RESEARCH AND REHEARSAL - 2023/4

Module Overview

Research and Rehearsal explores the fundamentals of a range of theories and training exercises inspired by the principles and practices of seminal practitioners. The student will explore the basics of theatre from Stortyelling, the classical theatre of the Greeks and Naturalism.

Concurrent with these classes will be a short course in Health and Wellbeing for performers and Contextual studies in the History of Musical Theatre.

The module enables students to break down barriers to performance work and performing in front of each other, encouraging peer to peer feedback and an ensemble approach to learning.

The Module introduces concepts of research, preparation, contextual discussion and artistic expression appropriate to the study of acting and performance at first year undergraduate level.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

WOOLFORD Julian (GSA)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

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

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Must be taken with Acting 1, Dance 1, and Singing and Music 1

Module content

Indicative content includes:

Musical Theatre History and Context

Students will study the history of theatre and musical theatre to provide a historical context for their future careers. It includes Historical and Socio-political understanding of key texts, the development analytical and academic writing skills and the practical exploration of source material in Song and Dance classes which integrate key skills.

Storytelling

Students will study the basics of devising, storytelling, creating their own material and working collaboratively in a small ensemble.

Greek Ensemble (Classical Project)

Students will work on the methodologies of working as a protagonist and as part of chorus/ensemble. The project focuses on the connection between actor, text and audience. It enables students to explore the process of choral and individual work and aids in the application of core thinking to modern text.

Musical Theatre Text Project
Students will work on the methodologies of rehearsal and performance of a Naturalistic Musical Theatre text. They will use Objectives, Beats and Units, Actioning, Circles of Attention and Active Analysis.

Healthy Performer (Health and Wellbeing)

Students will undertake a series of masterclasses and workshops focussing on the healthy performer. These will include studying Diet and Nutrition, Mental Health, Physical Fitness and Wellbeing, and Empowerment.  This encourages the use of UN sustainability goals: Diet, sleep,exercise, screen time and appropriate working hours.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the acquisition of key rehearsal and performance skills

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

Rehearsal Process Assessment (Classical Project): 30%: Teaching Block 2

• Contextual Understanding

• Understanding and Application of theory

• Character analysis and understanding

• Integration of disciplines

• Ensemble work

 

Rehearsal Process Assessment (Naturalism Musical Theatre Text) – 40%: Teaching Block 3

• Contextual Understanding

• Understanding and Application of theory

• Character analysis and understanding

• Integration of disciplines

• Ensemble work

 

Written Context Project – 30%. Submitted Week 1 of Term 3

• Contextual Understanding

• Understanding and Application of theory

• Academic presentation

• Academic Research

 

Formative assessment

Storytelling:
Formative assessment is crucial to this module. In mirroring industry practice, students are given detailed constant verbal feedback and during classes and rehearsal, which enables students to develop and act upon notes given. Students are encouraged to create a reflective journal which encourages and develops their own reflective practice.

 

Student Activity Link to Learning Outcome(s)

• Contextual Understanding

• Understanding and Application of theory

• Character analysis and understanding

• Integration of disciplines

• Ensemble work

• Research Depth

 

Module aims

• Develop awareness and understanding of how an actor communicates with an audience through use of voice, text, mask, mime and other storytelling techniques.
• The module enables students to develop skills which will aid them to devise and perform as a small ensemble a piece of original performance material which has been developed through a series of rehearsals led by a director.
• Introducing an understanding of dynamic systems of rehearsal, and the expectations of a professional rehearsal process.
• Develop key skills in the fundamentals of acting methodologies with Level 4 students.
• The overall aim of the module is to equip students with the physical, intellectual, practical and emotional skills to approach text or performance with methodological rigor.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

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

Enable students to acquire versatility in their mental and physical skills and integrate their knowledge across all musical theatre disciplines all of which lead on to a firm foundation moving toward study at Level 5.

The learning and teaching methods include:

Group Lectures

Group Seminars

Group and individual research sessions

Project rehearsal

Across the year the module is delivered in 300 hours study including class, seminar and self-study.

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: MUT1024

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.