DRAM30240 Performance Project

Academic Year 2021/2022

This module offers students the opportunity to work with professional theatre director Andrea Scott to develop an original, full-length work of performance. In the Autumn trimester, students will be introduced to the working methods of a range of contemporary theatre makers during weekly workshops, and will have the opportunity to experiment with various approaches to devising, improvisation, acting, ensemble-building, and writing for performance. In the Spring trimester, twice-weekly rehearsals enable the focused development, exploration and interrogation of rehearsal methods, character work, and dramaturgical development. Students engage in ongoing documentation, creative research, marketing and production toward the final public performance showcase.


Due to the nature of development of the original work(s) for performance on this module, attendance is expected and required at each class/ rehearsal. To participate in this module, students must register and subsequently participate in an online meeting with the director of the module. Please note that registration alone does not guarantee participation in the module. Students who register for the module will be contacted about the exact date and time of the meeting. If you have any further queries about this module please email: emma.bennett@ucd.ie.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Understand and be equipped to discuss critically a range of rehearsal and performance methods for the creation of performance.
Develop skills to critically assess the application of rehearsal methods in practice.
Develop and test acting and performance techniques and skills in live and virtual performance.
Understand in a critical and practical context, key roles of practitioners in the theatre.
Develop skills in editing of written material for theatre and online performance settings.
Understand performance and site specific space and the role of the audience.
Develop skills to work as part of a team and contribute to group creativity.

Indicative Module Content:

Autumn
Online meeting to discuss participation in the module.
Weeks 1 - 11 Research of Theatre Processes with special emphasis on Anne Bogart's Viewpoints; Improvisation and devising techniques; Research in writing/scripting creatively for theatre
Spring
Weeks: 1-4 Scripting Image, Text, and Bodies and Space for Performance
Week 6: Rehearsing Creative Studies for Performance
Week 7: Performances
Week 8: Module Review and Essay Preparation

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

25
Practical

100
Project Supervision

30
Autonomous Student Learning

160
Total

315
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This is an intensive module where students create, write and perform their work in a collaborative manner. Students learn skills to harness their individual creative process and to work as part of team in collaborative creative processes lead by professional theatre director Ms Andrea Scott.
Ms Scott guides students in the writing of character, scene, theme and topic in the Autumn trimester in settings where students collaborative in small groups towards the development of original work for performances.
In Spring, students rehearse and test ideas and develop their scripting of performance under the supervision of Ms Scott.

In all class settings, rehearsals, and research, the mode of teaching is continuous feedback and support of students' developing creative and performance skills.

This module will be delivered online. There will be full group sessions with breakout groups within each session to work in smaller groups. A central focus of students' research in performance be learning skills that engage with performance, design and the role of the audience in the virtual medium. The performance evolves as students create and devise however it is likely the final piece will combine filmed and live virtual performances. The performance takes place in the Spring Trimester and will be presented via Zoom Webinar. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
DRAM20030 - Collab Prac: Intro to Devising, DRAM20090 - Contemporary British Theatre, DRAM20170 - Intro to Acting: Monologues, DRAM20190 - Playwriting, DRAM20210 - Theatre, Speech and Politics

Required:
DRAM20110 - Contemporary Ireland On Stage, DRAM20180 - 20thCentury AvantGarde Theatre, DRAM20200 - Contemporary American Drama

Additional Information:
Pre-requisites for this module are DRAM20030 OR DRAM20170 OR DRAM20210 OR DRAM20190 OR DRAM20090


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: Essay
Spring Trimester Submission		 Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

30
Continuous Assessment: Ongoing both trimesters: attendance; contribution; research tasks.
Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

15
Group Project: Spring Trimester: Collaborative Scripting of Performance.
A performance script may take the form of original creative work and include elements of design, staging, choreography and text.		 Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

40
Journal: Journal
Autumn Trimester Submission		 Week 12 n/a Graded No

15

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?

Students will receive ongoing feedback in relation to their developing creative work for performance. Students will receive feedback in preparation for assignments/tasks. Individual and group feedback will be offered in the post exam period.

Name Role
Dr Emma Bennett Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Andrea Scott Lecturer / Co-Lecturer