You want to understand how play shapes the world. You believe there is more to play than entertainment, profit and domination. You believe all play is embodied. You believe play is more-than-human. You want to change the way we play.
Spiel und Objekt – MA in Experimental Play provides time and space to develop artistic, technological, social and material skills for new playful forms – in the theatre and beyond.
Play can challenge our imaginations by providing us with open-ended, self-directed experiences outside of extractive systems. Play puts us in contact with the complexity of the world, with humans, materials and ecosystems that surround us. It provides time and space to experience wonders and frictions, to (re)define ourselves and the universe that holds us.
Experimental Play takes place within a conscious political framework of embodied experience, sharing, critique and reflection. Experimental Play develops and depends on many things: materials, events, settings, scenarios, games, toys, infrastructures, instructions, environments, installations and communities.
Experimental Play continuously investigates and questions conventional modes of play. At the same time it takes seriously and builds on the rich tradition of play cultures that gave birth to the theater, to ritual and dance, to board and video games, hacking and creative technology practices.
Spiel und Objekt – MA in Experimental Play provides a small group of students with time and space to develop the art, skills and the diverse set of technological, material and social crafts that allow new forms of play to emerge.
In a two year programme of workshops, seminars and continuous mentoring, students build core competencies, such as process-driven artistic project development, critical play & interaction literacy, the crafts to work with digital technologies, new and old media & materialities, strategies for collaborative work and survival skills in the cultural sector and beyond.
Play forms the foundation of all studies at Ernst Busch University of Theatre Arts (HfS). Spiel und Objekt – MA in Experimental Play investigates these foundations and engages collaboratively with all disciplines at HfS as well as the other art universities of Berlin.
The programme was founded in 2018 by Prof. Friedrich Kirschner and developed in collaboration with numerous colleagues, including Clemens Winkler, Julian Jungel and Prof. Hannah Perner-Wilson (see the Menschen section on this page).
Since 2025, Spiel und Objekt - Master in Experimental Play is jointly directed by Prof. Hannah Perner-Wilson and Prof. Sebastian Quack.
The programme enrolls a group of six students every two years (next application period: Spring 2026). Opportunities to participate in the program exist through Erasmus, guest auditorships, part-time studentships, as well as public programs and events.
Knowledge of German language (B2 level) is currently required to apply for the programme, although many modules are taught in a mix of German and English.
Erasmus Contact: HfS International Office
Guest Auditors (sign-up deadlines: Winter Semester until June 30, Summer Semester until January 31)
Part-time Auditors (Students from other universities, sign-up deadline by the first day of lectures, in exceptional cases up to two weeks later)
Information on public offerings and events via Instagram or our newsletter (registration see bottom of main page )
Below you will find sample semester plans that provide insight into the layout and scope of the curriculum. The module plan provides an overview of the curriculum. The annotated course catalogs from previous years provide insight into the course content.
Follow the links below to explore a selection of projects realized in the programme.