PRODUCTION 2/PLACEMENT - 2023/4

Module Overview

This module is designed to allow students to advance the development of skills and knowledge in a practical context, consolidating learning, discovery and autonomy evidenced in prior production work Students will undertake an advanced level, production-critical role which will include the development, presentation and realisation of artistic concepts or the management and design of complex technical components.  Students will progress their professional skills, confidence and critical development.

Working within their peer group, freelance and in-house production teams, students will be able to apply and evidence sound management and collaboration inherent across pre-production, production and post-production. Alternatively students will undertake an external placement within a professional setting.

Students will be asked to work responsibly and as far as reasonably practicable towards being more sustainable. Using principles as outlined in the industry developed Theatre Green book, with guidance and support from SIPA (Sustainability in Production Alliance), all productions will incorporate sustainable practice from the design concept forward. Our aim is responsible consumption, including recycling and re-purposing, considering existing resources and promoting a circular economy, social sustainability and wellbeing within our production process at GSA.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

SMALLEY Michael (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:

Major role(s) within the production/stage management department.

Students will work within a small team of production staff, and contribute to the preparation, research and realisation of all or any components required for the performance(s).

Students may work variously with freelance/professional teams, student peers, or in-house technicians on a range of GSA presentations, which may or may not be streamed or may or may not be performed to a live audience.

Alternatively students may undertake an approved placement in a professional setting external to GSA.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Presentation 100%  

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate key learning and achievement during a range of practical work, which either aims to simulate professional theatre production processes or is part of an approved external placement.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Process/practice: continual observation of the student’s process and practice by  staff teaching on the module or otherwise involved in the production. This will include GSA TTA staff (teaching fellows and technicians) and production creative team (both GSA staff and external creatives). Notes on the student’s achievements against the learning outcomes will be provided by all relevant parties to the module leader who will collate the feedback to provide a summative assessment.

Formative assessment

N/A

Feedback

Provided verbally throughout the process. Summative feedback will be provided 3 weeks after completion of practical project (process/practice)

Module aims

• Address students' strengths and weaknesses identified in prior production work, specifically in areas relating to creative and technical decision making, team work, delegation, professional level communication and presentation, engagement, autonomy and critical reflection
• Develop organisation, preparation and management in the application of skills learnt in previous modules
• Advance students' understanding of the management of a production through practical contribution and application of their role and responsibilities
• Provide students with an opportunity to confidently recognise and explore core technical and artistic components of their pathway choice in the selection and application of tools, processes and instruction
• Develop an appreciation of the collaboration and synergy required to realise professional entertainment production

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to enable the student to demonstrate practical application of skills at an advanced level and promote confidence in managing teams and projects within a professional environment.

Prompt further independent study and research.

Enable students to explore working processes and practices of industry practitioners 

Reflect on and evaluate the production process and their learning within it.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Seminars 

• Tutorials 

• Guided learning: practical work on GSA production(s) OR within an approved professional setting.

• Independent 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: PROM002

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.