University of the West of England
MODULE SPECIFICATION
(Revised November 2002 )
Code: UAMPD8-40-1 Title: Assistant Costume Supervision in Performance Version: 3
Level: 1 UWE credit rating: 40 ECTS credit rating: 20
Module type: Professional Practice
Owning Faculty: Faculty of Creative Arts/ Field: Stage Management
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Faculty Committee Approval: Q & S Committee Date: 7th October 2009 – Approve Chair’s action Nov 2009
Valid from: Sept 2009 Discontinued from:
Contributes towards: FdA – Costume for Theatre, TV and Film
Pre-requisites: None
Co-requisites: All other Level 1 modules under the above award.
Excluded combinations: Modules included under Awards in Stage Management and Design
Learning outcomes:
On satisfactory completion of this module the student will be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding
• demonstrate an understanding of the importance of the written text, as a source of information for the production;
• understand their role within the production team
Intellectual Skills
• Independent thinking
• Organise and work logically
• Approach tasks consistently
Subject / Practical Skills
• provide correct costumes relevant to the actor’s requirements;
• effect calm and orderly quick changes in the available space;
• work safely with any machinery necessary for maintaining costumes.
Transferable Skills
• Communicate with other departments
• Present information clearly
• Work at assistant level within a team
• Work to deadlines.
Syllabus outline:
Students have many opportunities during Level 1 to attend professional costume hire departments. They work alongside designers, costume supervisors and actors. During this year students have seven opportunities to attend fittings and make alterations to costumes for public performance. Students are able to work on up to 6 public productions, each lasting normally for a period of ten days in a professional theatre environment such as the Bristol Old Vic Theatre or the Tobacco Factory Theatre, dressing and maintaining public productions. They learn to provide the appropriate costume and effect quick changes in limited space under show conditions. Students attend the read through and technical rehearsals of most BOVTS public productions. Students are introduced to professional practices within the theatre environment. They work with professional theatre staff, tutors and students to learn the etiquette of the backstage environment. Students work with the script to produce an order of costume and quick changes.
Teaching and learning methods:
Teaching and guidance is carried out within the costume hire department and professional theatre space with tutors, professional theatre staff and Level 2 costume students. Students receive tuition and guidance in the methods of alteration. They use industrial machinery where appropriate and are taught safe working practices within the workroom and laundry. Students have access to two maintenance sites and receive instruction in safe practice and use of relevant machinery, including washer, dryer, spinner, industrial steam iron, etc.
Reading Strategy
Students are encouraged to become familiar with the subject area, and texts specific to the module, through reading lists and reference material provided. Lists are updated annually to maintain currency and relevance. Each department holds texts and reference material, as well as the general access provided to the Schools library and access to the Internet. The specifically vocational nature of training and study, combined with the project based nature of learning on the course, may require that students are guided to reading and research material in the first instance by the module leader.
NB: BOVTS students do not have access to UWE Libraries and UWE OnLine
Indicative sources:
The primary source for this module will be the dramatic text or script for the production concerned.
Baclawski, Karen The Guide to Historic Costume (London, 1995)
Cunnington, C Willet, Beard C & P A Dictionary of English costume: 900-1900 (London, 1961)
Davies, S Costume Language: A Dictionary of Dress Terms ( Malvern, 1994)
O'Hara, G The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Fashion and Fashion Designers (London, 1998)
Finch, K & Putnam, G Caring for Textiles, (London: Barrie & Jenkins, 1977).
Picken, Mary Brooks, The fashion dictionary: fabric, sewing and dress as expressed in the language of fashion (New York, 1957)
Wilcox, Ruth Turner, The Dictionary of Costume (London, 1969)
Production scripts from the English dramatic repertoire eg:
Shakespeare, W A Midsummer Night’s Dream, (London: New Penguin, 1967).
Shakespeare, W Pericles, (London: New Penguin, 1967).
Assessment
This is a Professional Practice module with only one component of assessment. This component has only one element.
In assessing Component A there will be meetings between the student and the relevant tutor at formal assessment points over the course of the module to discuss and record the student's progress judged against the learning outcomes for this module. The result of these assessment points (of which there are normally not more than three) are cumulative in nature and give rise to a final mark/grade at the end of the module.
ATTEMPT 1
First Assessment Opportunity
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Assistant costume supervisor in performance - 100%
Assessment of Professional Competence.
The student’s performance is assessed in relation to a professional role. Particular account will be taken of contribution to the team, the ability to respond to the requirements of the costume supervisor and designer, demonstration of understanding of assistant costume supervisor duties and responsibilities, application in a public production context of professional dressing and maintenance skills.
Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is required)
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Assistant costume supervisor in performance - 100%
Assessment of Professional Competence.
The student’s performance is assessed in relation to a professional role. Particular account will be taken of contribution to the team, the ability to respond to the requirements of the costume supervisor and designer, demonstration of understanding of assistant costume supervisor duties and responsibilities, application in a public production context of professional dressing and maintenance skills.
SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes is required.
Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………
(Associate Dean/Programme Director)