A solid theoretical foundation is important. In the mornings you will therefore take theoretical courses such as theatre, culture and music history, performance and text analysis, dramaturgy and philosophy: courses in which you learn to relate to the world in which you live. The program is aimed at providing you with a foundation of knowledge and experience with which you can position yourself in practice and through which you can continue to develop independently. There are also vocational preparation classes in which you make your personal Cultural Entrepreneurs Plan (COP).

In addition to the theoretical morning courses, the afternoons are focused on practical making blocks. You dive into different (interdisciplinary) creative processes. You visit theater performances, museums and art in public space. You develop concepts and implement them. You always learn to use your individuality as a director in a different way and from different forms.

The classes are small and the supervision is personal and intensive. There are many individual conversations in which, together with the student, it is discussed how the study is progressing and what the learning objectives are. You write a self-evaluation every block and a progress meeting takes place twice a year. Despite the fact that the education is strongly focused on the personal development of the directing student, complementarity is central: you are only a director if you can work well together, each from your own discipline and strength. Sometimes you make theater based on your own fascination, sometimes you work together collectively, but in almost every project you work closely with other ATD students.