THE ACTOR IN REHEARSAL 1 - 2025/6

Module Overview

Research and preparation will be necessary in pursuit of some of the modules aims. Students are required to be punctual, to warm up, and dress appropriately for classes.

The Actor in Rehearsal 1 offers an opportunity for integration of principles and skills from across the programme. Like a canvas the actor may use the rehearsal room to experiment with and apply their training in relation to different theatrical forms and rehearsal processes.  Students engage with two rehearsal projects in this module, each led by a tutor in the role of a director. 

The first rehearsal project incorporates scenes from one or more plays belonging to the Naturalism tradition.

The second rehearsal project incorporates scenes from one or more Shakespeare plays.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

BESSELL Jaq (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

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes: 

• A rehearsal project, guided by a tutor-director, on scenes from one or more plays belonging to the Naturalism tradition.


• A rehearsal project, guided by a tutor-director, on scenes from one or more plays by Shakespeare.


• A sharing of the work with classmates, at the end of each project.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

1. The beginnings of an embodied, psycho-physical approach to acting, movement and voice, into the rehearsal process.


2. Knowledge and understanding of Naturalistic texts, through research and analysis.


3. Knowledge and understanding of Shakespearean texts, through research and analysis.


4. Sustained engagement with imaginative and embodied approaches to rehearsing Naturalistic text.


5. Sustained engagement with imaginative and embodied approaches to rehearsing Shakespearean text.


6. Sustained engagement with effective collaborative and individual working practices within the rehearsal process.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Continuous Assessment: Naturalism Project (addresses 1,2,4 and 6, above)


• Continuous Assessment: Shakespeare Project (addresses 1,3, 5 and 6, above)

Formative assessment Formative assessment and verbal feedback will be given by tutors at the mid-point of the rehearsal project. In addition to these sessions, students will receive formative verbal feedback from tutors within in-class rehearsals.

Module aims

• Provide opportunities for students to explore embodied choices relating to character and actions in pursuit of objectives, within a set of given circumstances.
• Develop students' research and analytical skills as part of a personal and group rehearsal process.
• Introduce students to Naturalistic plays.
• Introduce students to plays by Shakespeare.
• Enable greater physical awareness of the body and its ability to affect space.
• Encourage the development of a personal rehearsal process.
• Enable the development of effective collaborative strategies.
• Provide a firm foundation for rehearsal projects at Level 5.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Encourage students to make embodied choices relating to character and actions in pursuit of objectives within a set of given circumstances.


• Enable an understanding of a Naturalistic text, through research and analysis, and practical exploration.


• Enable an understanding of a Shakespeare text, through research, analysis and practical exploration.


• Encourage students to risk an increased physical and imaginative commitment to the scale and form of the text.


• Enable greater physical awareness of the body and its ability to affect space.


• Encourage the development of a personal rehearsal process.


• Enable the development of effective collaborative strategies.


• Provide a firm foundation for rehearsal projects at Level 5.

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: ACT1037

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 acting students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

Employability

The focus on employability is embedded in the teaching, learning and assessment activities throughout every aspect of 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 in the studio, mirroring professional practice. Students develop transferable skills including independent and collaborative working, creative, critical and reflective thinking, and problem solving.

Global & Cultural Capabilities

Through the skills taught in all classes across this 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. Students will be able to make informed contributions to the current debates in the creative industries.

Digital Capabilities

Throughout the module students will be required to engage with digital technologies to support their learning journey, and to undertake research.

Resourcefulness & Resilience

In 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 the 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, rehearsals and performance schedules which are in line with expectations for a successful acting career.

Sustainability

Throughout the classes, 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. GSA has a strong commitment to working from the studio in the most sustainable way possible. Physical classes allow the student to work in a sustained safe 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 2025/6 academic year.