DRAM10010 Theatre Context and Conventions

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module offers students the opportunity to develop their skills in reading dramatic texts from diverse periods in the European theatrical tradition, and to trace the development of theatre from the Greek classical period, through the Elizabethan and Restoration periods, and into the nineteenth century. Students will discuss and analyse theatrical conventions at play in a range of texts, and examine the relationship between space, audience, language, and convention.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to: identify and discuss a range of theatrical conventions, evaluate and situate the different historical genres covered, analyse theatrical texts in terms of performance conventions, test and practically investigate how conventions work on stage.

Indicative Module Content:

Lecture Schedule

Class 1: Introduction –Theatre Context and Conventions

Class 2: Greek Tragedy: Oedipus the King (Sophocles)

Class 3: Oedipus the King Scene Analysis

Class 4: The Pageant Play: The Second Shepherds’ Pageant (Wakefield)

Class 5: Scene Analysis: The Second Shepherds’ Pageant (Wakefield)

Class 6: Restoration Drama: The Rover (Behn)

Class 7: Scene Analysis: The Rover

Class 8: French Farce: Tartuffe (Moliere)

Class 9: French Farce: Tartuffe Scene Analysis

Class 10: Naturalism: Miss Julie (Strindberg)

Class 11: Miss Julie, scene analysis

Class 12 Recap and Exam Preparation

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Small Group

6
Tutorial

6
Specified Learning Activities

16
Autonomous Student Learning

60
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Small group learning involving discussion, short question sheets, and one-on-one feedback on assignments. Also lectures where broader contextual themes will be outlined and the plays put into historical perspective. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Leaving Cert Higher Level or equivalent


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Critical commentary Week 7 n/a Graded No

30
Attendance: Attendance and contribution Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

10
Examination: 2 hour examination covering at least three of the plays on the module Coursework (End of Trimester) No Graded No

60

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on mid-term assignment, and individual progress given in SGT's. Written comments on final exam available for student access.

Indicative lecture Schedule

Class 1: Introduction –Theatre Context and Conventions

Class 2: Greek Tragedy: Oedipus the King (Sophocles)

Class 3: Oedipus the King Scene Analysis

Class 4: The Pageant Play: The Second Shepherds’ Pageant (Wakefield)

Class 5: Scene Analysis: The Second Shepherds’ Pageant (Wakefield)

Class 6: Restoration Drama: The Rover (Behn)

Class 7: Scene Analysis: The Rover

Class 8: French Farce: Tartuffe (Moliere)

Class 9: French Farce: Tartuffe Scene Analysis

Class 10: Naturalism: Miss Julie (Strindberg)

Class 11: Miss Julie, scene analysis

Class 12 Recap and Exam Preparation

Required reading

Plays
Oedipus the King
The Second Shepherds’ Pageant
The Rover,
Tartuffe
Miss Julie

Critical Reading
Weekly critical reading handouts will be posted on blackboard for students. In addition to this students should read the following:

Aston, Elaine and George Savona, Theatre as Sign System (London: Routledge, 1991).

Brockett, Oscar, The Essential Theatre, (London, Wadsworth, 2003)

Fischer-Lichte, Erika, History of European Drama and Theatre (London: Routledge, 2002)

Wickham, Glynne, A History of the Theatre (new edition) (London: Phaidon Press, 1992).

Williams, Raymond, Drama in Performance (Milton Keynes: Open University Press, 1991).

Worthen, W.B., The Wadsworth Anthology of Drama, Fourth Edition (

Zarrilli, Phillip, et all., Theatre Histories: An Introduction (London: Routledge, 2006).

Name Role
Dr Paul Halferty Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Justine Zapin Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Darren Brennan Tutor
Killian Kirwan Tutor
Salome Paul Tutor
Sally Stevens Tutor
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: Weeks 2-12 Mon 12:00 - 12:50
Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: Weeks 2-12 Mon 13:00 - 13:50
Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - Autumn: Weeks 2-12 Mon 13:00 - 13:50
Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - Autumn: Weeks 2-12 Mon 14:00 - 14:50
Tutorial Offering 4 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Tutorial Offering 5 Week(s) - Autumn: Weeks 2-12 Mon 15:00 - 15:50
Tutorial Offering 6 Week(s) - Autumn: Weeks 2-12 Mon 15:00 - 15:50
Tutorial Offering 7 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn