FT1DP-Devising Performance: Politics and Citizenship

Module Provider: Film, Theatre and TV
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites: FT1ATP Analysing Theatre and Performance
Modules excluded: FT1ES Exploring the Studio
Current from: 2020/1

Module Convenor: Dr Sarah Bartley

Email: s.e.bartley@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

In this module, you will continue to develop your practical abilities and identity as an artist-pracitioner, responding to issues that are important to you. ‘Performance’ will be considered broadly, in a range of forms, histories, strategies and movements (both inside and outside traditional theatre settings). Engaging with contemporary socio-political contexts, issues, themes and debates, you will collaboratively devise performance responses. You will be introduced to a diversity of concepts and devising techniques, building up a tool box for making theatre and performance work and exploring areas of interest to you, eventually facilitating a workshop on a selected method or topic. The interplay of theory and practice will be key to your devised performance experiments, allowing you to apply your critical and creative thinking to performance scenarios and settings. Your performance work may take you to the street, the gallery, the park, online, the halls of power, or to an intimate reflection on yourself. Performance, production and technical skills will be introduced and developed in relation to the exploratory studio work.

Aims:

This module aims to give students experience of developing and devising work in theatre and performance in relation to political and social contexts, cultivating an understanding of the practices and critical processes that come together in the realisation of performance. It aims to reinforce the critical relationship between development of meaning and creative decision-making, giving students experience in the application of a wide range of performance forms and histories, individual research and collaborative exploration of performance practice. Furthermore, it aims to give students confidence in using specialist equipment and developing some of the basic technical skills necessary for complex performance, including developing soundscapes, working with lighting, set, costume and props. It will extend the skills of performance analysis and documentation introduced in earlier modules.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that students will be able to:

• work effectively and independently in small groups in order to accomplish short exercises in realising devised material practically, taking account of critical analysis, group discussion and research;


• demonstrate an understanding of the functioning of basic technical equipment in accordance with the safety policy of the department including:
  
  
  
  • planning, creating and operating a simple sound project;
  
  
  • planning, creating and operating a simple projection project;
  
  
  • planning, creating and operating a simple lighting project;
  
  
  
  


• document, analyse and critically evaluate processes and realisation of group practical work, drawing on appropriate critical and theoretical frames of reference;


• articulate their understanding of 'performance' and the interplay of theory and practice in the context of historical forms and contemporary socio-political issues and practices;


• demonstrate through practical exploration and documentation a critical awareness of the processes involved in creative decision making in theatre and performance, taking account of the interaction of various areas of decision making in the construction of meaning;


• demonstrate through practical exercises and documentation that they have drawn on their stud ies in the co-requisite courses to inform the planning, realisation and documentation of practical exercises.

 

Additional outcomes:

The module plays a significant role in the development of skills and competencies which are central to the course: oral communication, collaboration required for effective group work; project management, professionalism and communication skills required to satisfactorily carry out responsibilities in small exercises; appropriate deployment of research using printed and electronic resources; critical analysis and coherent argument, both individually and collectively; identifying and addressing problems in the analysis, evaluation and development of theatre and performance.

Outline content:

The module will be begin by grounding the students in the debates and critical issues of performance as a form, drawing in contemporary and historical forms and practices that have developed in response to socio-political changes and issues. Workshops will introduce students to a range of devising techniques and performance making, allowing them to build up a practitioner ‘tool box’. A range of political and social issues will be considered and discussed, exploring how performance can respond to the world today. Political issues may include neoliberalism and class inequality, intersectional understandings of identities, refugees, migration and xenophobia, gender spectrums and LGBTQIA+ topics, ecology and climate chaos, disability rights, race and racism and other topics of concern to students. Taking creative risks and developing their understanding of what performance is and can be, will allow students to begin to develop their identity as an artist-practitioner and the ir skills making, devising and facilitating workshops.

Global context:

This module develops students’ critical thinking in relation to, and their understanding of, devising techniques common to a range of national and international contexts and traditions. The focus on politics and citizenship allows students to reflect on international issues and their role and identity within.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Seminar discussion will develop performance analysis skills and introduce students to range of socio-political issues, while critical reading and individual research extends knowledge of contexts and models of practice. Studio experimentation and workshops explore physical performance practices, spatial and design issues and introduce students to specialist theatre equipment. Research-based presentations on the histories of political performance movements will widen their understanding of the form and the possibilities of performance. Students will undertake a series of performance exercises, responding to socio-political issues and forms of their choosing, including workshop facilitation. Under supervision, they will realise some of these exercises practically, making use of studio and theatre spaces as well as non-traditional theatre settings and sites. Each exercise will focus on critical understanding and practical skills development. The documentation of practical work enables students to reflect on the effects of their decision making and to relate their own work to wider practices and critical concepts.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		5
Seminars		5
Tutorials		1
Project Supervision		2
Practicals classes and workshops		20
Supervised time in studio/workshop		45
Fieldwork		5
External visits		5
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		10
Wider reading (directed)		10
Advance preparation for classes		6
Preparation for presentations		10
Preparation for seminars		6
Preparation for performance		30
Completion of formative assessment tasks		10
Group study tasks		8
Essay preparation		12
Reflection		10
Total hours by term	0		0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Portfolio	40
Project output other than dissertation	60

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Developmental Blog in which students will respond to set prompts and document their evolving engagement with modes of devising. 40%

Practical Project consisting of a series of performance exercises including self and peer assessment - 60%

Formative assessment methods:

Presentation and in class exercises offer opportunities for formative assessment.

 

Penalties for late submission:

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 40% in both the portfolio and practical project.

Reassessment arrangements:

Practical project: A written project developing practical ideas addressed by the module.

Developmental Blog in which students will respond to set prompts and document their evolving engagement with modes of devising. 

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1. Travel, accommodation and subsistence £25

Last updated: 6 August 2020