Under the umbrella of Hessian Theatre Academy (HTA), all universities in Hessen that offer theatre-related programmes as well as the region’s municipal and state theatres have come together in a study and production network. Diverse cross connections between both practical and theoretical disciplines, as well as between partners, are opening up new opportunities for students to prepare themselves for the complexity of an artistic career.

The Hessische Theaterakademie Mourns the Passing of Ruth Wagner

The Hessische Theaterakademie mourns the passing of Ruth Wagner. As former Hessian Minister for Science and the Arts, she provided decisive impulses for the theatre landscape in Hesse. Through her strong personal commitment, the founding of the Hessische Theaterakademie was achieved in 2002, based on an initiative by the then Head of the Directing Program at the University of Music and Performing Arts Frankfurt, Prof. Hans Hollmann. With great dedication, she thus strengthened academic theatre education and enhanced the capacity for cooperation within institutional structures.

Early on, Ruth Wagner recognized the importance of a networked form of education that connects academic study, professional practice, and production. The collaborations between universities and theatres in Hesse continue to benefit from this approach to this day. In this way, Ruth Wagner promoted artistic freedom and the quality of contemporary theatre, and contributed to the establishment of a cross-generational, research-oriented practice that addresses questions about the future of the performing arts. Her dialogue with the Hessian Theatre Academy was always characterized by trust, openness, and profound expertise.

With Ruth Wagner, theatre education in Hesse loses a visionary supporter. The Hessische Theaterakademie will cherish her memory with deep gratitude.

HTA Accessibility Funding 2025

In 2025, the Hessian Theater Academy will again award two to four project grants in the field of “Accessibility,” each worth €2,500 to €5,000. Funded projects should either explore artistic approaches within the “Aesthetics of Access” or implement specific measures to improve accessibility, such as audio description or sign language translation. HTA students and staff from partner institutions can apply by September 14, 2025 via email to walisko_at_hessische-theaterakademie.de.

More informaiton you can find here. 

Production by HTA Alumna Wins "Nachspielpreis" at the 42nd Heidelberger Stückemarkt

“Yellow Gold” by Fabienne Dür, directed by Malin Lamparter—a graduate of the directing program at the HfMDK Frankfurt—was invited as a guest performance to this year’s Heidelberger Stückemarkt and was awarded the Nachspielpreis by the jury. The award honors previously premiered plays and, in doing so, also recognizes theaters that sustainably promote new drama.

The jury's statement about the play and its staging reads: “The play tells of home, of departure, and of the feeling of being stuck somehow, but also of the pressure to arrive somewhere. […] Malin Lamparter turns these big life questions into a light-hearted evening in her production […]. The staging prompts reflection—on our own decisions and those of others.”

The Nachspielpreis is non-monetary and includes an invitation for a guest performance at the Autor:innenTheaterTage 2026 at the Deutsches Theater Berlin.

HTA Postgraduate Grants for Artistic Research 2025 – Apply Now!

Frankfurt LAB, with the support of the Hessian Ministry of Science and Research, Art and Culture, is awarding artistic research scholarships for alumni of the Hessische Theaterakademie (HTA). The funding supports open-ended artistic research and conceptual project development. Scholarships of €5,000 will be awarded for a period of two months.

Application deadline: March 20, 2025

To apply, contact:
Ekaterina Walisko

More Information you find here. 

postgraduate scholarships for "Artistic Research"

Frankfurt LAB awards five postgraduate scholarships for "Artistic Research" to graduates of the Hessian Theatre Academy in 2024. Projects that define themselves as artistic research are funded with €5,000 each, made possible by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Research, Art, and Culture. A jury selected five outstanding projects from over 50 applications, by Rebecca Ajnwojner, ASJA, Anna Krauß, Isabell Ratzinger, and Judith Strodtkötter.
You can find the press release here.