REHEARSAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS - 2024/5

Module Overview

This Module introduces students to a variety of professional skills required to succeed as a self-employed professional Musical Theatre performer. 

 

The module comprises of:

• Two rehearsal projects (Golden Age and Contemporary), designed to simulate professional rehearsal practice utilising excerpts of multiple Musical Theatre texts and genres.


• One Small Scale Musical Project designed to simulate professional rehearsal practice across one full-length Musical Theatre text.


• Classes in Professional Development designed to give in-depth understanding and knowledge of the Musical Theatre industry.

 

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

NICHOLLS Stewart (GSA)

Number of Credits: 45

ECTS Credits: 22.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

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

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Golden Age Musical Theatre Project

This rehearsal project focuses on Golden Age Musical Theatre texts: defined as having been first staged/written within the first half of 20th century. The sequences chosen; encourage, support and develop disciplined ensemble and individual practice. Students will focus on the application of acting theory through song, scene and dance on Musicals designed to be sung without amplification using ‘legit’ technique and with a dance style rooted in ballet technique.

Contemporary Musical Theatre Project

This rehearsal project focuses on Contemporary Musical Theatre: defined as having been first staged/written within the last 40 years. The sequences chosen will be contrasting to the genre of the Golden Age Musical project, thus enabling the exploration of differing styles of voice (both spoken and sung), movement, acting, direction, choreography and musical staging.  The extracts chosen will be taken from Musicals designed to be sung with amplification (although amplification is not used for the project), in which the dance style is based on any of the current techniques used in recent musicals.

Small Scale Musical Project

In this project, students evidence full integration of skills by bringing together all elements of their training at Levels 4 and 5 into a single presentation.  Students will be expected to build on previous work and undertake the requisite research and homework required to develop and stretch all their techniques and heighten their sense of stagecraft and rehearsal discipline.  This project is designed to establish a consistent rehearsal method across a full-length Musical Theatre text to prepare students for their public performances at Level 6.

 

In all three projects, students are given the opportunity to apply the methodologies and techniques learnt through a rehearsal process culminating in a presentation to peers.  Practices concurrently delivered in voice, dance and acting classes taught within other modules are incorporated to allow the students to integrate their skills and to develop as employable Musical Theatre performers.  Texts delivered will give students the opportunity for contextual study and academic research and are underpinned with an awareness of the continually developing global perspective. These projects encourage students to comprehend the importance of diet, sleep, exercise and appropriate working hours, and promote Equity safe spaces, positive working ethics: collaboration, kindness, support, understanding, listening and integrity.

 

Professional Development

Students will gain understanding of the production processes required for the Musical Theatre Musical Theatre profession, the workplace they will enter, and the economic and legal structures of the industry.  Students will comprehend the occupations of agents, casting directors, creatives and producers, and how these roles sit within the students own personal profile in the industry. Professional Development actively encourages and promotes enterprise and entrepreneurship, resilience, employability, resourcefulness, and fosters an understanding of relevant sustainable financial and business models

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 required to succeed as a self-employed professional Musical Theatre performer and to demonstrate comprehension of a wide variety of differing genres and performance styles required to achieve maximum employability opportunities within the professional Musical Theatre and other Creative Industries. 

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

 

Continuous Assessment - Golden Age Musical Theatre process.  Practical Based Assessment – Teaching Block 1

 

Continuous Assessment – Contemporary Musical Theatre process.  Practical Based Assessment – Teaching Block 2

 

Both projects require the following:

• Integration of Vocal, Dance and Acting skills


• Developing contextual understanding and application through the study of a range of Musical Theatre texts, styles and genres


• Applying a pro-active commitment, flexibility and creative approach to the rehearsal process and ensemble practice


• Self-discipline and engagement within rehearsal, developing stamina and professional practices


• Demonstrating analytical, creative and imaginative practices within the bounds of a text, music and character


• Responding positively and constructively to direction


• Continuous assessment of class/rehearsal/presentation based processes

These assessments address Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

 

Continuous Assessment - Small Scale Musical Process into Performance.  Practical Based Assessment - Teaching Block 3

• Integration of Vocal, Dance and Acting skills


• Sustaining energy and character in rehearsal and presentation/performance


• Contextual understanding and application through the study of a Musical Theatre text


• Applying a pro-active commitment, flexibility and creative approach to the rehearsal process and ensemble practice


• Self-discipline and engagement within rehearsal, demonstrating stamina and professional practices


• Analytical, creative and imaginative practices within the bounds of text, music and character


• Responding positively and constructively to direction


• Continuous assessment of rehearsal processes through to final presentation/performance

This assessment addresses Learning Outcomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9

 

 Formative assessment

Formative assessment is embedded within the learning and teaching for this module.  In mirroring industry practice, students are given detailed constant verbal feedback during classes and rehearsal, which enables students to develop and act upon notes given.  Questioning, dialogue, facilitated peer-to-peer feedback and group discussion is undertaken constantly to enable Students develop their critical, and self-reflective skills, to allow them to adjust their work and process in response.

