The degree programme in Contemporary Puppetry Art at the HfS Ernst Busch Berlin
The degree programme in Berlin lasts four years and concludes with a diploma. It is divided into five semesters of basic studies and three semesters of advanced studies. The rhythm of the first four semesters is strongly characterised by six-week seminars in which, after learning the basics of acting and animation, students explore different types of puppets and mask work in small groups of three to four. These are preceded by “creations” — initial short theatrical sketches developed independently by the students. Accompanying classes include speech training, music, acrobatics, movement and pantomime, theory, and verse work. There are also block seminars in fencing, dance, design theory, art history, introduction to digital media, puppetry theory, and, as a recent addition, cultural management.
The foundation course is an intensive period with a correspondingly full timetable, focused on developing one’s own artistic base. Without a careful examination of one’s current stage of development and the technical aspects of expressive means, it would be possible to create original works, but not to build a solid foundation. Students are therefore encouraged to work independently on their own means of expression.
In the fifth semester, following scene studies and specialisation — where a wide range of puppets and (digital) media can be used — students begin their free pre-diploma project. The aim is to independently create a first short theatre piece, going through all necessary stages: from concept presentation, through organising rehearsals and construction processes, to producing video trailers, writing a press release, and finally organising the presentation. These “free plays” present all pre-diploma works to the public. The ability to communicate one’s ideas and present one’s work is a key competence for future puppeteers. Over time, these aspects have become increasingly important, as many graduates now successfully work as freelance artists.
In the advanced stage of studies, where students have greater freedom to develop their own projects, the university actively supports the formation of an individual artistic voice. The paths taken by students are as diverse as their personalities, and the institution aims to support each of them individually. A broad professional network enables students to present their work at national and international festivals and to engage in collaborations. The programme concludes with an ensemble diploma production (often in cooperation with a festival or theatre), a written thesis, and an independent diploma project. Thanks to this network, it is also possible to complete the final year in a studio at one of the partner theatres.
Students benefit from the opportunities offered by the Theatre of Things network in German-speaking countries and increasingly beyond. At the same time, as part of an art university, the programme sees participation in this network as a cultural and socio-political responsibility, maintaining and strengthening it through collaboration with theatres and museums. A “network booklet” brings together the theatres, venues, festivals, and collectives connected to the Performance Art department of HfS Ernst Busch.
Work on the “Memory of the Scene” has also been ongoing since the programme’s anniversary, aiming to capture memories of past creative processes within the Theatre of Things and preserve the present through audio documentation. Within the programme’s workshops, students can design, research, and build projects under expert guidance. These workshops are both dedicated to the programme and open for students’ independent work. For example, a relatively new workshop — the Laboratory for Digitality — contributed to the project “Alter Ego Pirate Copy” by Rimini Protokoll in Dresden. The laboratory is open to the entire university and explores digital media as a new material for the Theatre of Things, with outcomes feeding into scene studies and other productions. It also serves as a point of connection between the contemporary puppetry programme and the “Play and Object” master’s programme.
The programme actively works to increase the visibility of the field. The relatively new format of “Fundusführungen” (collection tours) opens up the archive of 50 years of research and teaching to the public, receiving very positive responses. Efforts are also made to introduce younger audiences to the Theatre of Things, including collaborations and exchanges with a partner class from a Berlin school.
For those interested in further exploration, the podcast “HÄNDE HOCH – Menschen hinter Puppen” (“HANDS UP – the people behind the puppets”) offers a nuanced perspective on individuals and groups within the German puppetry scene. The podcast was supported by the alliance KompleXX Figurentheater.
Finally, exchange and collaboration with other art institutions are an integral part of teaching and academic life. The two-year project “Puppet Partners International,” funded by the Freiraum programme of the Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education, expands the international network of the department through collaborations with various European universities.
In addition, the department is involved in numerous partnerships: with UdK Berlin and its “Scenic Writing” programme through “Puppen & Stifte” (“Puppets & Pens”); through joint productions with the French ESNAM; by hosting students from Stuttgart; and through collaborative projects with HfBK Dresden, Accademia Teatro Dimitri in Ticino, AST in Wrocław, and many others.
Jörg Lehmann and Franziska Rattay
Learn more at: https://www.hfs-berlin.de/en/
