monologue, text, …

Postgraduate: Semesters 5 - 8
 Improvisation, choral theatre
 Directing examples; theoretical & practical
 Make-up: Commedia dell’arte, object theatre
 Work experience at theatres or in the open scene
 Modern Clowning
 Video composition
 Live Art/Performance practice
 Physical Theatre - current; new pieces, analysis
 Workshop pool as a compulsory elective
 Continuation of all movement training courses
Artistic final examination
 Creation, concept and performance of an own piece of 50 – 60 mins. Solo or group
performance.