Module Identifier DR30320  
Module Title THEATRE IN SOCIETY  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator Professor David I Rabey  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Ms Karoline Gritzner, Dr Roger Owen  
Pre-Requisite DR10120 , DR10220  
Course delivery Lecture   10 x 1 hour  
  Seminars / Tutorials   10 x 1 hour  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam 1 x 2 Hour 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 55%
Semester Assessment 2,500 word written assignment 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.shtml35%
Semester Assessment assessment of class contribution via presentations and seminar discussion10%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
To demonstrate an intelligent awareness of the different ways in which theatre incarnates social debate.

To show an awareness of the political implications of analytical positions in relation to theatre.

To co-operate as part of a group in presenting an argument in the analysis of course material.

Aims

To examine the various ways in which theatre operates in relation to society.
To describe theatre as a social construct
To present and debate the relevance of several different descriptions of society as seen by several different practitioners and critics.

Brief description

This is a course of directed reading and weekly discussions, focusing on texts by theatre practitioners, theorists and critics which outline several different approaches to the relationship between theatre and society. Sessions are likely to address the following topics:
1. Subsidy and Separatism
2. Popular Theatre and Community Theatre
3. Theatre of Catastrophe and Radical Elitism
4. Theatre of the Oppressed and the Rainbow of Desire programme
5. Gay and Lesbian Theatre
6. Feminist and Women?s Theatre
7. Explicit Body Performance
8. Intercultural Theatre
9. Barba?s Third Theatre
10. Conclusion

Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
Aston, E. (1994) An Introduction to Feminism and Theatre London: Routledge
Barba, E. (1995) The Paper Canoe London: Routledge
Bharucha, R. (1994) Theatre and the World London: Routledge
Boal, A (1994) The Rainbow of Desire London: Routledge
Barker, H. (1997) Arguments for a Theatre (3rd ed) Manchester: Manchester UP
Lucas, I. (1994) Impertinant Decorum London: Cassell
McGrath, J. (1981) A Good Night Out London: NHB
Schneider, R. (1997) The Explicit Body in Performance London: Routledge
** Recommended Text
Boal, A. (2002) Games for Actors and Non-Actors (2nd ed.) London: Routledge
Jellicoe, A. (1987) Community Plays (currently out of print) London: Methuen
Kershaw, B. (1992) The Politics of Performance London: Routledge
Hall, P. (1999) The Necessary Theatre London: NHB
McGrath, J. (2002) Naked Thoughts that Roam About London: NHB
Pavis, P. (1992) Theatre at the Crossroads of Culture London: Routledge
Watson, I. (1993) Towards a Third Theatre London: Routledge
** Essential Reading
DELGADO, M.M. AND SVICH, C, (EDS 2002) (2002) THEATRE IN CRISI? MANCHESTER UP
** Recommended Text
Wilson, A. (2001) The Ground on Which I Stand London: NHB
WATSON, I (2002) NEGOTIATING CULTURES: EUGENIO BARBA AND THE INTERCULTURAL DEBATE MANCHESTER U P

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6