Module Identifier DR10220  
Module Title CONTEMPORARY THEATRE, PERFORMANCE AND SCENOGRAPHIC STUDIES  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator Professor David I Rabey  
Semester Semester 2  
Co-Requisite DR10120  
Course delivery Lecture   20 Hours  
  Seminars / Tutorials   10 Hours  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours For information on due dates for submission of assessed work, please refer to the departmental web pages at http://www.aber.ac.uk/tfts/duedates.shtml 40%
Semester Assessment 2 x 2000-word essays: 50%, attendance and contribution to class discussion: 10%  60%

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:

Identify different recent stylistic and political objectives in theatre writing, design, presentation and performance;
Locate these in historical, social, intellectual and theatrical contexts;
Locate these in global contexts through comparison with non-Western theatre.


Brief description

Texts and examples of theatrical and performance practices from the Western and Eastern theatrical traditions, with particular attention on the following aspects and concepts: style, recent historical developments of realism, naturalism, absurdism, political expressionism, aspects of design and scenography, theatre in society, and non-Western theatre.

A list of recommended reading is provided. Selected texts and performances will be announced later.

Aims

To examine some further methods and problems of studying Western and non-Western theatre and performance, with special emphasis of more recent developments

To examine the key concept of style with regard to both recent Western approaches to acting, modes of dramatic writing, design, performance, and traditional Eastern approaches

To apply these findings to a series of exemplary play texts

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Brandon, James R. (1997) The Cambridge Guide to Asian Theatre Cambridge: CUP
Huxley, Michael & Witts, Noel (eds.) (1996) The Twentieth Century Performance Reader London: Routledge
Mangan, Michael (1998) Bond, Edward Plymouth: Northcote House
Saunders, Graham (2002) Love Me or Kill Me: Sarah Kane and the Theatre of Extremes Manchester: Manchester University Press
Sierz, Aleks (2001) In-Yer-Face Tehatre: British Drama Today London: Faber
Schencher, Richard (2002) Performance Studies London: Routledge
Rabey, David Ian (2003) English Drama Since 1940 London: Longman
** Essential Reading
Barnes, Peter (1999) Dreaming London: Faber
Beckett, Samuel Endgame London: Faber
Bond, Edward Saved London: Methuen
Kane, Sarah Blasted London: Methuen
Pinter, Harold Mountain Language London: Faber
Ravenhill, Mark (1996) Shopping and Fucking London: Methuen
Churchill, Caryl (2000) Far Away London: NHB

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4