Education

The pedagogical programme

A school in constant motion, characterized by contemporary creations, and whose objectives are:

• Training actor- puppeteers to a high level by exploring the specific techniques of the art of puppetry (glove, rod puppets, string puppets, shadow and object theatre…) and the fundamentals of stagecraft: dramatic play, voice, body, dramaturgy, plastic arts, and scenography.
• Transmitting to students knowledge and methods that encourage the development of their personal creativity and serve on a collective level.
• Committing students to develop research and a taste for risk and experimentation.

ESNAM, housed in new premises entirely designed for training in puppetry arts since September 2017, allows for the development of work methodologies whose purpose is to make future professionals autonomous and responsible..

Teaching Committee

The training dynamics are structured by the Teaching Committee and are in keeping with the outline of the DNSPC puppeteer-actor speciality and its trade-specific reference. Regular lessons and workshops directed by artists, both from France and abroad, alternate throughout the whole curriculum. They are based on constant interplay between theory and practice, conception and implementation.

The curriculum

First year: Fundamental teachings and puppetry techniques
This year addresses basic and fundamental teachings for the actorpuppeteer: dramatic play, body techniques, voice, plastic arts applied to construction, play and manipulation.

Second year: Further study and experimentation
This year is dedicated to composition. Regular work allows students to assimilate construction techniques, manipulation, movement and acting for the purpose of experiencing as an actor the stylistic potential of puppets, images and objects. The students perform under the direction of recognised professionals.
In parallel, the students carry out an internship with a company or cultural organisation in order to prepare for their professional integration.

Third year: Research and creation
The third year is devoted to research and creation and makes it possible to summon up acquisitions from the training in a creative way.
Creation of a short solo performance with the support and guidance of artist advisors, and realisation of end-of-studies creations performed and staged by the students.

Administration, management, knowledge of cultural politics and professional networks, as well as the history of live performance and puppetry arts are also approached throughout the entire curriculum.

End of workshop presentations, end of year productions, solo performances and diploma projects are performed in front of audiences consisting of the general public, but also guest programmers or professionals, with a view towards promoting students’ future integration and standing in the profession.

Students have access to the Institute’s research centre and to the research work carried out by the ICiMa Chair.

Professional integration programmes are proposed to graduates: contracts for training and professionalization in collaboration with companies or cultural institutions, Tremplin residencies, employment incentives, help and guidance with first productions and promotion…