Module Identifier DR31130  
Module Title CONTEMPORARY BRITISH AND IRISH DRAMA  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator Professor David I Rabey  
Semester Semester 2  
Other staff Ms Karoline Gritzner, Dr Roger Owen  
Pre-Requisite DR10120 , DR10220  
Course delivery Lecture   10 x 2 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 30%
Semester Assessment 2 x 2,500 word written assignments (30% each)  60%
Semester Assessment assessment of class contributions via presentations and seminar discussion10%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
To show an analytical understanding of a range of dramatic texts and production issues.

To organize informed and original arguments reflecting research and independent thought in the subject area of the course.

To demonstrate an intelligent awareness of current debates about the social purpose and ramifications of drama in the period under review.

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

Aims

To examine a selection of British and Irish drama texts, and to consider theatrical problems and consequences of previous and possible productions.

Brief description

This is a course of directed reading and weekly discussions, analyzing recent material which is purposefully challenging in both form and content, and is often imperfectly navigated by most of the existing literary criticism which ostensibly relates to it. Consequently, there is a strong emphasis on students developing original ideas about the specifically theatrical dimensions and demands of the texts under review.
Course issues are likely to recur in more than one session, but likely to include: successive dramatic bids to find language and images which interrogate conventional relationships between power, sexuality and morality; movements away from Naturalism and towards a New Expressionism; challenges posed to theatrical design, physical performance and audience comprehension; subversions of previous dramatic conventions and texts; the problems of staging violence; the role of humour; issues of national and sexual identity.


Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
Barker, Howard (2001) Collected Plays 5 London: Calder
Barnes, Peter (1999) Dreaming London: Methuen
Bond, Edward (1972) Lear London: Methuen
Cartwright, Jim (1996) I Licked a Slag's Deodorant London: Methuen
Churchill, Caryl (1994) The Striker London: NHB
Friel, Brian (1981) Translations London: Faber
Jones, Marie (2000) Stones in his Pockets London: NHB
Kane, Sarah (2002) Complete Plays London: Methuen
Marber, Patrick (1997) Closer London: Methuen
O'Rowe, Mark (1999) Howie the Rookie London: NHB
Ravenhill, Mark (1996) Shopping and F***ing London: NHB
Rudkin, David (1986) The Saxon Shore London: Methuen
Thomas, Ed (1998) Gas Station Angel London: Methuen
Wertenbaker, Timberlake (1996) Plays: 1 London: Faber
** Recommended Background
Barker, Howard (1997) Arguments for a Theatre (3rd ed.) London: Calder
Davies, Hazel Walford (ed) (1998) State of Play: 2 Playwrights of Wales Llandysul: Gomer
Demastes, W. W. (ed) (1996) British Playwrights 1956-1995 Westport: Greenwood
Rabey, David Ian (1989) Howard Barker: Politics and Desire Basingstoke: Macmillan
Rabey, David Ian (1997) David Rudkin: Sacred Disobedience Amsterdam: Harwood
Rabey, David Ian (2003) English Drama Since 1940 London: Longman
Saunders, Graham (2002) Love Me or Kill Me: Sarah Kane and the Theatre of Extremes Manchester: Manchester UP

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6