The module aims to encourage students to explore imaginatively various means of communication. It teaches students the roots of theatre and its functions of story-telling and celebration. The work of this first term module is designed to further your understanding of yourself by stretching your emotional, physical and vocal range and to encourage spontaneity through improvisation.
This module explores classical texts and characters. You will begin to establish approaches to textual analysis, building on the work of EA001-0-AU. You will use research, improvisation and other performance means, to assist in the creation of truthful characters.
This is a compulsory second year course for students on the BA Hons Contemporary Theatre degree scheme. In the second year the rigorous foundation work of first year is developed and the individual range of vocal choices is explored in association with the work EA221 and EA222 Expressionism I and II. You will work on developing vocal skills for devised and improvised work, for the vocal expression of original creative writings such as poetry and for performance in a range of contemporary theatre styles and forms. By the end of this three-term module you will have the vocal flexibility (breath, pace, resonance, pitch and articulation) to meet the specific demands of self-created projects.
Term One
Exploring accents and dialects
Breath support and physical energy
Developing pitch and resonance range
Understanding poetic styles and devices
17th century commedia dell'arte rhetorical devices
Term Two
Exploring rhythmic text through voice and language
Style, form and use of language in poetry
Adapting breath and articulation to the demands of poetry
Pitch and resonant range for poetry and emotion
Use of Received Pronunciation in sustained and emotionally demanding contexts
Term Three
Performing self-authored poetry
Warm-ups for specific character styles
Developing sensitivity, power and passion in the voice
Muscular and resonant articulation for emotional flexibility
Techniques to carry intimate speech into performance space.
Term One
Exploring accents and dialects
Breath support and physical energy
Developing pitch and resonance range
Understanding poetic styles and devices
17th century commedia dell'arte rhetorical devices
Term Two
Exploring rhythmic text through voice and language
Style, form and use of language in poetry
Adapting breath and articulation to the demands of poetry
Pitch and resonant range for poetry and emotion
Use of Received Pronunciation in sustained and emotionally demanding contexts
Term Three
Performing self-authored poetry
Warm-ups for specific character styles
Developing sensitivity, power and passion in the voice
Muscular and resonant articulation for emotional flexibility
Techniques to carry intimate speech into performance space.
This second year course is compulsory for students on the BA Hons Contemporary Theatre degree scheme. As you begin to explore in greater depth and complexity the process of devising and improvising work, technical work in Music & Singing will underpin your ability to interact musically and dramatically in a range of performance styles and forms. By the end of the module you will have a substantial knowledge of vocal technique and will have acquired an automatically-present technique to support both singing and safeguarding the voice.
Self-created work, by its nature, makes unpredictable technical demands on its performers, particularly with regard to music and singing. However, by ensuring that students acquire an overview of musical subject matter and performances - in solo, duet and ensemble disciplines as well as in a variety of repertoires - this module will equip students with the necessary technical skills to progress to the strongly experimental final year.
Module Content
Term One
Tessitura
Dynamic range
Vocal agility
Improving audience communication
Sustaining character through accent, sound, musicality and lyrics
Interactions within the medium of song
Term Two
Introduction to 'direct-contact' songs
Breaking down the 'fourth wall' using Brecht songs and British Music Hall as examples
Conveying clearly delineated character in song
Maintaining technique whilst performing sung material
Term Three
Development of solo and ensemble disciplines
Devised harmony skills
Bringing accumulated musical skills into devised ensemble work
Appropriate and sensitive use of musical input.
Self-created work, by its nature, makes unpredictable technical demands on its performers, particularly with regard to music and singing. However, by ensuring that students acquire an overview of musical subject matter and performances - in solo, duet and ensemble disciplines as well as in a variety of repertoires - this module will equip students with the necessary technical skills to progress to the strongly experimental final year.
Module Content
Term One
Tessitura
Dynamic range
Vocal agility
Improving audience communication
Sustaining character through accent, sound, musicality and lyrics
Interactions within the medium of song
Term Two
Introduction to 'direct-contact' songs
Breaking down the 'fourth wall' using Brecht songs and British Music Hall as examples
Conveying clearly delineated character in song
Maintaining technique whilst performing sung material
Term Three
Development of solo and ensemble disciplines
Devised harmony skills
Bringing accumulated musical skills into devised ensemble work
Appropriate and sensitive use of musical input.
The module aims to build an understanding of the role of improvisation in the rehearsal process and a repertory of improvisation and devising techniques which can be used by the director of both to explore and to originate texts.
Aims
This module is designed to introduce students to practices, techniques, images and sounds derived from various traditional performance forms across Asia. Each time it runs the module will focus on forms from one country of the region. The module will concentrate on techniques and ideas that can be used for cross cultural performance creation. The module will deal with specific processes that can be adapted to the work of the student directors, bearing in mind the various cultures represented amongst the group.
