Research or Craft?: Nine Theses on Educating Future Performing Artists

Taken from a keynote speech delivered in August 2010 for a Symposium on Talent Development, this article puts forward issues for the effective education of future performing artists. Arguing that education for the existing performance 'market' is the last link in a chain, the author suggests that students should be prepared for reality, and more involved in research. The author, Heiner Goebbels, makes nine points on the subject of acting education, including the need to acknowledge diversity and variety in training methods; the importance of time in developing a personal, enlightened concept of performing arts; the need to incorporate contemporary developments in music, visual arts, etc. into theatre education; and the need to allow time to develop creativity.