Are you a theatre artist who strives to be better at your craft? Have you considered studying in a full-time theatre course? Do you find the process of researching universities stressful? Do the options seem too many or too few? Do you question if it is even worth it? Would you like some help making these difficult decisions?
Aadyam’s got your back!
That’s What I Learnt is a series of interviews with theatre artists from across India who have studied full time theatre courses in India and abroad. They share their experiences, the highs and lows, what they wished they knew and what they know now.
The series has been compiled by me, Meghana AT, an actor/writer/production manager who worked in Mumbai’s theatre scene for 6 years before moving to Prague to study a very unique theatre course. For the two years that I was seriously considering taking up this course, I changed my mind a thousand times. Everyone had an opinion on whether I should study at all, if this course was the one for me, how I should finance it, whether I should stay abroad or return to Mumbai. At the end of the day, it was a decision I had to make myself, but I wouldn’t have been able to manage without the advice of the many theatre professionals who were kind enough to help me. I hope this series can offer some insight to other people who are in the position I was once in.
We hope that reading these experiences will help you navigate this next stage of your career! Good luck!
Tushar Mathew
Tushar Mathew is an actor-creator and teaching artist. He co-founded the Otherland Theatre Ensemble in 2018, with whom he has created and performed two original shows: Eli and The Bear which toured to the California State Summer School for the Arts in L.A. in early 2018, and Forgive us, Gustavito; which won “Best of Fringe” at the Charm City Fringe Festival in Baltimore later that year. Tushar is currently based in Bengaluru where he is teaching remotely at the Drama School Mumbai, co-creating A Zoom Call Re: Birds, teaching 7th and 8th graders about climate change, and continuing to develop his solo show A Good Neighbour. He can be found on instagram on @tusharmathew


- Embrace the unknown especially when it is uncomfortable.
- I don’t have all the answers. Listen to the others in the room.
- Acknowledge and admit (meaning both, confess, and allow in) what is present and actually happening, not what you wish were happening.
- Play fully, don’t be tired, and don’t be a bully.


Notes
- Theatre Professionals Pvt Ltd – An organisation by theatre practitioners collaborating to bring the transformational power of drama into everyone’s lives. They are also the founders of the Drama School Mumbai.
- Drama School Mumbai – A full time One Year Post Graduate Diploma Course based in the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh
- Dell’Arte International – The Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre is based in North California offering a one-year diploma and a full time MFA.
- Lecoq – ‘L’École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq’ is a school of physical theatre in Paris, founded by Jacques Lecoq, focusing on study of improvisation and movement. They offer a two year course as well as workshops and evening classes.
- LISPA – The London International School of Performing Arts (now known as Arthaus Berlin) offers MA and MFA programmes in dramaturgy and devising practice.
- LAMDA – The London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art offers courses in acting, directing, production and technical arts.
- MFA – Master of Fine Arts; usually a degree that focuses on professional practise besides theory.