MOVEMENT TECHNIQUE - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module is designed to explore and enhance the student's capacity to meet the expressive physical demands placed upon the professional actor. The classwork is underpinned by an understanding of anatomy and incorporates a somatic focus upon bodily wellbeing as well as conditioning. A secure physical technique is developed and extended to integrate techniques drawn from influential practitioners of creative movement in order to enhance the student's bodily expressiveness and ability to delineate a dramatic character through non-verbal means.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

BIRCH-LAWSON Rachel (GSA)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

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 may include:

• Experiential anatomy and body conditioning through somatic practices, e.g. Pilates, Yoga, Feldenkrais


• Non-verbal performance techniques drawn from Lecoq/physical theatre methods: e.g. neutral mask, chorus, commedia dell¿arte, melodrama, clown


• Social dance Contact improvisation


• Other content may involve Laban/Bartenieff, Viewpoints, Five Rhythms, or other appropriate expressive movement practices

 

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

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

• An advanced understanding of movement technique for actors


• Somatic knowledge and awareness of bodily conditioning for health


• Expressive creativity in group and individual presentations

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

Continuous assessment of classroom exercises (addressing learning outcomes 1,2,3 and 4)

Formative assessment

Formative assessments of students' progress will be held in class towards the end of Teaching Block 1. This will take the form of in-house presentation of creative work by the students in solo, pair or group format.

At appropriate points in the module, students will be asked to rehearse and present creative movement work in solo, pairs or groups as part of classroom activity, affording tutors the opportunity to provide feedback on students¿ progress in understanding, transforming and applying principles and techniques learned in the module.

Feedback

Formative feedback will be given in written, audio or verbal (in-class session) form at the end of Teaching Block 1. Summative feedback is given at the end of the module in written or audio form on Surreylearn. In addition, verbal feedback is delivered in class as appropriate.

Module aims

• Improve awareness and capacity to manage the varied somatic demands placed on the body in different performance contexts
• Engage the student in a range of creative movement techniques relevant to acting
• Develop the student's capability for sophisticated physical expression
• Enhance the student's collaborative skills, discipline and professionalism with regard to the creative use of the body in acting

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Emphasize the application of expressive movement skills relevant to the practice of professional acting


• Enable students to acquire versatility in physical skills across a range of genres and styles

Learning and teaching methods include:

• Practical skills-based classroom exercises


• Independent research and study, including journaling

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: ACTM049

Other information

Resourcefulness and Resilience

The module's focus on bodily wellbeing, conditioning and expressivity entails the need for students to negotiate risks and challenges and to develop stamina, energy and a healthy approach to their craft. In addition, students regularly work in pairs or as part of a team during the module, and thus engage with the responsibilities of taking care of others as well as themselves.

Sustainability

Students are encouraged in this module to consider the impact of their work and to take responsibility for the achievement of standards that are both professional and manageable over the long term.

Global and Cultural Capability

Students are encouraged to build on their cultural awareness in the module, including through a focus on exploring and understanding some non-Western somatic practices and traditions.

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.