Theatre Studies (Arts and Culture) University of Amsterdam

Overview

The Theatre Studies (Arts and Culture) programme of the University of Amsterdam engages with theatre and performance in terms of their rich histories and legacies, as well as their entanglements with contemporary social, political and cultural debates. It teaches methods of research to equip you with the capacity to critically and persuasively reflect on the performing arts.

Why study Theatre Studies at the University of Amsterdam?

• The UvA has the only dedicated Theatre Studies department in the Netherlands with undergraduate and graduate programmes, and strong ties with cultural venues and practitioners in the city as well as internationally.

• The opportunity to study in Amsterdam, a vibrant and creative cultural hub and the hotspot for theatre and performing arts in the Netherlands.

• You benefit from faculty expertise in four main areas: theatre history and historiography, theatre in education and sociology, applied and community arts research, and performance theory.

• Preparation for a wide range of careers in theatre and performance: from scholarly research, arts administration or theatre in education to archival work, cultural programming and more.

• A programme committed to heightening sensitivities in the discipline with questions about colonialism, race, gender and sexuality, as well as inequalities on a planetary scale.

• Rigorous mentorship and sustained guidance in all stages of your dissertation research.

Careers

The programme prepares you for a wide range of careers in theatre and performance: from scholarly research, arts administration and theatre in education to archival work and cultural programming. You learn to reflect on, research and write articulately about theatre and performance in its aesthetic, historical and trans-national dimensions.

The job market

Graduates of the Master's in Theatre Studies are qualified to pursue a career in diverse areas, including theatre or theatre criticism, government institutions, cultural organisations, archives, museums and international festivals. Many of our students become closely associated with the theatre world during their studies, thereby acquiring vital experience and connections that help them to establish themselves professionally.

Graduates of the Master's in Theatre Studies make their careers in:

• the theatre field, as organisors, educators, critics, archivists, public speakers, producers, and as cultural actors in the broadest sense;

• government institutions, cultural organisations, archives, musea and international festivals.

Others work independently or have set up their own organisations.