THE ACTOR IN REHEARSAL 2 - 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 2 offers further opportunities for the application and refining of principles skills from across the programme. Students engage with two rehearsal projects in this module, each led by a tutor in the role of a director:

• A devised/adaptation project, producing an original ensemble piece, in response to a provocation, or non-dramatic source material.


• A rehearsal project incorporating heightened text.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

BESSELL Jaq (GSA)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

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

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Research and rehearsals for a devised/adaptation ensemble project, guided by a tutor-director, in response to a provocation, or non-dramatic source material.


• A workshop sharing best practice when dealing with potentially challenging material.


• A rehearsal project, guided by a tutor-director, incorporating one or more examples of advanced, heightened text.


• 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. Enhanced embodied skills in acting, movement and voice, as part of a rehearsal process.


2. Broader knowledge and understanding of a range of source materials, through research and analysis.


3. Enhanced knowledge and understanding of a range of heightened texts, through research and analysis.


4. Enhanced imaginative and embodied approaches to work across a range of contexts, styles and genres


5. Enhanced collaborative and autonomous working practices.


6. Developing intercultural awareness and informed views on global, social and ethical issues.


7. A resourceful and resilient approach to problem solving with the application of creative thinking and solutions

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Continuous Assessment: Devised/Adaptation Project (addresses 2, 5, 6 and 7 above)


• Continuous Assessment: Advanced Text Project (addresses 1,3,4 and 5 above)

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

Module aims

• Enable the further development of embodied skills in acting, movement and voice, as part of a rehearsal process.
• Enhance students' research and analytical skills as part of a personal and group rehearsal process.
• Enable creative responses to a range of source material.
• Further the development of a personal rehearsal process.
• Enhance and extend students' range of effective collaborative strategies.
• Encourage a developing intercultural awareness, through research and creative exploration
• Encourage a developing awareness of global, social and ethical issues within the creative industries.
• Provide a firm foundation for productions and projects at Level 6.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Facilitate developing embodied skills in acting, movement and voice, as part of a rehearsal process.


• Broaden students' understanding of global, social and ethical issues, through research and analysis, and creative exploration.


• Deepen an understanding of a heightened text forms, through research, analysis and practical exploration.


• Challenge students to risk an increased physical and imaginative commitment to rehearsal and performance of heightened texts.


• Encourage the development of a personal rehearsal process.


• Enhance the continuing development of effective collaborative strategies.


• Develop intercultural awareness and informed views on global, social and ethical issues.


• Develop a resourceful and resilient approach to problem solving with the application of creative thinking and solutions


• 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: ACT2029

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

Over the course of 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 are researching, and will be portraying. 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. Students may also use specialist software to support the rehearsal projects in different ways.

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.