Unit information: Performance 4: Practices in Context in 2014/15

Unit name	Performance 4: Practices in Context
Unit code	DRAM31006
Credit points	30
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Professor. Jones
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	s: Approaches to Performance & Screen Studies , 3 and 4
Co-requisites	s Approaches to Performance & Screen Studies 5: Paradigms and Perspectives
School/department	Department of Drama: Theatre, Film, Television
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

Aims: to continue the exploration of a range of performance practices in a designated historical period and/or genre, and investigate appropriate critical, historical and theoretical frameworks; to investigate further related languages of thearetical expression in terms of both critical and creative practices; to develop further creative and practical production skills and understanding. Topics may include: avent-garde; twentieth century theatre; Renaissance drama; street peformance; radical theatre; theatre performance.

Aims:

1. To explore critically a range of performance practices.

2. To develop appropriate critical and theoretical approaches to the chosen practices.

3. To investigate in a chosen practical and creative manner one or more alternative languages of theatrical expression.

4. To develop appropriate self-reflective analytical methods.

5. To develop production skills for theatre practice.

6. To develop group-work project skills.

7. To be able to reflect on individual work within a collaborative production context.

Intended Learning Outcomes

1. To demonstrate sound knowledge of key secondary literature

2. To be aware of, and able to apply a range of established critical and theoretical ideas

3. To present a clear and well-structured argument, supported by relevant critical and theoretical literature

4. To present work that is consistently accurate in terms of its use of English and referencing

5. To be able to communicate verbally key ideas based on secondary reading and relevant primary texts

6. To demonstrate skills of time management

7. To plan and execute a research project

Plus as appropriate to the mode of teaching, that is, the combination of seminar and practice-based workshop and/or presentations:

8. To be able to write a reflective account of practical work

9. To be able to work constructively and creatively in a group-based workshop

10. To be able to work within the disciplines of production and project processes, working to deadlines and within production budgets

11. To work independently and reach individual/personal judgements within a collaborative context

12. To be able to reflect on individual work within a collaborative production context

Teaching Information

Seminars, workshops, screenings, as appropriate

Assessment Information

3,000-word essay + student presentation + 1,500-word write-up, or equivalent.

OR

Essay [2,500 words] [1/3 of total unit mark] + Assessment of short practical workshops, inc. preparation & participation in class; presentation/performance; and critical analysis [1,500 words] [2/3 of total unit mark]

OR

Assessment of long practical workshops, inc. preparation & participation in class; preparation & execution of technical production role; presentation/performance; and critical analysis [2,500 words]

Reading and References

Exemplary:

• Bigsby, C.W.E. (1992) Modern American Drama, 1945-1990, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• Demastes, William W. and Smith Fischer, Iris (eds) (2007) Interrogating America through theatre and performance, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

• Hay, Samuel A. (1994) African American theatre: an historical and critical analysis, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• Miller, Arthur (1987) Timebends: a life, London: Methuen.

• Murphy, Brenda (ed.) (1999) The Cambridge companion to American Women Playwrights, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• Wilmeth, Don B. (ed.) (2007) The Cambridge guide to American Theatre, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.