REHEARSAL AND RESEARCH - 2025/6

Module Overview

The Module introduces students to the concepts of research, preparation, contextual discussion and artistic expression appropriate to the study of Musical Theatre and the Creative Industries.

 

The module comprises of:

• Healthy Performer classes promoting Health and Wellbeing for performers


• Contextual studies in the History of Musical Theatre


• Storytelling classes introducing the basics of devising and working as a collaborative group


• Greek Ensemble Classical Project promoting the basics of individual and ensemble collaboration


• Musical Theatre Text Project introducing basic rehearsal methods utilising a Naturalist Musical Theatre text

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

WOOLFORD Julian (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

None

Module content

Healthy Performer

Students undertake a series of workshops focusing on wellbeing for the Healthy Performer.  These classes promote UN sustainability goals: Diet, sleep, exercise and screen time.

 

Musical Theatre History

To provide a context and knowledge for students future careers, including: Historical and Socio-political understanding, exploration of Musical Theatre source material, and the introduction of analytical academic writing skills.

 

Storytelling

To study the basics of devising, storytelling, creation of own material and working collaboratively in a small ensemble.

 

Greek Ensemble Classical Project

To comprehend the basic methodologies of individual and ensemble collaboration.  The project focuses on the connection between actor, text and audience. It enables students to explore the process of choral and individual work and aids in the application of core thinking to modern text.

 

Musical Theatre Text Project

Students will work on basic methods of rehearsal utilising a Naturalistic Musical Theatre text, applying skills learnt across all acting classes and projects delivered throughout Level 4

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 through individual and ensemble research, theory, analysis, preparation, contextual discussion, and artistic expression appropriate to the study of Musical Theatre and the Creative Industries

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

 

Continuous Assessment – Greek Ensemble Classical Project.  Practical based Assessment - Teaching Block 1

• Contextual understanding


• Application of theory


• Character analysis


• Individual and Ensemble work

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

 

Written Assessment – Musical Theatre Context.  Coursework Assessment - Submitted Week 1 of Teaching Block 3

• Contextual understanding


• Application of theory


• Academic written presentation


• Academic Research

This assessment addresses Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 6

 

Continuous Assessment - Musical Theatre Text Project.  Practical Based Assessment – Teaching Block 3

• Contextual understanding


• Application of theory


• Character analysis


• Individual and Ensemble work


• Self-discipline and engagement with class/rehearsal


• Responding positively and constructively to direction

This assessment addresses Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

 

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 and develop key skills and contextual understanding of Musical Theatre
• Equip students with the physical, intellectual, practical and emotional skills to approach text and performance with methodological rigor
• Develop an awareness and understanding of how an actor communicates with an audience through use of voice, physicality, text and various storytelling techniques
• Introduce an understanding of rehearsal systems, and the expectations of a professional rehearsal process
• Develop skills for students to research and perform as a collaborative ensemble through classes/rehearsals led by a tutor/director

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

  The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

 

• Place an emphasis on the practical development of employability skills that are required for Musical Theatre training at Level 5 and 6.

• Encourage students to develop appropriate procedures to gain the knowledge required for the study Musical Theatre at Level 5 and 6.


• 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.


• Enable students to acquire versatility in their mental and physical skills and integrate their knowledge across all Musical Theatre disciplines all of which lead on to a firm foundation moving toward study at Level 5 and 6.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Group Seminars


• Practical Acting classes


• Project rehearsals and 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: MUT1024

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 module, in particular with History of Musical Theatre, students will be required to engage with digital technologies to develop their digital literacy and to source historical archival Musical Theatre audio and visual reference material to support their learning journey.  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 creative peers as appropriate. 

 

Employability

The focus on employability is embedded in the teaching, learning and assessment activities throughout this programme 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 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 study of multiple texts used in all classes and projects on 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.

 

Resourcefulness & Resilience

In the projects delivered in this module, the learning journey is 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 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, and rehearsals schedule which are in line with expectations for a successful Musical Theatre career.  

 

Sustainability

Throughout the Healthy Performer and History of Musical Theatre, Storytelling and Project 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.  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.  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 in the most sustainable way possible.  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 2025/6 academic year.