Become a captivating presence on stage and screen

Embody your fullest self and unlock your potential on stage and screen. Our undergraduate acting programme is contemporary, highly practical, project-based and designed to prepare you for a career as a versatile actor in today’s ever-changing media and performance landscape. You’ll gain the skills, experience and confidence to tackle a huge variety of acting roles in a vast range of formats and media, as well as the necessary self-sufficiency and proactivity to secure opportunities in the industry. 

Whether in rehearsal, on set or in practical workshops, you’ll be guided through your acting training by industry-acclaimed practising professionals. You will also have the opportunity to work in collaboration with our film, music and visual effects students and star in a range of productions.

You can study this programme either as a full three-year BA degree or the first year only as a one-year HE Certificate.

Acting at Catalyst in Berlin

As part of our specialist acting school, you'll benefit from a range of collaboration opportunities, not only with your fellow acting students but also with students in our Film & Visual Media and Music & Sound schools.

You'll get challenges with demanding deadlines and engage in working methodologies that resemble the usual everyday rough and tumble of industry life. At the same time, this 'real world' experience comes with an essential safety net – a chance to fail gloriously with no impact on your reputation, your income or your pride and then to get back into the rehearsal room and try again!

“You always feel challenged to directly open up your self… I’m proud of myself. I’m more happy and confident and I feel more like an artist.”

– Shanice Trustfull, actor and Acting alumna

Get hands-on access to industry-standard facilities and tons of bookable gear

“I love that we're treated like we are already working in the industry… You learn the hard way what needs to be done and what you can expect when stepping out of the Funkhaus with a degree in your hand.”
– Julie Kjær, actor and Acting alumna

You should be interested in some or all of the following:

Communicating through performance on screen and stage. 

Expressing yourself authentically through your own productions.

Being able to bring a production to an audience from scratch.

Learning to take and respond to both direction and feedback.

Understanding and tapping into your niche audience.

Our tutors are industry-acclaimed experts in their field, with a passion for passing on their knowledge to others. 

“There are endless opportunities to collaborate with like-minded people… All of this allows you to form friendships and professional connections that will stand the test of time.”
– Giulio Brizzi, actor and Acting alumnus

In the end, it’s our students’ work that counts. Take a look at a selection of recent examples below.

WHO'S GONNA SAVE US

Film Production BA (Hons) / HE Certificate

Screenwriting BA (Hons) / HE Certificate

Learn how to become a captivating presence on stage and screen with our 3-year BA degree or 1-year HE Certificate in acting in Berlin.

Acting BA (Hons) / HE Certificate

The Psychology of Creativity – Short Course

Monday 23 June – Friday 18 July 2025 | Level: Beginner

Get an in-depth overview of the world of psychology through the lens of creativity in this 4-week short course. Psychology explores the workings of the mind, human behaviour and how we engage with the world around us.  Within this broad field, Creativity Psychology has emerged as a dynamic area of study, with decades of scientific research, numerous dedicated labs, academic journals and major conferences worldwide. 

This course delves into the developmental roots of creativity and how to nurture it throughout life. We’ll explore the factors that cultivate creative skills, but beyond that we’ll examine the conditions that enhance the joy and fulfilment of the creative process. We’ll investigate the mechanisms linking creativity with our mental and physical health. Finally, we’ll adopt a socio-cultural perspective to explore how creativity influences communities and shapes the world around us. 

Staying true to the Catalyst approach, this course goes beyond lectures and exams. Together, we’ll engage with contemporary research and literature through seminar-style discussions. In hands-on workshops, you’ll gain practical, experiential understanding of each topic, and work toward applying science-based strategies to enhance your own creative practice.

Get hands-on access to cutting-edge facilities and tons of bookable gear.

Our tutors are industry-acclaimed experts in their field, with a passion for passing on their knowledge to others. Here are some of the tutors that will be supporting you throughout your learning process.

Self-Development & Creative Leadership Course

Explore the world of psychology through the lens of creativity, as you dive deep into creativity's developmental roots, its impact on mental and physical wellbeing and its role in shaping communities.

As an actor, director and scriptwriter, Adam Donald Ferreira has experienced the film industry from all angles. In his native New Zealand, he trained as an undergraduate in Stage and Screen Acting, before going on to get a Masters in Directing at Toi Whakaari Drama School. Since then, Adam’s career has taken him from New Zealand to Australia, the USA and, of course, Germany.

Adam started out in comedy, directing and writing productions at the Wellington-based theatre company Short Term Visitor Parking. He went on to perform in many Shakespeare productions in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, as well as devising shows and teaching at The Great American Laughing Stock Company. 

Adam brought his wealth of experience to Catalyst, masterminding our game-changing Acting course, which launched in 2017. An endless source of inspiration, he is dedicated to helping our students discover and craft their hidden talents.

Actor, director and scriptwriter Adam Donald Ferreira leads Catalyst's Acting courses. Read Adam Donald Ferreira's bio.

Courses that Adam tutors on: