DR10120 - INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE STUDS 1

Module Identifier

DR10120

Module Title

INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE STUDS 1

Academic Year

2007/2008

Co-ordinator

Dr Alison Forsyth

Semester

Semester 1

Other staff

Dr Patricia A Rhodes, Mr Patrick David Cooper, Ms Esther Pilkington, Dr Karoline Gritzner

Co-Requisite

DR10220

Course delivery

Seminars / Tutorials

10 x 1 hr seminars

Lecture

20 x 1hr lectures

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment Length/Details	Proportion
Semester Exam	2 Hours EXAMINATION	40%
Semester Assessment	ESSAY 1 (2,000 WORDS)	25%
Semester Assessment	Essay 2 (2000 words)	25%
Semester Assessment	CLASS CONTRIBUTION	10%
Supplementary Assessment	RESIT Written Essays/Exam. Failed work must be resubmitted or retaken. To resit class contribution the student will be asked to submit a 1500 word essay.	100%

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this module students should be able:

to respond analytically to a range of theatrical texts and modes of live performance
to articulate an awareness of relationships between texts, performances and cultural contexts
to demonstrate an understanding of key concepts and methodologies within theatre and performance studies

Brief description

This introductory module covers representative play-texts and performances across a broad chronological timescale (including Ancient, Neo-classical, Renaissance, Restoration, Expressionism, Naturalism, Realism)

Aims

To examine some of the methods and problems of studying theatre and performance
To examine certain key aspects and concepts of Western theatre and performance, in their theatrical, historical, social, religious and intellectual contexts
To apply these concepts to a series of exemplary dramatic and performance texts

Content

Texts and examples of theatrical and performance practices from the Western theatrical tradition, with particular attention being paid to the following aspects and concepts: the actor; the director; the audience; theatres and performances. This module entails a number of compulsory theatre visits. The cost is estimated at being no more than £25.00.

Module Skills

Research skills	Students will demonstrate the results of individual research in the form of essays, examinations and oral contribution.
Communication	Communication skills will be developed in seminar sessions.
Improving own Learning and Performance	Students will receive feedback on written assignments.
Information Technology	IT and information handling skills will be demonstrated through students individual research (library and web) and through written work (word processing).
Personal Development and Career planning	Students will have the opportunity to explore specific areas which reflect and strengthen their individual career needs
Subject Specific Skills	Students are encouraged to develop the use of critical and analytical vocabulary in their written and oral response to respresentative examples from the canon of Western drama (text and performance). Upon completion students should be able to: * to respond analytically to a range of theatrical texts and modes of live performance * to articulate an awareness of relationships between texts, performances and cultural contexts * to demonstrate an understanding of key concepts and methodologies within theatre studies and Western Drama

Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
Rape of the Fair Country
Anon Everyman
Buchner Woyzeck Nick Hern Edition
Chekhov, The Cherry Orchard Penguin
Hatcher The Compleat Female Stage Beauty
Ionesco The Bald Soprano
Racine Phaedra
Sophocles Oedipus Rex
Wycherley The Country Wife
** Recommended Background
Barton, J (1984) Playing Shakespeare (Methuen)
Bate and Jackson, (2001) The Oxford Illustrated History of Shakespeare on Stage (Oxford)
Brook, P (1990) The Empty Space (Penguin)
Stanislavski, An Actor Prepares
Stanislavski, Building a Character
Styan, J L Modern Drama in Theory and Practice - Volumes 1,2, and 3 (Cambridge)
Styan, J L Restoration Comedy in Performance (Cambridge)
Wallis and Shepherd, (1998) Studying Plays (Arnold)
Walton, M (1998) The Greek Sense of Theatre: Tragedy Reviewed (Methuen)

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4