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DRAM40500

Academic Year 2025/2026

Practitioner Masterclasses: Artistic Practices in Context (DRAM40500)

Subject:
Drama Studies
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
English, Drama & Film
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Emma Bennett
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module exposes students to a variety of approaches to creating original works of theatre through workshops and masterclasses led by professional theatre artists from the Dublin theatre scene. The module introduces students to diverse types of theatre practice, including physical, visual (image-based), site-specific, adapted, verbatim, and scripted. Through engagement with these artists, students encounter how artists identify and research source material to support their imaginative and creative impulses, and to develop a creative portfolio in order to test ideas in the studio and generate small performance works. In this module students are encouraged to take risks in the development, scripting and communication of their work as theatre-makers.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students will be equipped to:

Identify and understand a variety of contemporary theatre and performance-making processes
Engage and test at advanced level approaches to generating material during the rehearsal process
Research source materials to stimulate and generate the scripting of an original performance
Plan, conduct, and reflect on a rehearsal process that aims at creating your original work
Evaluate and critically reflect on your rehearsal process

Indicative Module Content:

Weekly Classes
1. Masterclass One with Carys D Coburn
2. Masterclass Two with Carys D Coburn
3. Masterclass One with Anu Productions, Louise Lowe, Devising site specific theatre
4. Masterclass Two with Any Productions, Louise Lowe, Devising site specific theatre
5. Masterclass One – Playwrighting Gavin Kostick
6. Masterclass Two – Playwrighting Gavin Kostick
7. Masterclass One -- Dan Colley
8. Masterclass One -- Feidlim Cannon, Brokentalkers, Verbatim Theatre – Ethics and Practice
9. Masterclass Two -- Feidlim Cannon, Brokentalkers, Verbatim Theatre – Ethics and Practice
10. Practical Assignments: Final Presentation (in-class)



Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Practical

33
Autonomous Student Learning

167
Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Students are introduced to methods of theatre practice specifically the scripting performance applying diverse approaches to creating original works of theatre/performance. Learning is experiential, task-orientated, students learn through weekly tasks in the composition of creation of small works of performance. Students work in group and solo settings and discursive analytical fora are established at the end of each class. Feedback operates on a continuous basis from the module leader.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Artist’s Profile Reports: students write two short reports/profiles of the artists/companies met on the module this term, and, based on these examples, write an artist profile for themselves. Week 8 Graded No
40
 No
Group Work Assignment: Students will conduct a rehearsal of 15 minutes duration, attended by peers and staff members. Week 12 Graded No
30
 No
Individual Project: Students submit a plan for a rehearsal for a (notional) first rehearsal of your Final Research Project. Week 10 Graded No
15
 No
Reflective Assignment: Students write a short reflection on the rehearsal. Week 14 Graded No
15
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
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 offered on-going at the end of class in group and individual settings. Feedback is offered in week 9 in preparation for in-class Assessment in Week 10. Feedback is scheduled formally, as required, in the post-assessment period.

Name Role
Ms Antoinette Duffy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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