University of the West of England
MODULE SPECIFICATION
(Revised November 2002)
Code: UATPB5-30-3 Title: Showcase Productions - Bristol/London Version: 3
Level: 3 UWE credit rating: 30 ECTS credit rating: 15
Module type: Professional Practice
Owning Faculty: Faculty of Creative Arts/Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Field: Professional Acting
Faculty Committee Approval: Q & S Committee Date 7th October 2009
Valid from: Sept 2009 Discontinued from:
Contributes towards: Awards up to BA Hons in Professional Acting
Pre-requisites: All level 1 & 2 modules relevant to the above award
Co-requisites: None
Excluded combinations: Any Stage Management Modules.
Learning outcomes:
On satisfactory completion of this module the student will be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding
• Demonstrate familiarity with and an understanding of dramatic texts ranging from Medieval plays, through Shakespeare and his contemporaries, Restoration, Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Century to contemporary writing in Verse and prose for Theatre.
• Understand techniques for reading and interpreting texts and musical scores
• Discuss and apply a knowledge and understanding of theatre history, social history and context for a range of theatre texts.
• Understanding selection of appropriate audition material to present to audiences of potential employers.
Intellectual Skills
• Research, evaluate and interpret character, plot and structure from a range of dramatic texts.
• Communicate, discuss and engage with the artistic requirements and interpretation of the production as made explicit by the director and other members of the creative team
• Research and explore a range of possibilities in communicating a given role to an audience on stage.
• Critically analyse and interpret a wide range of texts.
• Research audition material to best present one’s range and talent.
Subject / Practical Skills
• Command, hold and entertain audiences of paying customers and potential employers in contrasting texts, styles, periods and venues.
• Study, learn, inhabit and bring to life the text through individual work on characterization and performance and in group rehearsal;
• Work in a live main-house environment with other performers, director, designers, costumiers, stage managers, technicians and audiences;
• Prepare and present material in performance to professional standards under pressure and tight deadlines.
Transferable Skills
• Sustain and develop characterisation and performance over the run of the productions;
• Work to professional standards of discipline, etiquette, rigour and deadlines.
• Undertake performances in a wide range of venues, communicating clearly with audiences of differing sizes, ages and types to professional standards;
Syllabus outline:
The syllabus will cover; acting, mime, movement, dance, combat, tumbling, singing, care and use of costumes, care and use of props and weapons, performance. Undertaking rehearsal and performance of two productions to showcase the student’s ability and talent on professional stages.
Teaching and learning methods:
Students will have the opportunity to learn through rehearsals, workshops, group classes, individual work, tutorials and performances. The module provides performance learning and experience under professional conditions for showcase productions in London (to agents, directors and other potential employers) and in Bristol.
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 text or script for the production concerned.
Background research material will depend entirely on the period, style and character involved in the play script. Students will be expected to read widely to select audition material for presentation to potential employers.
Suggested additional reading (building on reading lists from previous modules)
Mamet. D True and False; Heresy and Common Sense for the Actor Faber & Faber (1998)
Donellan Declan The Actor & The Target (Nick Hern books, 2005)
Assessment
ATTEMPT 1
First Assessment Opportunity
Description Element weighting
1. Showcase Productions Bristol/London 100%
Assessment of creative and performing competence of a high professional standard in main house production. Assessment of quality of professional standard self-presentation.
Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is required)
Description Element weighting
1. Showcase Productions Bristol/London 100%
Assessment of creative and performing competence of a high professional standard in main house production. Assessment of quality of professional standard self-presentation.
SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes is required.
Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………
(Associate Dean/Programme Director)