Study information

Research and Performance

Module titleResearch and Performance
Module codeDRA1012
Academic year2020/1
Credits30
Module staff

Ms Emily Kreider (Lecturer)

Ms Emily Kreider (Lecturer)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

6

Number students taking module (anticipated)

100

Module description

Research and Performance is an exciting practice-led module that asks you to engage critically, creatively and thoughtfully with a particular area of research. The year cohort is divided into individual tutor groups. Each tutor will offer a different area of practice led research to their group. This could be anything from Dance Theatre to Theatre for Social Change to Voice Theatre. The different areas of research will depend on the teaching team.

Throughout the term, you will explore, experiment, and learn about your particular field of practice and research. You will respond to creative tasks and set challenges outlined by the convener. You will develop, create, rehearse and share your practical work. You may have the chance to consider other roles in this process, such as creative writing, directing, sound and digital design. You will participate in discussion-based seminars and feedback sessions throughout.

Following your completion of the module, you will critically reflect on your feedback, research and processes of creating new work in this field of theatre making.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to:

  • Introduce you to the principles and practical skills of theatre making and convention drawn from a particular area of research overseen by the module tutor.
  • To explore and understand the connections between theory, research and practice, rather than treat them as separate entities.
  • To develop and expand your approach to research through practice as a theatre maker.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. Demonstrate critical engagement with the principles of the chosen field of enquiry through independent and group research with specific tasks
  • 2. Develop a basic knowledge and understanding of theatre making processes in relation to field of research.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 3. Work to initiate creative, analytic and interpretative work within a range of proposed structures
  • 4. Explore theoretical concerns through practice and vice versa. Synthesise these findings in simple practical, creative and written tasks

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 5. Develop the ability to give and receive constructive critical feedback and to develop confidence in communication skills and simple analytic abilities.
  • 6. Express and communicate straightforward creative ideas, and research; develop the ability to initiate and sustain creative work.
  • 7. Work imaginatively, reliably, generously and with focus.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will include             

  • Preparatory and training sessions, practical workshops and tasks coupled with seminars on appropriate research material relating to tutors’ area of practice.
  • Explore field of research through a range of theatre making structures and creative processes.
  • Developing independent learning activities, tasks and shared practice; work in small groups to reflect and analyse ongoing creative work and research assignments.
  • The module concludes with an individual written analyses of your own process and research related to the area studied.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
992010

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching66Practical skills-based sessions exploring a specific area of theatre practice in depth; seminars, tutorials, film and video screenings; small group work; academic presentation; peer-led learning and practical experimentation; preparing creative material, including devising, directing and considering aspects of theatre craft as appropriate
Scheduled Learning and Teaching33Weekly student led session working on tasks outlined by module convener
Guided Independent Study201Independent study

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Continuous assessment60Continuous1-7Tutorial and regular in-class feedback
Essay402000 words1-2, 4-5Written feedback

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Continuous assessmentSelf-reflection log book on process 2000 words 1-8Referral/Deferral period
EssayEssay (2000 words1,3,6,8Referral/Deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

  • Brewer, M., Goddard, L., & Osborne, D. (Eds.). (2015). Modern and contemporary Black British drama. London: Palgrave Macmillan
  • Luckett, Sharrell and Tia M. Shaffer, eds., Black Acting Methods, London, Routledge, 2016.
  • Britton, John (ed.), 2013. Encountering Ensemble , London: Methuen Drama
  • Cameron, A., 2002. Daughters of Copper Woman (indigenous tradition of the clown), Toronto: Harbour.
  • Goode, Chris (2015) The Forest and the Field: Changing Theatre in a Changing World. Oberon Potato: London
  • Hodge, A., 2010. Actor Training.  London: Routledge.
  • Lecoq, J., 2000. The Moving Body. London: Methuen. 
  • Marshall, L., 2001 The Body Speaks.  London: Methuen.
  • Miller, J. 2007 Ariane Mnouchkine. New York, NY: Routledge.
  • Schutzman, Cohen, C.  (2006) A Boal Companion: Dialogues on theatre and cultural politics (London: Routledge)     
  • Thomaidis, K. (2017) Theatre & Voice. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
  • Thorpe, Jess and Tashi Gore, A Beginner’s Guide to Devising Theatre, London: Bloomsbury, 2019       
  • Oida, Yoshi (2002) The Invisible Actor, London : Methuen    

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Key words search

drama, performance, research

Credit value30
Module ECTS

15

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

4

Available as distance learning?

No

Last revision date

02/07/2020