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Contemporary Performance Practices

Module description

This module introduces a range of contemporary international performance practices and skills. Its primary focus is on performer training but the principles and techniques taught are foundational to a range of theatre practices (from devising and composition to dramaturgy and applied theatre). It is divided into several blocks, each one exploring a different aspect of technique (for example, body, voice, space, ensemble). We will introduce a series of practical workshops in performance practices, which will include  performer training: for example, Frantic Assembly physical theatre, yoga, Japanese Butoh and Body Weather practices, Viewpoints, Meyerhold’s biomechanics, Grotowski-based exercises, Anna Halprin’s site-specific composition techniques and Augusto Boal’s games. You will develop and apply skills alongside these practical workshops through lectures and seminars, screenings, individual tasks and projects. You will also be invited to develop these practices further and understand them in their historical and social contexts.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module aims to:

• Introduce you to a range of international contemporary performance practices
• Develop specific practical skills in performance, devising and techniques
• Give you the opportunity to explore these practices through your own work
• Enhance your employability through knowledge of new performance skills, and IT skills of editing and producing a digital portfolio of work

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Gain knowledge of a range of international contemporary performance and applied performance practices
• 2. Synthesise practices learnt into a piece of performance or performed workshop

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 3. Demonstrate ability to learn new forms of performance and apply this to performance-making
• 4. Demonstrate enhanced knowledge of forms of performance and/or performance facilitation

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 5. Enhanced knowledge of forms of performance and/or applied performance facilitation
• 6. Enhanced technical skills through the development of a digital portfolio

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Introduction to a range of performance practices through staff-led workshops, and self-directed sessions
• Rehearsal for final performance/performed workshop
• Presentation of final performance/performed workshop

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

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

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

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 50%) you will be required to submit a further literature review. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Bishop, C. (2006) ‘The Social Turn: Collaboration and Its Discontents’, Artforum 44.6 (February 2006): 178-183.
• Bogart, A. and Landau, T. (200 ) The Viewpoints Book (London: Nick Hern)
• Graham, S. and Hogget, S. (2009) The Frantic Assembly Book of Devising Theatre (London: Routledge)
• Grotowski, J. (1975) Towards a Poor Theatre (London: Methuen)
• Fraleigh, S. and Nakamura, T. (2006) Hijikata Tatsumi and Ohno Kazuo (London: Routledge)
• Hawkes, T. (2004) Shakespeare in the Present (London: Routledge)
• Posner, Dassia, Claudia Orenstein and John Bell (2014) Puppetry and Material Performance (London and New York: Routledge)
• Challenges for Practice (Bristol: Intellect)
• Schutzman, Cohen, C.  (2006) A Boal Companion: Dialogues on theatre and cultural politics (London: Routledge)
• Stone, J.W. (2010) Crossing gender in Shakespeare (London: Routledge)
• Tufnell, M. and Crickmay, C. (1993) Body, Space, Image (London: Dance Books)
• Worth, L. and Poynor, H. (2004) Anna Halprin, (London: Routledge)

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE - https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11515
  

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• Cultural adaptations available on Exeter Digital Archives
• DVD of documents and video-excerpts of AHRC British Asian theatre project

Key words search

Contemporary performance practice, theatre research, performer training, body, voice