FT2SHA: Reworking Shakespeare in Performance

Module code: FT2SHA

Module provider: Film, Theatre and TV; School of Arts and Comm Design

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Lucy Tyler, email: l.s.tyler@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 27 June 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to: 

• Explore adaptations of Shakespeare within the diverse cultural contexts in which they are produced and consumed. 
• Develop students’ awareness of the practices and preoccupations that currently affect interpretation of Shakespeare. 
• Enhance students’ understanding of Shakespeare as a powerful cultural signifier that can be utilised for a variety of ends. 
• Inculcate increased awareness of how adaptations of Shakespeare relate to broader cultural and political contexts, thereby promoting an increased ability to make connections between social and cultural concerns and their presentation on stage. 
• Enhance confidence and the ability to produce creative responses that are informed by independent research and critical thinking.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Apply adaptation skills and techniques in the realisation of an extract.  
2. Demonstrate critical awareness of traditions and trends in Shakespeare adaptation and of how Shakespeare has been adapted for new contexts across the world. 
3. Combine their knowledge of Shakespeare with issues that concern them. 
4. Demonstrate the ability to engage in close reading of key elements of Shakespeare’s texts and relate this reading to larger contexts, arguments and critical literatures. 
5. Develop critical awareness of theatre’s relationship with wider social, political and cultural contexts; understanding of relationships between historical and contemporary theatre forms and practices; the ability to undertake critically informed practice; the ability to express critical understanding through exploring practice and the ability work independently, autonomously and in groups in both creative and critical contexts. 

Module content

After an introduction, the module will be taught in discrete 3-week blocks. Each year three of Shakespeare’s plays will be selected for study. Examination of key adaptations of the plays will be accompanied by class discussion, by exploration of the methodologies associated with adaptation, translation and revisioning, and by practical exploration and experimentation. Throughout, you will engage in independent research tasks to inform your engagement in class. You will work towards building a group performance or presentation of an adapted scene(s). Your work will be accompanied by individual written critical reflection outlining the creative and intellectual choices that informed the development of your practice. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught in aseries of lectures followed by seminar/workshops which will embed knowledge and understanding of key debates and trends in Shakespeare adaptation and increase your understanding of the cultural contexts in which specific approaches have emerged and developed. You will be required to undertake small independent research tasks which will feed into seminar discussion. Workshops will be dedicated to exploration of selected plays, scenes, trends and practices from a practical perspective. Towards the end of the module, under supervision, students will work in groups on the development of their performance/presentation. They will pitch their ideas in class time and develop their work in response to feedback.  

Study hours

At least 54 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

All students will participate in and in-class group pitch outlining their intended approach to adapting a scene. Students and staff will provide formative feedback on this pitch. Formative feedback will also be provided during workshops and in supervised sessions.  

Reassessment

Additional costs