A new theater directing program has launched at the Academy!
Are you dreaming of directing? Are you passionate about theatre and want to advance your career as a director? This is your moment! Tel Aviv University offers you a unique and innovative program in theatre directing. Led by director Daphna Zilberg, the program emphasizes practical and creative learning. In no time, you can turn your vision into reality.
Learning Through Experience: A New Accelerated Bachelor's and Master's Program in Theater Directing at Tel Aviv University
The Yolanda and David Katz Faculty of Arts at Tel Aviv University is launching a new accelerated program for both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Theater Directing. Under the leadership of director Daphna Zilberg, the program highlights the significance of hands-on learning and the creativity that students consistently contribute.
"Theater directing is a profession where there is always a gap between the concept or fantasy and what happens," says Zilberg, a playwright and theatre director, and head of the new directing program at Tel Aviv University's Department of Theater Arts. "To become directors, you must experience directing. When you step into a rehearsal room with actors, you realize some things simply cannot be learned without practical experience in the situation."
Zilberg speaks in the context of the launch of the new program at the Faculty of Arts, which combines Bachelor's and Master's studies in Theater Arts. The program, lasting only four years, allows graduates to earn an MFA degree along with practical experience in various theaters, providing numerous fieldwork opportunities.
This new program joins the existing acting and stage design tracks, both of which also span four years and integrate undergraduate and graduate degrees. Zilberg explains that the program was created out of a need for a curriculum with a higher percentage of practical lessons, internships, and hands-on directing of real projects.
Zilberg, a graduate of the Department of Theater Arts and the faculty, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Screenwriting and a Master’s in Theater Directing. "After studying screenwriting, I realized it was a bit of a solitary profession for me. I worked as a copywriter in advertising agencies for about two to three years before realizing I wanted to be a theatre director. I made the switch and started directing while still in my Master's program."
She adds, "I always tell my students that their advantage as directors is that they are the most knowledgeable people in the room, and they can enrich everyone working with them with their knowledge and inspirations."
What is the demand for theatre directing studies today?
Zilberg says that the demand for theatre directing studies is still alive and well, although theatre has been declared a dying art for years. "Theater is an irreplaceable art form. When it’s good, it can touch the heart and leave a lasting impression," she says. "Students who come with passion and creativity constantly bring fresh ideas and innovations, which is thrilling."
Social Emphasis in the New Program
The new program also emphasizes a social component, expressed in various ways: "Students will experience documentary theatre based on interviews and protocol texts, participate in community projects with at-risk populations, and work in children’s theatre," Zilberg shares. "In addition, we will focus on dramaturgy, a field that has been gaining importance in Israeli theatre in recent years."
Entrepreneurship and Production
The program also highlights training in entrepreneurship and production, a crucial area for emerging directors. "As beginner directors, you are like start-up founders," Zilberg explains. "To bring your vision to life, it’s important to learn how to produce and be entrepreneurial."
The Value of Studying Directing in Academia
"Academic studies provide directors with broad horizons and extensive knowledge, including courses in art and film history that deepen the creative process. Academia also offers a solid theoretical foundation that enables a deep understanding of theatre and its history, which is a significant advantage for those looking to lead stage productions."