Syllabus
The syllabus will vary according to the country in question at any one time. An example would be the study of Noh Theatre, Kabuki and Banraku styles of performance, if Japan was chosen as the country in focus. In a study of Thai theatre there would be exploration of Khon, Nang Yai and other forms of Lakhon performance. Typically, the module involves a mixture of background study at East 15 followed by a 3 week field study visit to the country in question where students will work with practitioners and theatre companies. It is occasionally possible, according to the availability of appropriate expertise, for the module to be taught entirely in the UK.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding of and ability to demonstrate
Different cultural approaches to directing
Diverse rehearsal processes and techniques
Synthesis of diverse sources of knowledge
Group working skills
Oral and visual presentation of ideas
Applied use of research
This module is designed to introduce students to practices, techniques, images and sounds derived from various traditional performance forms across Asia. Each time it runs the module will focus on forms from one country of the region. The module will concentrate on techniques and ideas that can be used for cross cultural performance creation. The module will deal with specific processes that can be adapted to the work of the student directors, bearing in mind the various cultures represented amongst the group.
Syllabus
The syllabus will vary according to the country in question at any one time. An example would be the study of Noh Theatre, Kabuki and Banraku styles of performance, if Japan was chosen as the country in focus. In a study of Thai theatre there would be exploration of Khon, Nang Yai and other forms of Lakhon performance. Typically, the module involves a mixture of background study at East 15 followed by a 3 week field study visit to the country in question where students will work with practitioners and theatre companies. It is occasionally possible, according to the availability of appropriate expertise, for the module to be taught entirely in the UK.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding of and ability to demonstrate
Different cultural approaches to directing
Diverse rehearsal processes and techniques
Synthesis of diverse sources of knowledge
Group working skills
Oral and visual presentation of ideas
Applied use of research
This compulsory MA/MFA Acting (International) module introduces some of the most compelling, and challenging, theatrical material written in English. It focuses on the development of skills and techniques for understanding, speaking and communicating Renaissance text, with an emphasis on the handling of verse, rhythm, inflection and pace. The module also allows students to gain confidence and techniques for understanding archaic and heightened text. The module also contains a study of the original performance context of Shakespeare plays, and a critical review of experimental approaches to Shakespeare production.
This Year Two MFA Acting (International) module gives students the opportunity to work within a repertory company format to present a fully staged play written in or translated into English, using a script from the period 1880 to 1980, with an emphasis on Realist Naturalist texts.
Module Aims
to allow students to gain practical experience of work in a repertory company structure
to allow students to apply and extend their skills in performance, with an emphasis on techniques of classic Realism in the live theatre
to enable students to understand and develop strategies for meeting the specific demands of acting in a professional context, including care of the voice and body
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate
the ability to work both collaboratively and independently in creating one or more characters in performance
creative and technical skills to realise a character in specific, Realist performance conditions
the ability to express the character clearly, fluently and with appropriate attention to age, nationality and class in spoken English
an understanding of the personal and physical demands of continuing work in a professional company
Module Aims
to allow students to gain practical experience of work in a repertory company structure
to allow students to apply and extend their skills in performance, with an emphasis on techniques of classic Realism in the live theatre
to enable students to understand and develop strategies for meeting the specific demands of acting in a professional context, including care of the voice and body
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate
the ability to work both collaboratively and independently in creating one or more characters in performance
creative and technical skills to realise a character in specific, Realist performance conditions
the ability to express the character clearly, fluently and with appropriate attention to age, nationality and class in spoken English
an understanding of the personal and physical demands of continuing work in a professional company
Year Two MFA Acting (International) students may opt to engage in an intensive study of one character from a play in English (or in English translation), researching a range of approaches to and interpretations of the character in performance. Assessment is through a research portfolio including contextualising critical document (5000 words) and the creation and performance of an original monologue (15 to 20 minutes long) created by the student for that character.
Module Aims
To allow the student to initiate and pursue a substantial independent project
To enable the student to reflect critically and creatively on a range of skills and knowledge appropriate to the training and preparation of the actor
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate
The ability to plan and complete a substantial independent project, with limited tutorial guidance
A detailed and critical understanding of the chosen material, including its original cultural and intellectual context, and the responses of theorists and practitioners to it
Comprehensiveness and discrimination in the gathering, editing and presentation of research materials
Clarity in the communication of the results of research and critical inquiry
Module Aims
To allow the student to initiate and pursue a substantial independent project
To enable the student to reflect critically and creatively on a range of skills and knowledge appropriate to the training and preparation of the actor
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate
The ability to plan and complete a substantial independent project, with limited tutorial guidance
A detailed and critical understanding of the chosen material, including its original cultural and intellectual context, and the responses of theorists and practitioners to it
Comprehensiveness and discrimination in the gathering, editing and presentation of research materials
Clarity in the communication of the results of research and critical inquiry