Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 1 x 2 hour introductory lecture. |
| Seminars / Tutorials | 1 x 2 hour feedback forum. |
| Practical | 2 x 2 hour weekly sessions for 10 weeks |
| Other | 10 hours of peer viewing of other projects |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | [1] Performance Project (30 - 40 mins) A formative assessment, assessing students' practical contribution throughout the project, both during the rehearsal and devising process, as well as during the final performance]. | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | [2] Illustrated Essay (2,500 words) (A written account that critically reflects and evaluates the practical project. It may also include supplementary materials, exercises and other documentation that students will have been encouraged to complete and collect throughout the process). | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | [1] Performance Etude (5 minutes presentation followed (This will be a brief solo performance in which the student will be required to demonstrate some of the historical, aesthetic and practical concepts explored during the module). by 5 minutes of questions). | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | [2] Illustrated Essay (2,500 words) (A written account that critically reflects upon and evaluates the etude. It may also include supplementary materials,exercises and other documentation that the student will have been encouraged to complete and collect throughout their devising process). | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Develop and apply the basic skills necessary to work effectively and collaboratively as part of an ensemble in a studio workshop environment.
Identify and explore ways of responding to and embodying text by combining textual analysis with practical exploration.
Organize and realize performative practices in the exposition of conceptual, dramatic material.
Demonstrate evidence of research into historical, socio-political, cultural and aesthetic parameters relating to the text.
Document and critically reflect on the theatre making approaches and methodologies encountered in the module.
Brief description
Aims
Content
Working in small groups under the guidance of a member of staff, students will develop and prepare a short performance (30-40 mins) for presentation to the year group at the end of the module. Each group will be supplied with the same text and selected range of scenographic and technical elements and will use these to explore historical and contemporary approaches to theatre-making. As a Part 1 module, emphasis will be placed on working within a group, reading the performance possibilities implied by a script, and utilizing the body, the voice and technical equipment within the material conditions of a studio environment to realize a performance. As an integral part of the module, students will be required to reflect upon their own experience and contributions to the workshop process and moment of live performance. This reflective requirement will also necessitate an engagement with a range of critical perspectives, built around directed weekly reading. In doing so, students will be expected to begin to locate and contextualize their own work within past and contemporary practice.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | |
| Communication | The ability to communicate ideas effectively is developed in the seminars and assessed directly through Assessment 1 and 2. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Self-regulation, motivation and time-management skills are developed through the module and are demanded for the successful completion of its assignments. These skills are directly assessed through Assessment 3. |
| Information Technology | The ability to utilize information technology both in the research for and delivery of written assignments is assessed directly in Assessments 2. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Transferable skills (managing personal workloads and meeting deadlines, designing and realizing research project) are developed through the completion of assessment tasks. Career’s awareness does not of itself constitute an assessed element of this module, however. |
| Problem solving | Analytical problem solving, outcome recognition and the identification of appropriate strategies and procedures are encouraged and assessed across the duration of the module. |
| Research skills | Appropriate personal research and the development of effective personal research practices are directly assessed through Assessments 1 and 2. |
| Subject Specific Skills | See QAA Dance, Drama and Performance Subject Benchmark Statement (2007). The following subject specific skills are developed and partly assessed: An understanding of: a. histories and theoretical explanations of forms and traditions of theatre, scenography and performance; b. historical and contemporary contexts of production, circulation and reception of theatre; c. key practitioners and practices, and/or theorists, which may include writers, actors, composers, critics, dancers, directors, choreographers, designers, and producers; d. cultural and/or historical contexts of such practitioners and practices; e traditional and contemporary critical perspectives on theatre, and of relevant theories, issues and debates relating to the subject; f. a range of key components of theatre within the disciplines: text, movement, aural and visual environment, the performer; and, g. significant sources and critical awareness of the main research methods used to collect and analyse data; |
| Team work | Effective group work through negotiating ideas and opinions is addressed through the seminars. Seminar discussions demand the application of skills necessary to conduct collaborative activity. These skills are directly assessed through Assessment 3. |
Reading List
Essential ReadingBogart, Anne (2005) The Viewpoints Book: A Practical Guide to Viewpoints and Composition New York; St. Paul, MN: Theatre Communications Group Primo search Carnicke, Sharon Marie (2009) Stanislavsky in Focus 2nd ed Harwood Academic Primo search Harvie, Jen and Lavender, Andy (eds) (2010) Making Contemporary Theatre: International Rehearsal Processes Manchester University Press Primo search Kelleher, Joe and Ridout, Nicholas (eds) (2006) Contemporary Theatres in Europe Routledge Primo search Lehmann, Hans-Thies (2006) Postdramatic Theatre Routledge Primo search Mitchell, Katie (2009) The Director's Craft: A Handbook for the Theatre Routledge Primo search Turner, Cathy and Behrndt, Synne K. (2008) Dramaturgy and Performance Palgrave Macmillan Primo search Zarilli, McConachie, Williams, Sorgenfrei (2006) Theatre Histories: An Introduction Routledge Primo search Recommended Text
Barba, Eugenio and Savarese, Nicola (2005) Dictionary of Theatre Anthropology: The Secret Art of the Performer 2nd ed Routledge Primo search Moseley, Nick (2005) Acting and Reacting: Tools for the Modern Actor Nick Hern Books Primo search
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4