ACTING TECHNIQUES - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module is founded upon a commitment to integrate Acting with Text, Voice and the Body in order to acquire the requisite skills necessary for a career in Musical Theatre. A variety of acting classes operate together in order for the student to appreciate and explore the physical, emotional, conceptual and philosophical demands placed on the performer in any given space. Acting classes may explore; neutral mask, the practices of various theatre practitioners, improvisation, clown, commedia; plus study of the emotional dynamism of relationships, responding to behaviour, and the specific and differing demands that genre and style make on acting technique. Spontaneity, creativity and collaboration are encouraged to release imagination in order for the student to develop an awareness of themselves, to note their own physicality and vocal patterns and to consider the messages they may give to an audience. Text and Scene Study focuses on the basics of various theatre practitioners, plus diverse techniques used in the development of ‘character’. Consideration is given to how the actor can use various processes to convert words on a page into playable actions and objectives, and to build concentrated character development. Personal experience, observation, detailed research, and concentrated text study, will lead to preparation, action and motivation of character and circumstance. Material covered/chosen will be reflective of the continually developing global perspective within the theatre industry, with an understanding and awareness of the history and context from which it is derived.  This module runs concurrently with Musical Theatre Practice 1, Musical Theatre Practice 2, thus the Acting styles required for the projects and the essential growth of training required for the student over three Teaching Blocks are purposefully aligned. Teaching delivery will be such that it is accessible for all students.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

WILLIAMS Frances (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 includes:

• Acting Technique classes designed to integrate the mind and body, and to develop the actors’ imagination through the teaching and comprehension of various practitioners and acting practices.

• Text & Acting classes combining text analysis with acting and vocal styles, in order to transfer words and their contextual meaning from page to performance

• Scene Study classes utilising various practitioner practices and acting methods in the exploration selected texts, in order for the actor to develop their story telling skills and to convey the intentions of the playwright.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate comprehension and progression of vocal techniques required for a career in musical through continuous classroom and performance assessments.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

In-class Creative Acting exercises (continuous) – 40%. Teaching Block 1

• Characterisation (1,2,3,5)

• Projection and Clarity (1,2,3,5)

• Engagement with Narrative (1,2,3,5)

• Engagement with Process (1,2,3,5)

• Personal Progression (1,2,3,5)

In-class Physical Acting exercises (continuous) – 40%. Teaching Block 2

• Consistency of style (1,2,3,4,5,6)

• Accuracy of delivery (1,2,3,4,5,6)

• Understanding of genre and form (1,2,3,4,5,6)

• Understanding of dynamics (1,2,3,4,5,6)

• Physicality (1,2,3,4,5,6)

Monologue Presentation – 20%. Teaching Block 2

• Contextual Understanding (1,2,3,4,5,6)

• Characterisation, Analysis and Understanding (1,2,3,4,5,6)

• Engagement with Narrative (1,2,3,4,5,6)

• Projection and Clarity (1,3,4,5,6)

• Technical security (4,5)

Formative Assessment and Feedback Formative assessment is crucial to this module. In mirroring industry practice, students are given detailed constant verbal feedback and during classes, which enables students to develop and act upon notes given. Students are encouraged to create a reflective journal which encourages and develops their own reflective practice.

Student Activity Link to Learning Outcome(s)

• Characterisation

• Projection and Clarity

• Engagement with Narrative

• Engagement with Process

• Personal Progression

• Consistency of style

• Accuracy of delivery

• Understanding of genre and form

• Understanding of dynamics

• Physicality

• Contextual Understanding

• Characterisation, Analysis and Understanding

• Technical security

Module aims

• Explore the potential for individual and collaborative spontaneity and creativity, and to understand these skills within the context of the classroom and rehearsal room.
• Develop and enhance the students' awareness of the demands placed on the mind, body and voice in the study of text and character
• Enable accurate and skilful analysis of text and character.
• Investigate varying acting, physical and vocal styles required when studying and performing the many diverse texts, writers and genres found within Musical Theatre.
• Obtain comprehensive knowledge, and apply appropriate techniques of the varying acting, physical and vocal styles which exist and evolve within Musical Theatre

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Allow students to: comprehend, implement, determine and develop appropriate methods and skills in order to fully utilise body, voice, and mind in the study of text analysis and the creation of character from class and rehearsal through to performance and an eventual career in Musical Theatre.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Acting Techniques classes (Teaching Blocks 1 & 2)

• Acting and Text classes (Teaching Blocks 1 & 2)

• Scene Study classes (Teaching Blocks 1)

The module is delivered over 150 hours study across two Teaching Blocks including, classes and self-study.

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: MUTM030

Other information

GSA delivers its provision across three teaching blocks, within the University of Surrey’s existing semester structure.

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.