| Summary: | This paper is a qualitative study of the pedagogical conditions and the knowledge necessary for the creation and development of an education regarding leadership in the field of amateur theatre. The purpose of the study has been for participants to reflect and create knowledge about the creation and implementation of a course for leaders of amateur theatre. Questions raised in the study concern the students’ previous experience of drama, theatre and leadership; their desire to become leaders of theatre; their own view of their need for knowledge for their future leadership; their understanding of the contents of the education and the theoretical perspectives upon which a course in theatre leadership can build. Finally, the participants’ perceptions of difficulties and possibilities of working as theatre leaders were investigated. All 13 participants have answered a questionnaire regarding their previous experience of drama, theatre and leadership and also about why they want to become theatre leaders. The participants have also taken part in four focus conversations regarding what they think they learned, how they value the knowledge they gained and what knowledge they feel will be needed in a future leadership. The data has been analyzed hermeneutically to find patterns in the participants’ perceptions of their learning. The results show that participants consider it being useful to work in groups with exercises related to their future leadership. In doing so, they reinforced prior knowledge and developed new knowledge within all areas of the education. The results also show that several participants fear there will be financial constraints and a lot of solitary work in the future. The opportunities expressed regard the participants’ increased ability to provide opportunities for children and young people to play theatre and thus develop in the art of theatre as well as personally.
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