SPECIAL TOPIC - 2021/2

Module Overview

This module will present a detailed examination of a specific practice (or set of practices) in contemporary Theatre and Performance; the content/topic is intended to vary from year to year, allowing final year students access to the unique specialism(s) of current staff on the programme (indicative topics might include object theatre and new materialism; directing, facilitating, and artistic leadership; or performance and corporeality). As such, the module is research-led, being grounded in the expertise of individual staff member(s), but it is also studio-based. Delivery and assessment are both predominantly practical and performative, and the module is structured to provide students with the opportunity use creative practice as a means of pursuing critical questions.

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

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

The module will split into two parts: the first will comprise a series of exploratory workshops, covering a selection of practices within the specific topic for that year; the second will be an intensive ‘making’ period, where students work with tutors and/or guest artists to create work. The second part of the module will also offer students specific guidance on crafting their assessments.  Across the module, the range of studied material will be inclusive and diverse.   

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Individual Portfolio

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their developing creative practice as a performance-makers and thinking, reflective artists.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
•Performance/Exhibition, with reflection (100%)
Students will present work that demonstrates their understanding of and practical skills in the special topic for the year; alongside the work, they will integrate a reflective component, which may be either written/portfolio based, or oral/Q&A based. This choice will be determined in the module delivery, by discussion and agreement with the module tutor(s).


Formative assessment
Students will prepare a brief written plan or outline for the summative assessment, and this will be reviewed by tutor(s) who will provide feedback and guidance. Additionally, 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 assessments that provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate and receive feedback 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

• Develop students’ knowledge of and skills in a specific area of creative practice, otherwise unexplored in the programme’s curriculum
• Provide students with detailed access to a specific area staff specialism in terms of creative practice
• Develop students’ ability to utilise creative practice as a means of critical enquiry

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
• Enable independent, creative and confident engagement with creative performance practices
• Engage students through active, practice-based learning
• Enable the critically 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: THE3040

Other information

Under the three term structure that commences from academic year 2019/0 – this module’s delivery falls in Semester 2 due to the teaching occurring in Teaching Block 3.

Programmes this module appears in

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.