The Theatre Academy (, ) is one of the three academies of the University of the Arts Helsinki and offers education in theatre and dance. It is Finland's largest education provider in its field and, with the exception of acting, the only one in the country. In September 2014, there were 349 students at TeaK: 315 in the bachelor and master programmes, and the remaining 34 were studying for a licentiate or doctoral degree.
The current dean of the Theatre Academy is Maarit Ruikka, and the vice-deans are Leena Rouhiainen and Ari Tenhula.
The degrees offered by the Theatre Academy are the bachelor, master, licentiate and doctor of arts (theatre/dance) in the fields of Acting in Finnish or Swedish, Directing, Dramaturgy, Dance (dancer and choreographer), Lighting and Sound Design and Theatre and Dance Pedagogy. In addition, the academy is responsible for continuing education in its field. TeaK premieres around 40 productions each academic year. The performances are open to the public.
Alumni activities
The alumni of the Theatre Academy include previous students who have completed a degree in theatre and dance or a comparable degree at the Theatre Academy or one of its predecessors. They can join the academy's alumni association which, among its other activities, serves as a link between alumni. Current and past staff members of the Theatre Academy and its predecessors can also join the alumni association.
Since 2011, the association has awarded the Alumnus/Alumna of the Year award to an artist, pedagogue or other professional for outstanding achievement in theatre. The first recipient of the award was Seela Sella (2011). In 2012, the award was given to Pauliina Feodoroff and Milja Sarkola, and in 2013, to Hanna Kirjavainen and Miko Jaakkola.
History
Before the Theatre Academy
In the period from 1904–1940, Finnish-speaking actors were trained by the school of the Finnish National Theatre and by the private stage school Suomen Näyttämöopisto. Suomen Teatterikoulu (the Finnish Theatre School) was founded in 1943. The school's higher education department started offering director and dramaturg training in 1962.
Swedish-language actor training began considerably earlier than Finnish-language programmes. In 1866–1868, training was organised in conjunction with Nya Teatern, Finland's first theatre school. In 1908, Svenska Teaterns elevskola was founded as part of Svenska Teatern (the Swedish Theatre). It later changed its name to Svenska Teaterskolan i Helsingfors (the Swedish Theatre School in Helsinki) and focused on serving the whole Swedish-language theatre field in Finland.
Theatre Academy Helsinki (1979–2013) The Theatre Academy in its current bilingual form was created in 1979 in a merger of the Finnish-language Suomen Teatterikoulu and the Swedish-language Svenska Teaterskolan. The Central Library of Theatre Studies (Teatterialan keskuskirjasto), which was founded in 1956, became part of the academy. In 1992, the name was changed to Teatteri- ja tanssialan keskuskirjasto (the Central Library of Theatre and Dance) and in 2001 to its current form Teatterikorkeakoulun kirjasto (the Theatre Academy Library).
The education and research offering of the Theatre Academy has expanded beyond the traditional programmes in acting, directing and dramaturgy to include dance (1983), lighting and sound design (1986) and performance art and theory (2001). The dance teacher programme, which started at the Department of Dance, moved to the new Department of Dance and Theatre Pedagogy in 1997. The department also started offering a separate programme for theatre teacher education.
Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki (2013-present) At the start of 2013, the Theatre Academy Helsinki, the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts and Sibelius Academy merged into the University of the Arts Helsinki. The full English name of the academy is now the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki.
Rectors and deans
Rectors
Eero Melasniemi 1979–1982
Jouko Turkka 1983–1985
Outi Nyytäjä 1985–1987
Marianne Möller 1987–1988 vt. Maija-Liisa Márton 1988–1990 Raila Leppäkoski 1990–1991 Kari Rentola 1991–1997 Lauri Sipari 1997–2005 Paula Tuovinen 2005–2013
Deans
Paula Tuovinen 2013–2014
Maarit Ruikka 2014–
Education and research
Degrees
The Theatre Academy offers bachelor and master programmes as well as licentiate and doctoral programmes. The degree title of bachelor programme graduates is the Bachelor of Arts (Dance or Theatre). The credit load of bachelor programmes is 180 ECTS credits, and the recommended duration is three years of full-time study.