University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

(Template Revised October 2005)

Code: UARPFJ-30-3 Title: Avant-garde theatre Version: 6

Level: 3 UWE credit rating: 30 ECTS credit rating: 15

Module type: Project

Owning Faculty: Faculty of Creative Arts Field: Drama Field Leader: S Fraser

Valid from: February 2008 Discontinued from:

Contributes towards: Awards up to BA (Hons)

Pre-requisites: UARPDB-30-1 - Introduction to Theatre Studies or UARPDE-30-1 –Theatre Practice

Co-requisites: None

Excluded combinations: None

Learning outcomes:

At the end of the Module students will be able to demonstrate:

• that they have developed their existing individual and ensemble skills in scripting, devising, improvising, acting and directing;(Component A)

• the ability to test and develop their understanding of avant-garde theatre through rehearsal and practice; (Component A).

• an understanding, through performance and writing, of the artistic challenges of avant-garde theatre; (Component A).

• an ability to research, generate and revise a performance script; (Component A).

• the practical application of multimedia techniques for theatre performance; (Component A).

Syllabus outline:

Semester 1: Practical sessions with seminar elements will consider historical contextual issues of avant-garde theatre. The work will also equip students with an understanding of the multimedia resources available and any necessary practical instruction in the use of these elements from trained members of staff. This semester will end with ten-minute performance presentation pieces.

Semester 2: The work in this semester will be wholly practical and devoted to the creation and rehearsal of the final assessed piece of avant-garde theatre.

Teaching and learning methods:

The module will operate through workshops. These may include practical theatre work, rehearsals and seminar-style discussions. Students will be expected to devote additional time outside scheduled sessions to researching and preparing materials for their Performances and critical Commentary and Evaluation submissions. They will also be expected to research, devise, write, rehearse, perform and operate multimedia equipment as required throughout the module, for which full support is given.

Reading Strategy

There will be one essential anthology purchase at the beginning of Semester One, and key chapters from other sources will be available electronically via UWE Online or as a printed study pack. Students are expected to identify all other reading relevant to their chosen topic for themselves. They will be encouraged to read widely using the library catalogue, a variety of bibliographic and full text databases, and Internet resources. It will be expected that assignment bibliographies and reference lists will reflect the range of reading carried out.

Indicative Reading List:

The following list is offered to provide validation panels/accrediting bodies with an indication of the type and level of information students may be expected to consult. As such, its currency may wane during the life span of the module specification. However, as indicated above, CURRENT advice on readings will be available via other more frequently updated mechanisms.

Buck, Louisa	Moving Targets 2: A User’s Guide to British Art Now (London: Tate Publishing, 2000).
Counsell, Colin, and Wolf, Laurie (eds).	Performance Analysis: an introductory coursebook (London: Routledge, 2001).
Drain, Richard	Twentieth-Century Theatre: A Sourcebook (London: Routledge, 1995).
Elam, Keir	The Semiotics of Theatre and Drama (London: Routledge, 1988).
Goldberg, RoseLee	Performance Art: from Futurism to the Present Day, World of Art (London: Thames and Hudson, 1988).
Innes, Christopher	Avant Garde Theatre, 1892-1992 (London: Routledge, 1993).
Kaye, Nick	Art Into Theatre: Performance Interviews and Documents (Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers, 1996).
Saunders, Graham	Love Me or Kill Me: Sarah Kane and the Theatre of Extremes (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2002).
Schneider, Rebecca, and Cody, Gabrielle (eds)	Re:Direction: A Theoretical and Practical Guide (London: Routledge, 2002).
Sierz, Aleks	In-Yer-Face Theatre: British Drama Today (London: Faber and Faber, 2000).

Assessment

Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: 100%

This is a project module therefore only one component.

ATTEMPT 1

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Group Performance Presentation 25%

2. Commentary and Evaluation (on 1) (2000 words) 20%

3. Group Performance 25%

4. Commentary and Evaluation (on 3) (2000 words) 20%

5. Attendance (for whole module) 10%

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)

Component A

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Performance Presentation (15 mins solo/20 mins groups) 60%

2. Commentary & Evaluation (4000 words) 40%

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT: Attendance at taught classes is required.

Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)