| Module Identifier |
DR33430 |
| Module Title |
DIRECTING PRACTICE 2 |
| Academic Year |
2007/2008 |
| Co-ordinator |
Mrs Joan G Mills |
| Semester |
Semester 2 |
| Other staff |
Mr Richard A D Cheshire |
| Pre-Requisite |
DR33620 , DR22910 |
| Course delivery |
Lecture | 5 x 1 hour lectures |
| |
Seminars / Tutorials | 5 x 1 hr seminars / 2 tutorials of 30 mins for each student and 3 observed rehearsals of 40 minutes
|
| Assessment |
| Assessment Type | Assessment Length/Details | Proportion |
|---|
| Semester Assessment | Practical Assessment | 70% |
| Semester Assessment | Oral examination (20 mins) | 30% |
| Supplementary Assessment | As with most of the level 3 modules of this kind offered in the Department, it is not possible for the students to completely re-sit any components missed. However, in accordance with established Departmental practice, if a student is unable to complete their participation in the production and the workshops for accepted medical reasons, then an essay requiring reflection upon those components of work which were not completed may be set in lieu of those components. The scale of this essay will be determined by the Director of Teaching according to the percentage of incomplete work (to a maximum of 5000 words). In the case of any problems, then the Director of Teaching will consult with the Dean. | 70% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Resit the Oral examination (20 mins) | 30% |
|
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students should be able to:
1. Independently organise and realise two short theatre projects of contrasting style, from an initial informed choice of script and cast, through the rehearsal process to public presentation
2. To demonstrate a practical grasp of a range of appropriate rehearsal techniques and approaches to staging texts, and demonstrate the ability to communicate successfully with a team of actors and production staff
3. Justify artistic decisions made and working practices adopted during the rehearsal period with regard to the chosen source material
4. Reflect upon, evaluate and criticise the completed projects, and to assess the effectiveness of the rehearsal methodologies employed by means of a 30-minute oral examination
Brief description
This module is restricted to students who have demonstrated a developing ability in directing, to specialize and extend their knowledge and practice of the advanced skills, methodologies and approaches which are required for directing text from page to stage. It is open to those students who have shown particular talent and aptitude towards the art and craft of directing through their study of directing practice in DR22910 and DR33620. Students interested in taking this module will be required to prepare for a twenty minute interview at which they should discuss their ideas, objectives and strategies for directing two contrasting extracts from different theatrical styles in an approved Departmental theatre space. This interview will be conducted by two experienced Departmental practitioners who will assess the viability and merits of each proposal. If successful, students will be given the opportunity to cast and direct fellow students in the two contrasting dramatic extracts of between 20 minutes duration each, for public performance in one of the Department's performance spaces. At the end of the rehearsal and performance process students will then be required to critically reflect on their experience in the light of professional feedback and self analysis.
Aims
-
To provide students with an opportunity to develop their practical directing skills further, working for the first time
entirely independently, but with support of an experienced staff facilitator
-
To extend students knowledge of practical and theoretical study of directing practice for theatre
-
To encourage students to gain an advanced understanding of directing by undertaking projects with different
demands in terms of style and/or period
Content
The module provides students with the opportunity to select, cast and direct two 20-25 minute extracts within a supervised context, and demonstrate an intelligent understanding of the playwrights' intentions and dramatic methods. A preparatory lecture will be followed by a series of lectures, seminars, practical tutorials within the rehearsal environment and individual tutorials conducted privately, without the performers present.
Students will create an artistic concept for their chosen material, and select appropriate rehearsal techniques and exercises in order to realise these concepts in performance. This module requires each student to work intensively in the rehearsal room for up to 15 hours a week, with their chosen actors but without the pressure of the design or technical process.
They will need to evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen rehearsal methodologies in the light of their actors' achievement, criticism and comments from the course tutors, and will be given the opportunity to discuss the potential career opportunities for aspiring professional theatre directors. Each student will reflect on the process through a viva-voce examination.
Lecture Schedule
Lecture 1: The choice of texts: working within the given circumstances.
Lecture 2:The casting process. The Director/Actor relationship; managing the actors.
Lecture 3: The rehearsal process: organisation, inspiration and communication.
Lecture 4: The director's relationship with the designer: the designing director.
Lecture 5: Experimenting with genre and style.
