THE ACTOR AND THE ENSEMBLE - 2021/2
Module code: APP1002
Module Overview
The Actor and the Ensemble enables students to explore different methods of enabling and telling stories and is the start of study of ensemble practice on the programme. In the first teaching block you will be working as an ensemble exploring storytelling and encountering diverse approaches to devising work, as well as encountering text and choral work through use of Ancient Greek text. In the second teaching block students consider how the actor accesses the dynamic possibilities of a physical and analytical approach to text encouraging the student to explore the performance opportunities presented in Shakespeare’s work. The third teaching block looks in depth at collaborative devised practice through the lens of site specific practice, increasing students’ abilities as reflective practitioners. Work is shared with peers as work in progress in a safe practical performance setting.
Module provider
Guildford School of Acting
Module Leader
TRINGHAM Anna (GSA)
Number of Credits: 60
ECTS Credits: 30
Framework: FHEQ Level 4
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 392
Tutorial Hours: 8
Practical/Performance Hours: 200
Module Availability
Year long
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
n/a
Module content
In teaching blocks 1 and 2, students will undertake weekly practical studio based workshops. In teaching block 3, students will undertake weekly site specific workshops, as follows:
• Storytelling – first half of Teaching Block 1
• The Greeks – second half of Teaching Block 1
• Shakespeare – Teaching Block 2
• Site Specific – Teaching Block 3
The final week of each project will include a group tutorial, to enable student and tutor joint reflection and action planning.
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance only | Continuous Assessment | 100 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate a practical evidence of a developing methodology as a creative practitioner.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
• Continuous assessment of collaborative classwork across four units of work: Storytelling, The Greeks, Shakespeare and Site Specific
Formative assessment
Continuous formative assessment occurs in every class and students will be guided to understand and recognise formative verbal feedback in addition to formal written feedback as essential to their development and learning journey.
Feedback
These are practical assessments that provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate and receive feedback continually, verbally, from teachers, from peers and of self as directed. Students receive informal and formal verbal and written feedback and also benefit from personal tutorials/feedback panels where this feedback can be discussed after reflection and grading has taken place. Formal feedback will be published via SurreyLearn by a published date within three teaching weeks.
Module aims
- This module aims to provide the student with an opportunity to apply the core technical performance techniques encountered on the programme through themed project work that develops practical understanding of the ways in which we enable and tell stories, as well as work with others and engage with character, and to work to the following programme aims:
To provide an ensemble training context for the development of professional skills based on practical understanding and self-reflection within creative contexts - To facilitate the acquisition and development of vocal and physical techniques, skills and universal vocabularies inherent within the creative industries
- To enable experiential understanding of theatre and drama, adding to it a level of critical awareness and analytical ability which will enrich practice and extend potential, as interpreters, facilitators and creators
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Knowledge and understanding of safe and integrated technical practice | K |
| 002 | Knowledge and understanding of the logistics of creating theatre as a collaborative enterprise | K |
| 003 | Critically and practically develop technically skilled performance within diverse contexts and scenarios | C |
| 004 | Draw from the working practice of established practitioners and companies and apply to personal creative practice | C |
| 005 | Critically analyse and evaluate personal professional practice within the collaborative creative process | C |
| 006 | Apply technical skills required in the creative collaborative process | P |
| 007 | Evaluate, select and create appropriate material for performance to a specific audience with a clearly established and communicated purpose | P |
| 008 | Demonstrate discipline and consistency in a professional context | P |
| 009 | Integrate an embodied understanding of creative risk taking within personal practice | T |
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:
• Enable collaborative practical engagement with core practical technical performance skills through group activity • Enable the collaborative, articulate, reflective practitioner
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: APP1002
Other information
Under the three term structure that commences from academic year 2019/0 – this module’s delivery is year-long due to the teaching occurring in Teaching Blocks 1, 2 and 3.
Programmes this module appears in
| Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied and Contemporary Theatre BA (Hons)(YEAR LONG) | Year-long | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
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 2021/2 academic year.