School of Drama

We believe the classroom is a sacred place where teachers and students join together to exchange and acquire knowledge, to instil and embrace the discipline of rigorous training, and to unleash the unique and creative voices of future dramatists. Likewise, we believe practical experience via productions and/or projects is the essential laboratory where training, practice and knowledge is applied via creativity and experimentation, and other interdisciplinary and practical practice projects. Our offerings combine wide-ranging, conservatory-based and new technology vision with primary focus on the training and preparation of actors, directors, playwrights, applied theatre practitioners and dramaturgs to enter the professional world of drama.

Visiting Artists

Hong Kong is one of the world’s great cultural metropolis – a must-go destination for artists around the globe. Every year the School of Drama brings international master teachers from the profession and other leading schools to the Academy to conduct intensive workshops that ensure our students remain up-to-date with the latest techniques and shifting demands of our industry. Here are some of the visiting artists in recent years: Director William Aitchison (UK); Speech Specialist, Dwight Bacquie, The Juilliard School (USA); Drama Education teacher, Professor George Belliveau, The University of British Columbia (Canada); Acting for Camera teacher, Professor John Benitz, Chapman University (USA); Media and Performance Studies Teacher, Professor Maaike Bleeker, Utrecht University (The Netherlands); Puppetry Specialist, Sebastian Charles (UK); President of the Beijing People's Art Theatre, Feng Yuanzheng (Chinese Mainland); Acting for Camera teacher, Matthew Humphreys, Bristol School of Acting (UK); Director Sebastian Kaiser (Germany); Dramatist Florian Malzacher (Germany); Artistic Director of Nightswimming, Brian Quirt (Canada); Artistic Director of KURINGA,　Barbara Santos (Germany); Musical Theatre teacher, Dayal Gian Singh, LASALLE College of the Arts (Singapore); and Comedy teacher, Zachary Steel, USC School of Dramatic Arts (USA); Dramaturgy and Playwriting Teacher, Dr Katalin Trencsényi, University of the Arts Helsinki (Finland); Broadway veteran, Betsy Struxness and Kaye Tuckerman; and Drama in Education teacher, Professor Joe Winston, University of Warwick (UK).

Partnership, Overseas & Greater Bay Area Performance and Visit

We consider travel as a key part of our mission of knowledge accumulation. We believe the more one knows; the more one sees; the more creative one can be. In recent years, the School of Drama was honoured to be invited to perform in the Closing Ceremony of the 15th National Game (Chinese Mainland); The 8th ATEC Asian Theatre Schools Festival (Chinese Mainland); Trinity Laban CoLab Festival (UK); Guangzhou Opera House (Chinese Mainland) and Shekou Theatre Festival (Chinese Mainland); and visited the Central Academy of Drama (Chinese Mainland); LASALLE College of the Arts (Singapore); Mozarteum University Salzburg (Austria); The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (Malaysia), Five Arts Centre (Malaysia), New Era University College (Malaysia), Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA) (Malaysia) and Dongguk University (South Korea). We also believe in creating educational partnerships with other leading Drama Schools including The Central Academy of Drama (Chinese Mainland), Shanghai Theatre Academy (Chinese Mainland), Korea National University of Arts (South Korea), LASALLE College of the Arts (Singapore) and USC School of Dramatic Arts (USA).

The School of Drama is committed to providing internship opportunities for students. These include a wide array of entry experiences in theatre, film, television, radio, new media and the greater entertainment business.

As the drama industry expands, opportunities continue to grow for everyone, ranging from writers to performers to directors to dramaturgs and applied theatre artists. Most of our graduates choose to pursue career opportunities in professional theatre, film and television. Others create their own opportunities from producing their own work to creating new theatre and production companies. Others dedicate themselves to educational and community outreach professions.

Our faculty members are extremely active in international conferences, workshops and teaching. In recent years, our teaching staff have participated in various events, including:

(In alphabetical order)

• 18^th Asia-Pacific Bond (APB) Directors’ Conference

• ATEC 20^th Executive Director’s Meeting & Directors’ Meeting 2025

• 2025 Art Administration Talent Training Program of the Hong Kong Center for Cultural and Artistic Exchange

• “Delivering Shakespeare” and “Discovering Presence and Voice” with Patsy Rodenburg

• “Directing with Katie Mitchell” and “Playing Shakespeare” at The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, University of London

• Estill Voice Training in Australia

• Frantic Assembly International Summer School: CREATE

• Healing Arts Scotland

• SIBMAS Conference by IATC

• Symposium “Between Presence and Meaning Strategies of Teaching Practical Dramaturgy of Contemporary Performance” at The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague

The School also co-presented HKAPA MFA Directing Graduate Thesis Project with Chung Ying Theatre Company; and collaborated with The 54^th Hong Kong Arts Festival to co-produce Sebastian Kaiser X HKAPA—The Drunkard.

Master of Fine Arts in Drama

Major Study    
> Applied Theatre, Drama and Education    

> Directing    
> Dramaturgy

> Playwriting 

Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) in Drama

Major Study    
> Acting for Drama    
> Acting for Musical Theatre    
> Applied Theatre    
> Directing    
> Dramaturgy

Diploma in Drama Foundations

(Feeder Programme to Undergraduate Programme)

Programme Enquiry: (852) 2584 8511 | drama.dr@hkapa.edu