THE BOOK MUSICAL - 2023/4
Module code: MUT3019
Module Overview
This module introduces students to the demands and rigours regarding the expectations, discipline and professionalism required of the contemporary professional actor. The module expands students’ experience of and encourages further development of approaches to performance, rehearsal and auditioning for specific roles in specific productions.
The selection of material for the production modules is determined by the range, skills and dynamics of each student year group and with an awareness and comprehension of the continually developing Global perspective within the industry. Every effort is made to provide material which reflects the professional market and challenges the students artistically.
When undertaking productions, GSA promotes recycling and repurposing, considers existing resources when designing and devising and minimises energy waste. GSA embraces and promotes a circular economy within design and delivery of teaching and productions within everyday life at GSA.
Module provider
Guildford School of Acting
Module Leader
NICHOLLS Stewart (GSA)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 6
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 15
Practical/Performance Hours: 125
Guided Learning: 10
Module Availability
Semester 1
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
N/A
Module content
This is a core part of the training at GSA, students undertake a full rehearsal process and full performance (which may be performed live or streamed). Students work with and engage with the wider professional community and it is expected that at Level 6 students are expected to show a high level of understanding in the following:
Textual Understanding.
Characterisation.
Vocal technique and delivery.
Dance technique and delivery.
Integration of technique.
Sustained rehearsal work.
Teamwork.
Directors, musical directors and choreographers are drawn either from senior faculty, selected from the informal pool of professional working directors who work regularly for GSA, or invited to meet the specific demands and requirements of a particular production. We operate strict selection criteria and expect directors to comply with detailed production guidelines.
Casting for productions in the third year involves audition in order to extend the students’ readiness for the profession. Every effort is made to provide students with a range of performance experiences and creative teams.
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Practical based assessment | Process and Performance | 100 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate
Skills in rehearsal and performance, character building, physical and vocal presence, and intention in the space.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
Process and Perfromance (100%)
- Integration of disciplines
- Contextual understanding
- Character analysis and understanding
- Understanding and application of theory
- Ensemble work
- Rehearsal discipline
Formative assessment and feedback
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 Outcomes
- Integration of disciplines
- Contextual understanding
- Character analysis and understanding
- Understanding and application of theory
- Ensemble work
- Rehearsal and performance discipline
Module aims
- To consolidate the skills requisite to the creating and sustaining of a character
- To integrate Acting, Dance, Voice and Singing techniques acquired and developed at Levels Four and Five
- To provide a working environment which adheres to professional values and codes of conduct, employing professional directors, musical directors, choreographers and designers
- Creative and intelligent engagement with group and collective processes and the interplay between the performers in the realisation of performance
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Demonstrate integrated technical skills in acting, singing and dancing to a professional level | K |
| 002 | Evaluate the relationship between the performer, the narrative, the rehearsal, and performance context. | C |
| 003 | Develop a performance, imagination and understanding of style and genre. | C |
| 004 | Demonstrate effective skills in a collaboration. | T |
| 005 | Develop and demonstrate the effective application of learned practices. | P |
| 006 | Demonstrate creative, original and imaginative approaches to work in performance. | P |
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:
Place an emphasis on the practical development of skills that are required for imminent entry into the profession. The module provides students with practical experience of a rehearsal process that integrates various points of study from Level 4 and Level 5, providing valuable experience that enables them to enter the industry at the end of Level 6 study.
The learning and teaching methods include:
- Group rehearsals
- Individual rehearsals and tutorials (where appropriate)
- Group and Individual research sessions
- Feedback (Notes) sessions
The module is vocational in intent and delivery and encourages students to participate in reflection on their own practice, independent study and research and embeds the concepts of peer to peer feedback within the rehearsal room.
Students receive regular verbal feedback individually and as a group during each class which they are encouraged to journal within the reflection time which is built in to the schedule.
Students are encouraged to self-assess and peer-assess within the class structure which becomes a valuable strategy for visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning.
The module is delivered over 150 hours study across the term 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: MUT3019
Other information
GSA delivers its provision across three teaching blocks, within the University of Surrey’s existing semester structure.
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.