DRAM10060 Introduction Physical Theatre

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module introduces students to diverse practices of physical theatre and the role of the body in performance contexts. Students learn rudimentary skills in physicalising performance. The module is taught as a series of intense workshops over five sessions and each session is of three hours duration.
Teaching focus includes: approaches to physical practices; the body in theatrical space; and creating performance collaboratively. Students are introduced to a range of physical theatre, and movement practices and styles which may include: Etienne Decroux, Pina Bausch, Anne Bogart, Rudolf Laban, and Eugenio Barba among others. Students are assessed by their In-class Contribution and submission of preparatory tasks in advance of class; a Learning Journal (end of term submission), and in a group presentation (in-class).

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Be familiar with the role of the body in performance as a marker of meaning.
Be familiar with a range of practitioners reknowned for their work in movement and physical theatre.
Be informed of a range of physical theatre and movement exercises.
Have learned rudimentary skills in collaborative group settings in the creation of performance.
Experience group dynamic demands in creative practices of performance.

Indicative Module Content:

1. Introduction to Module
2. Ensemble Acting: The Role fo the Individual
3. Etienne Decroux: The Physically Articulate Actor
4. Collaborative Processes & Composition 1
5. Collaborative Processes & Composition 2

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

88
Practical

12
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is experiential and student learning takes place in class where skills in physical theatre and approaches to creating theater collaboratively are taught.
Attendance at all classes is expected and required as students work in groups and build on skills learned across the module in the collaborative creation of original short compositions.
In the final class of the module students present their work in a group presentation which forms a component of the module's assessment.
Additional assessment components include a Learning Journal in which students are required to track their work over the five classes and evaluate and reflect on the module's required readings.
Classes are three hours in duration with occasional breaks, and begin with a physical Warm-Up followed by a testing of required readings in a practice context.
Each class gives time to students to create brief group compositions which students present at the end of class.
Each class finishes with Feedback on students' group compositions and a general review of work undertaken in the class with time also allotted for Q&A. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: Contribution in class and submission in advance of preparatory task(s) for class AND/OR submission of 3 points on required reading(s) for class. Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

30
Group Project: Practical Group Presentation Week 12 n/a Graded No

40
Journal: Learning Journal based on in-class work. Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

30

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback is on-going in classes. Feedback is given to students in-class after the Group Collaborative presentations. Feedback is given on students' Learning Journal after the assessment process.

Name Role
Dr Paul Halferty Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Kellie Hughes Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Andrea Scott Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Studio Offering 1 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5 Thurs 15:00 - 17:50
Studio Offering 1 Week(s) - 6 Thurs 15:00 - 17:50
Studio Offering 2 Week(s) - 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 11:00 - 13:50
Studio Offering 3 Week(s) - 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 15:00 - 17:50
Autumn
      
Spring
      
Studio Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24 Thurs 15:00 - 17:50
Studio Offering 2 Week(s) - 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 15:00 - 17:50
Spring