 

  Feedback

• Students are given detailed constant formative verbal feedback during classes and rehearsal. 


• Students will receive detailed written summative feedback via SurreyLearn on conclusion of each assessment project.

Module aims

• Introduce students to varying styles, contexts, traditions, structures and diverse genres of the Musical Theatre Industry
• Explore the processes and dynamic systems of rehearsal, and the expectations of a professional rehearsal process through to peer presentation
• Apply and develop acting, vocal and dance skills studied across Level 4 and Level 5 in a practical and supportive tutor/director led process
• Integrate sustained processes of Acting, Vocal and Dance techniques to form a unified approach to performance/presentation required of the triple-threat Musical Theatre performer
• Allow students to evaluate the wider contexts, roles and varied employment opportunities of the Musical Theatre Industry and other Creative Industries

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Place an emphasis on the practical development and integration of skills required for sustained employment as a professional triple-threat performer in the Musical Theatre Industry.


• Encourage students to evaluate appropriate procedures to gain the knowledge and skills required to manage and sustain a career in Musical Theatre and Creative Industries.


• Enable students to acquire skills to work both as an individual and collaboratively as part of an ensemble in professional Musical Theatre.


• Introduce students to processes, systems and wider contexts of the Musical Theatre and Creative Industries.


• Allow students to comprehend their training trajectory into public performances at Level 6.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Practical Project Rehearsals


• Group Seminars


• Group and Individual and Study Sessions

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: MUT2027

Other information

Guildford School of Acting trains students, within their chosen fields, to have an understanding and appreciation of Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow Musical Theatre students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

 

Digital Capabilities

Throughout the professional development classes and the project work within this module, students will engage with digital technologies, to support their learning journey, to source historical archival Musical Theatre audio and visual reference material to support their learning journey and to explore and enhance their employment opportunities.  Students may use specialist software to create digital content, and they will use a range of digital platforms to share this content with creative peers as appropriate.

 

Employability

The focus on employability is embedded in the teaching, learning and assessment activities throughout this module, in particular through professional development classes.  In the three rehearsal projects covered within this module, expert staff with practitioner backgrounds deliver authentic and practical modes of working from the studio, to rehearsal, to peer presentation, mirroring professional practice.  

 

Global & Cultural Capabilities

Through the study of the multiple texts used through the projects in the module, students will develop their global, social, historical, and cultural awareness, share experiences and knowledge from their own backgrounds and cultures,¿and appreciate, recognise and interpret diverse perspectives.  With an open mind and a willingness to engage in discussion, students will develop awareness and appreciate, recognise and interpret diverse perspectives in the characters and communities they will be portraying as actors-in-training in the three projects undertaken in this module.¿¿ Students will be able to make informed contributions to the current debates in the creative industries throughout the project work and the professional development classes.¿

 

Resourcefulness & Resilience

The three projects within this module are carefully structured so that performance and rehearsal skills can be learned, developed, and integrated resulting in the student acquiring a broad range of resources which they can continue to use throughout the rest of their training and in future employment settings.  The nature of rehearsal work within the projects means students will learn to navigate uncertainty, to deal with risks and challenges, and to take on board personal and professional responsibilities.  The use of formative and summative feedback in the projects will enable students to build a thorough overview of their individual process and progress.  The project work and professional developments classes feature independent and collaborative learning, problem solving, communication, perseverance, stamina, critical thinking, self-management, and an understanding of self-value.  Mirroring industry standards students will undertake rehearsals and performance schedules in the project work which are in line with expectations for a successful Musical Theatre career.  

 

Sustainability

Throughout the professional development classes and the three projects taught within this module, students are encouraged to reflect on the social,¿cultural,¿ethical, political, economic, and environmental impact of the work they do as individuals and collectively, and to recognise their shared responsibilities.  In project work, students will understand the impact on audiences of the values, perceptions, and actions of their own, of others and of characters they are portraying in rehearsal and performance.  In project work and professional development classes, students will be nurtured as future leaders in sustainability thinking and empowered to take informed decisions and responsible actions that promote the wellbeing of present and future generations.  GSA has a strong commitment to working from the studio, to rehearsal, to peer presentation in the most sustainable way possible.  Project classes allow the student to work in a sustained safe vocal and physical manner commensurate with rigors of professional delivery.

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 2024/5 academic year.