Fit & profile
Is this program right for you?
This program is designed for advanced practitioners who already carry responsibility in rehearsal rooms, classrooms, or ensembles and now want to consolidate that experience into a documented body of advanced professional training and portfolio work.
-
Already direct theatre productions or assist directors and want to deepen and structure your practice;
-
Work as an actor, choreographer, movement director, or teacher and are ready to take on artistic leadership within productions and ensembles.;
-
Need a substantial training record and portfolio to support applications for teaching, artistic leadership, company work, or funding opportunities;
-
Prefer practice-based training that fits around professional commitments and family life.
Program at a Glance
Program Overview
Places are strictly limited • Competitive selection
Designed to fit around professional commitments while providing deep, practice-based training in directing.
Format:
Distance or Blended
Duration:
18 months
Language:
English
Final Assessment:
Graduation Performance
Outcomes & ROI
What you complete the program with
The 18-month Advanced Professional Program in Theatre Directing is an investment in your professional status and long-term career as a director. Upon successful completion, participants graduate with a solid artistic identity and concrete professional tools.
-
Documented professional training. A private professional document confirming advanced training in theatre directing, assessed practical work, and successful completion of the NIPAI program.
-
Portfolio of work. At least one fully produced Graduation Performance plus smaller directing assignments, documented through photos, video, cue-lists, and director’s books.
-
Advanced practical tools. Concrete methods for composition, blocking, working with atmosphere, ensemble building, and physical action on stage.
-
Leadership experience. Real rehearsal-room leadership – from casting and collaboration with designers to opening night.
-
International network. A community of directors, movement directors, performers, and educators from different countries, with whom you collaborate during labs and distance projects.
Graduation Performance
Your Graduation Performance is both your final examination and a real production in a theatre context. It becomes a central reference point in your portfolio when applying for directing positions, funding, or teaching roles.
Career Outcomes
Where Our Graduates Work
Mike Savuica
Director & Choreographer
"All the program modules helped me build this performance. I always had support and a team of people to guide me. The diploma program was the necessary foundation I needed to make my first steps towards a directing career. NIPAI taught me to paint with bodies and actors to create tableaus on stage."
Cody Ganger
Director & College Theatre Professor
"I credit NIPAI for teaching me how to be truly prepared before starting rehearsals, with strong script analyses, paper blocking, and storyboarding. With this new confidence and skill set, I've only become more ambitious in my choices of shows and my approaches to the shows I do."
Structure & format
How you study: distance learning, labs, and a Graduation Performance
The program follows a “learning by doing” approach. Every concept you encounter is immediately tested in practical tasks, rehearsals, or production work.
-
Distance modules.
You follow structured distance-learning modules with clear tasks, reading, and individual feedback from tutors. Each module focuses on a core aspect of directing – from analysis and composition to working with actors and movement.
-
In-class sessions (for blended format).
For those choosing the blended option, small-group labs in Germany or Austria provide intensive practical training, exchange with peers, and work directly in the studio: seminars, workshops, project reviews, and technical discussions.
-
Study Project – Graduation Performance.
Over the 18 months, you develop, rehearse, and present a full production with a theatre group or company. The premiere serves as your final exam and public presentation of your directorial concept.
Designed for working professionals
The schedule is built so that you can continue your artistic, teaching, or leadership work while studying. Distance assignments integrate directly into your ongoing projects whenever possible, so you are not just “doing homework” but strengthening the productions you are already responsible for.
Our Approach
Learning by Doing
From Your Very First Day, You Create.
At NIPAI, we believe the best way to learn directing is by directing. From your very first day, you'll be creating your own original works of art, guided by experienced industry professionals. In our practice-oriented approach, theory is applied, explored in depth, and consolidated through real-world projects.
Funding
Scholarships & student finance
The 18-month Advanced Professional Program in Theatre Directing is a significant investment in your professional growth. To support committed practitioners, NIPAI offers several forms of financial assistance.
-
Partial scholarships of up to €6,000 are available for qualified candidates.
-
Support combines need-based tuition assistance and talent-based awards and is granted on a competitive basis.
-
Several payment plans are available once you are admitted (for example, one, two, or three instalments).
Full tuition details are shared individually with accepted candidates, so that your financial plan can be discussed in a realistic and transparent way.
Next step
If you are considering the program and would like to understand the financial commitment in your specific situation, you may request a personalised overview.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some of the questions we receive most often from prospective candidates.
Yes. The program is designed so that working professionals can continue their artistic, teaching, or leadership roles while studying. Distance tasks are structured so they can often be integrated into your ongoing projects.
Need more details? View full FAQ ↗
Further reading
Explore more directing tools and ideas
Discover articles on rehearsal process, physical theatre, and composition that complement the 18-month Advanced Professional Program in Theatre Directing.