Seminar Schedule
The seminars will discuss the concepts and topics introduced in the lectures. Students will receive an appropriate reading list for the lecture and seminar content at the beginning of the module. These will be specifically tailored to student choices for their projects.
Tutorials
Tutorials will allow student directors to discuss their progress, problems encountered, and seek advice. These will be conducted privately. Other tutorials will be within the rehearsal environment, and begin from observation of rehearsals by the tutor followed by feedback and discussion, which may well include the actors.
Reading Lists
Books
** General Text
Abbot, John (2007) The Improvisation Book
Nick Hern Books
Berry, Cicely. (2001.) Text in action /Cicely Berry ; foreword by Adrian Noble.
Virgin 075350541X
Boal, Augusto. (1992 (various p) Games for actors and non-actors /Augusto Boal; translated by Adrian Jackson.
Routledge 0415061547
Calderone, M / Lloyd-Williams, M Actions: The Actor's Thesaurus
Nick Hern Books
Callow, Simon (1991) Acting in Restoration Comedy
Applause Theatre Books
De Mallet Burgess, Thomas (2000.) The singing and acting handbook :games and exercises for the performer /Thomas De Mallet Burgess and Nicholas Skilbeck. http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0649/99029440-d.html
Routledge 0415166578HBK
Eddershaw, Margaret. (1996.) Performing Brecht :forty years of British performance /Margaret Eddershaw.
Routledge 0415080118
Edwards, Betty. (1982 (1990 prin) Drawing on the right side of the brain /Betty Edwards.
Fontana 0006366023
Gelb, Michael. (1994,(1998).) Body learning:an introduction to the Alexander technique /Michael Gelb.
Aurum 1854102869PBK
Hagen, Uta (c1991.) A challenge for the actor /Uta Hagen.
Maxwell Macmillan International 0684190400
Hampton, Marion/ Acker, Barbara (March 1998) The Vocal Vision:Views on Voice by 24 Leading Teachers, Coaches and Directors
Hal Leonard Corporation 155783282XTRADEPAPER
Hodge, Alison (2000 (various p) Twentieth century actor training /edited by Alison Hodge.
Routledge 0415194512
Huxley, Michael & Witts, Noel (eds) (2002.) The twentieth century performance reader /edited by Michael Huxley and Noel Witts.
Routledge 0415252865
Johnstone, Chris (1998) House of Games: Making Theatre for Everyday Life
Nick Hern Books
Johnstone, Chris The Improvisation Game
Nick Hern Books
Linklater, Kristin (Feb. 1992) Freeing Shakespeare's Voice:The Actor's Guide to Talking the Text
Theatre Communications Group, Incorporated 1559360313TRADEPAPER
Park, Glen. (2000.) The art of changing :a new approach to the Alexander technique /Glen Park.
Ashgrove 1853981303
Pisk, Litz. (1998.) The actor and his body /by Litz Pisk.
Methuen Drama 0413736601
Rodenburg, Patsy (April 2004) The Actor Speaks:Voice and the Performer
Methuen Publishing Limited 0413700305TRADEPAPER
Spolin, Viola. (1999.) Improvisation for the theatre :a handbook of teaching and directing techniques /[by] Viola Spolin.
Northwestern University 081014008X
Zarrilli, Phillip (2002.) Acting (re)considered :a theoretical and practical guide /edited by Phillip B. Zarrilli.
Routledge 0415262992
Zinder, David (2002.) Body--voice--imagination :a training for the actor / c David Zinder.
Routledge 0878301518
** Recommended Text
Barton, John (1984.) Playing Shakespeare /John Barton; with a foreword by Trevor Nunn.
Methuen 0413547906
Bogart, Anne (2001.) A director prepares :seven essays on art and theatre /Anne Bogart.
Routledge 0415238315
Hall, Peter (April 2004) Shakespeare's Advice to the Players
Oberon Books, Limited 1840024119TRADEPAPER
Linklater, Kristin. (2006.) Freeing the natural voice :imagery and art in the practice of voice and language /by Kristin Linklater ; illustrations by Andre Slob.
Nick Hern 1854599712PBK
Merlin, Bella. (c2007.) The complete Stanislavsky toolkit /Bella Merlin.
Nick Hern 1854597930PBK
Stafford-Clark, Max. (1989.) Letters to George :the account of a rehearsal /Max Stafford-Clark.
Niele Hern Books 1854590804
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6