NEW WORK FOR STAGE AND SCREEN - 2023/4

Module Overview

The module is planned in two parts: a new writing project and a collaborative project in film. The module design ensures industry-level performance skills together with evidence of original practice and research. It brings together the technical performance skills acquired in the previous compulsory modules.The content covered will reflect both the interests of the student group and the broader global community. The project allows us to produce performances for a wide demographic that promotes equality, diversity and inclusion. 

 

1. New Writing Project This project enables students to deepen and extend techniques in practical rehearsal work, but this time on a new text. Students will work in collaboration with a writer in a research and development week prior to the writing phase. The students will then start to work on the new script with a director and occasional visits from the writer to make amendments where necessary. The project will culminate in a black box production which will perform in rep with or alongside the New Musical project for MFA Musical Theatre, as part of a season of new writing.

 

2 Film Project This element enables students to collaborate on an original or adapted screen performance project. Students will be given practical instruction in filmmaking techniques and will work in small groups to create, document, shoot and eventually show their work in a screening for an invited audience. Researched independent or group screen performance project incorporating original or adapted source material and independent critical evaluation of the entire programme.

 

The module will engage with the specific disciplines of genre and style, will be delivered via committed ensemble practice, and will develop the acquisition of a structured and effective rehearsal technique, underpinned by both practice-based and academic research. Students will learn how to analyse and interrogate dramatic text and to identify, evaluate and process character information within the chosen genre. They will integrate vocal and physical skills commensurate with the performance space.

 

The module also develops the student’s expertise in the area of research, preparation and contextual discussion—building on the theories, practices and processes regarding character creation.

 

This module and its bibliography may be adapted to reflect the interests of the current cohort and the wider global community.  Students will continue the practice of keeping a rehearsal logbook, including annotated scripts that will be produced in the course of the training

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

BYRNE Grainne (GSA)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

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

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Collaborative workshops with the writer and director.

• Rehearsals

• Performances

• Screen workshops

• Filming

• Showing

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

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

1. creative and imaginative approaches to work in rehearsal and performance

2. a sophisticated understanding of style and genre.

3. the development of sophisticated toolkit of performance techniques

4. the ability to reflect critically and constructively upon process and outcome.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

Contribution to Process: New Writing Project (50%) – this addresses 1,2,3 and 4, above Continuous assessment of classroom exercises and application on Film Project (50%) - this addresses 2 and 3, above.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment takes the form of regular, verbal feedback from directors and tutors, during each session.

Feedback

See above.

Module aims

• ¿ To provide experience of working as an actor with a writer on a new text
• ¿ To apply psycho-physical acting techniques, textual analysis and contextual research to a performance project.
• ¿ To enable the necessary integration of appropriate vocal and physical skills to create a vibrant and articulate performance within the chosen genre
• ¿ To reflect critically upon process, content and performance and to document a personal learning process

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to: achieve the learning outcomes as outlined above.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Promote an understanding of processes of construction, structure and selection relating to performance.

• Help students develop the ability to apply the critical understanding of technical skill and genre to the exploration or realisation of an adapted or devised screen performance project.

• Help students develop the ability to apply a sound, tested working methodology which enables a professional, disciplined and creative working process and environment with and for those involved in the exploration or realisation

• Provide a soundly-based, flexible approach to the interactive nature of learning through practice – the ability to select, reject and develop ideas in response to a group dynamic The learning and teaching methods include:

Group and individual research projects 30 hours

Group and individual rehearsals 200 hours

Group and individual film shoots 40-50 hours

Group and individual tutorials 18 hours

Performances up to 12 hours

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: ACTM047

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.