ACTING 2 - 2024/5

Module Overview

This Module allows students to continue their development of technical and practical aspects of Acting and Spoken vocal practice.  This module integrates Acting with Text, Voice and Body in order to acquire the requisite skills necessary to progress to Level 6 and for a career in Musical Theatre and other Creative Industries.

 

The module comprises of:

• Text and Acting classes challenging the actor in accent, emotion and character through specifically chosen play texts.


• Practical Voice classes progressing from Level 4 in the development of the spoken voice


• Screen Acting classes progressing from Level 4 in the development of performance techniques for the camera


• Scene Study classes progressing from Level 4 in the development of acting techniques through the exploration of specifically chosen play texts

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

NICHOLLS Stewart (GSA)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

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

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

n/a

Module content

Text and Acting

Combining text analysis with acting and spoken voice styles, in order to transfer words and their contextual meaning from page to performance. The classes address specific challenges that face the actor in terms of vocal and acting techniques when working with demanding texts. Texts explored could reflect a multiplicity of cultures and backgrounds written by a variety of genders and identities.

 

Practical Voice

Continuing to further develop and enhance students understanding of grounding, centring and alignment explored at Level 4.  Progression of vocal muscular dexterity and dynamic articulation underpins the work to extend range, volume and clarity for sustainable vocal delivery.  Diverse texts requiring accents and varying speech qualities are utilised in order to enhance the students’ capacity for vocal variety and to enable safe and effective spoken voice projection in a range of performance spaces.

 

Screen Acting

To explore applied processes in screen acting techniques previously covered at Level 4, including deeper connection with text, greater understanding of specific screen craft, sustaining truthful characterisation on camera and a comprehension of the procedures of self-taping for auditions.

 

Scene Study

Small group discussion to facilitate various practices and acting methods for deep exploration into text, character, storytelling, subtext and author intentions.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

n/a

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate skills in spoken voice and acting, application of text, character building, physical presence in a range of recorded and live performance spaces, and to appreciate and explore the physical, emotional, conceptual and philosophical demands placed on the performer in Musical Theatre and other Creative Industries.  Spontaneity, creativity and collaboration are encouraged to release imagination in order for students to develop an awareness of themselves, to note their own physical and vocal patterns, to consider the messages they may give to an audience and to develop their techniques and methodological approaches to work to prepare for the work undertaken at Level 6.

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

 

Continuous Assessment - American Scenes.  Practical based Assessment – Teaching Block 2

• Connection and engagement with text/narrative/context


• Characterisation and physicality


• Technical understanding of accent


• Projection and clarity


• Accuracy of delivery

This assessment addresses Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3

 

Continuous Assessment - Screen Acting.  Practical based Assessment – Teaching Bock 2

• Engagement with the process of creating and sustaining character in screen delivery


• Basic technical understanding of screen acting


• Continuous assessment of class based process

This assessment addresses Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

 

 

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, 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. 

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

Module aims

• Develop and enhance the students' awareness of the demands placed on the mind, body and voice in the study, analysis and delivery of text and character
• Investigate and apply various acting, physical and vocal techniques and methods required when studying and performing the diverse texts, writers and genres found within Musical Theatre and other Creative Industries
• Enable students to produce a variety of accents and speech qualities, and to apply them to text and character
• Secure a systematic and healthy personal technique in spoken voice and to enable safe and effective spoken voice projection in a range of performance spaces

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Place an emphasis on the continuing practical development of skills that are required for Level 6 of the programme and for employable entry to Musical Theatre and other Creative Industries

• Enable students to acquire, comprehend, implement, determine and develop appropriate Acting and Vocal techniques for a range of live and recorded performance spaces


• Allow students to fully utilise body, voice, and mind in the study of text analysis and the creation of character

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Practical Acting and Voice classes


• Small Group Text Study tutorials


• Practical Screen Acting seminar classes


• Group and Individual research 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: MUT2028

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 all classes within this module, but particularly Screen Acting class, students will be required to engage with digital technologies to develop their digital literacy, to support their learning journey, and to explore and secure employment opportunities in regard to self-taping for auditions and to gain comprehension of the TV, Film and Commercial sector.  Students will use specialist software to create digital and promotional content, and they will use a range of sharing platforms and social media to share this content with industry professionals and creative peers as appropriate.   

 

Employability

The focus on employability is embedded in the teaching, learning and assessment activities throughout this module to nurture career ready graduates that will be sought after by employers in the creative industries.  Expert staff with practitioner backgrounds deliver authentic and practical modes of working from the studio, to rehearsal, to peer performance/screen delivery mirroring professional practice.   In all classes covered in this module, students develop transferable skills including independent and collaborative working, creative, critical and reflective thinking, and problem solving. 

  

Global & Cultural Capabilities

Texts for Text and Acting, Scene Study and Screen Acting classes are used to facilitate students in developing their global, social, historical, and cultural awareness, shared 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.  Students will be able to make informed contributions to the current debates in the creative industries. 

 

Resourcefulness & Resilience

In all classes within this module the learning journey is carefully structured so that performance and rehearsal skills can be learned, developed, and integrated resulting in students 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 the work 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 will enable students to build a thorough overview of their individual process and progress.  The training features 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 classes which are in line with expectations for a successful Musical Theatre career.  

 

Sustainability

Across the 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 Text and Acting, Screen Acting and Scene Study classes, 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. Practical Voice classes allow the student to work in a sustained safe vocal manner commensurate with rigors of professional delivery.  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.  All 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.