SELF-GENERATION / DEVISED SEASON. - 2023/4

Module Overview

This module offers an opportunity to integrate principles and skills from across the programme to a fully supported industry-facing season of self-generated work. The module affords time to interrogate collaborative practice, artistic autonomy and self-made work for the actor within the values of equality, diversity and inclusivity

Building on Collaborative Principles at level 4 and The Actor in Rehearsal 4 at Level 5, the module offers the actor an opportunity to become part of a season of self-generated, devised work from inception through pitching/funding and into performance; this module provides the experience of self-generation in relation to the contemporary theatrical terrain.

This module follows and builds on the large-scale production and allows the student to focus on the research and devising for theatre-making, film or recorded media for presentation within a self-generation / Scratch season.

Students are required to warm up vocally and physically and dress appropriately for classes. Research and preparation will be necessary for the pursuit of some of the modules aims.

In the delivery of this module, GSA is guided by the UN's 17 Sustainable Development goals. We aim to promote good health and well-being by keeping to appropriate working hours and maintaining Equity-standard safe spaces. We encourage positive working ethics: collaboration, kindness, support, understanding, listening and integrity. We aim to recycle and repurpose sets, props and other production resources where possible, promoting a circular economy.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

CHOUDRIE Ameer (GSA)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes:

 

• Creation and rehearsal of self-generated work.


• Performance of self-generated work.


• Research project.


• Funding applications / Pitching process.


• Rehearsal and creation of a piece in collaboration with peers, light, sound, media and design. (Indicative)


• The focus of the module is on the process of the actor creator.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

 

Readiness to take on responsibility for managing a career in the performing arts.


Understanding of procedures, skills and abilities required for involvement in industry-level work.


Capacity to work effectively within a professional company.

 

 Assimilation of skills and judgment to deliver a high quality, professional performance for industry professionals.
 

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

 

Continuous assessment of preparation, process, full-time devising / rehearsal and performance of a self- generated work – ending in performance to the public and Industry professionals

 

Formative assessment and feedback will be given through a session in the middle of teaching block 3. Formative feedback will also occur during practical sessions on a verbal basis. The feedback will usually be in a group context, but may sometimes happen one to one with the tutor.

Module aims

• • Deepen understanding of the key principles of:
  - The Actor Creator.
  - Game.
  - Play.
  - Trust.
  - Risk.
  - Ensemble.
  - Group Impulse.
  - Form.
  - Clarity.
  - Precision.
  through a range of experiential approaches.
  
• • Inspire an open, generous and playful approach to the practical and analytical tools of the actor creator.
• • Engender trust in the ensemble and non-script-based texts as stimulus for the actor to create performance.
• • To embed an understanding of artistic autonomy and resilience.
• • Thoroughly prepare the actor creator for engagement in the Collaborative and Devised Theatre Making world.
• • To provide a working environment which adheres to professional values and codes of conduct.
• • Develop responsible and consistent attitude towards self-management.
• • Thoroughly prepare the trainee actor for engagement in the professional performance industry.
• • Develop and deploy appropriate research methods and strategies.
• • Develop a sophisticated awareness of professional discipline and presentation.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

 

Give a practical and theoretical understanding of the key concepts that underpin the acting training across the programme.


Place an emphasis on the practical development of embodied skills that are required for extended and best practice in the profession.
 

Enable students to acquire an open, generous, versatile actor creator process and integrate their knowledge across acting disciplines and into the professional context.

 

Develop the skills learnt at Levels 4 and 5 in full rehearsal and performance situations.
 

Engage the student with the research and preparation required to engage in self-generated, devised context.


 

The learning and teaching methods include:

Rehearsals led by Senior Tutor or Visiting professional.

Self-led rehearsal and devising.

Group and independent research.

Tutorials.

Performances in a self-generated season.

Practical, skills-based and tutor-led group sessions following traditional formats.

Visual, audio and kinaesthetic methods of learning – including use of VLE and Zoom

 

30 hours a week for 6 Weeks in teaching Block 1 (180hrs)

120 hours for self-reflection, research, documentation and rehearsal preparation time.

 

 

.

 

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: ACT3017

Other information

GSA delivers its provision across three teaching blocks, within the University of Surrey’s existing semester structure.

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 2023/4 academic year.