ACTING - 2020/1
Module code: THE3036
Module Overview
This module offers students the opportunity to practise and enhance their skills in acting technique. Depending on the needs and interests of the students and the specific competencies of the tutor, the module will focus on an in-depth exploration of principles of acting as demonstrated in the work of influential practitioners such as e.g. Stanislavski, Vakhtangov, Michael Chekhov or Lecoq. Classwork will take the form of workshops and rehearsals of a theatrical text or a range of texts for small group presentation. The module affords an opportunity for the student to engage with practical methods of vocal and bodily training and improve their own practical knowledge and skill in acting.
Module provider
Guildford School of Acting
Module Leader
WAGNER Matthew (GSA)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 6
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Workshop Hours: 40
Independent Learning Hours: 110
Module Availability
Semester 1
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None.
Module content
Indicative content includes:
In class, students will rehearse short scenes taken from important play texts. At the same time, students will be asked to explore in detail a given set of acting techniques drawing upon the work of specific practitioners, which may include but is not restricted to: Konstantin Stanislavski, Michael Chekhov, Vsevolod Meyerhold, Yevgeny Vakhtangov, Jacques Lecoq. The module content thus combines practical rehearsal work with investigation of fundamental principles underpinning the work of influential acting teachers.
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Practical based assessment | A scene or short performance | 100 |
Alternative Assessment
Individual short performance
Assessment Strategy
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
- presentation of short (3-5 mins) scenes from existing play texts in small groups (2-3 students) in final week of module
Formative assessment
Students will be invited to present to class in their groups contextual research material related to their chosen scene. This may take a range of appropriate forms including e.g. discussion, artwork, social/historical information, personal journal material.
Feedback
Verbal feedback will be given as part of the workshop and rehearsal process throughout the module, and will focus upon students’ engagement with core principles of the module as well as evidence of improvement in acting technique. Summative assessment feedback will be process-oriented in order to focus students upon their progress through the course of the module.
Module aims
- • Further students’ engagement with principles behind influential acting traditions and techniques
- • Facilitate an understanding of the relationship between theatrical text and performance, specific to the development of character and atmosphere on stage
- • Develop techniques of creative and imaginative expression in the performance of coherent, complex characters and atmosphere
- • Develop techniques of effective communication while on stage
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | • Develop technical and creative capacities and understanding of acting styles and traditions | K |
| 002 | • Demonstrate a creative engagement, through performance exercises and presentation, with one or several sophisticated acting style(s) and method(s) | CK |
| 003 | • Present a character and create an atmosphere that reflect imaginative engagement in technique and display both coherence and complexity of characterization | P |
| 004 | • Work effectively with others in small task-orientated groups to initiate and sustain creative work within strict time limits and basic technical competence | P |
| 005 | • Demonstrate the ability to receive constructive feedback and display communication skills in discussions | PT |
| 006 | • Demonstrate the ability to collaborate in groups, to manage conflict when appropriate and to demonstrate leadership skills when appropriate | PT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
- enhance knowledge and practice of influential acting methods;
- foster technical and performance skills;
- enhance confidence in the ability to articulate ideas clearly and effectively.
The learning and teaching methods include:
workshops, supervised and unsupervised rehearsals, practical presentations, peer-to-peer learning, independent research and reflection.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: THE3036
Other information
Under the three term structure that commences from academic year 2019/0 – this module’s delivery falls in Semester 1 due to the teaching occurring in Teaching Block 1.
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.