SOUND FOR PERFORMANCE - 2025/6

Module Overview

The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the context for sound technologies and practices associated with theatre production. This module reflects the programme's aim to produce multiskilled practitioners with specialist knowledge for the global creative industries. This module will serve as a general introduction to production sound for students whose area of professional interest may be elsewhere, or as an introduction to professional practice for students who wish to make audio technologies and practices a lasting part of their skillset. Skills learned on this module will also support further tasks in modules at Level 5 & 6 on the BA Theatre Production programme.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

EVANS Gareth (GSA)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

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:

• Sound Theories and Principals


• Sound Paperwork and Planning


• Basic PA System assembly and operation


• Cable Soldering and testing


• Digital recording and editing


• Digital programming and playback


• Critical Loudspeaker listening

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate: Clear and consistent communication to an industry standard, An understanding of technical processes to create a working sound system. Confidence in safe working practice and work related health and safety though the risk-assessment process.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Coursework: Submission of Sound Technical Rider (addresses learning outcomes 1, 2, 3)

• Online theory quiz


• Submission of draft documentation


• Practical formative exercise

• Online feedback upon completion of the quiz.


• Recorded verbal feedback upon submission of paperwork.


• Peer and Tutor verbal feedback following completion of practical exercise.

Module aims

• Introduce students to the roles and practices in theatre sound.
• Provide relevance and context to common technology and terms through the study of sound theories.
• Provide hands-on opportunities for students to use professional audio equipment in a controlled environment.
• Introduce students to the roles and practices in theatre sound
• Introduce students to the roles and practices in theatre sound

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to provide a variety of learning and teaching methods which fit with the overall aims & strategy of the programme and are appropriate to the study of digital and audio-visual technologies for live production. There is a balance of individual and group work and of tutor lead and student lead sessions. The strategy should encourage individual learning, questioning, analysis and reflection as well as enabling students to develop technical skills appropriate to the module as well as transferable skills in research, communication, planning and negotiation.

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: PRO1041

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:

Digital capabilities

Developing students' understanding and practical experience of using current professional digital media technology through classwork and project work alike. This experiential learning is underpinned by technical fundamentals allowing students to scale their knowledge to a broad range of similar digital media technology.

Global and cultural capabilities

As video and digital media are a key aspects part of the global entertainment industry, students will be introduced to a range of international practices and practitioners

Employability

This module provides digital media skills training towards the creation of a personal showreels and other promotion materials. These are essential business skills in the freelance creative sector which most of our graduates will progress onto.

Resourcefulness and Resilience

Through a combination of individual and group projects on this module, students can develop time management, problem-solving, communication, creativity both as an individual and as part of collaborative team and make use of the integrated opportunity to reflect on these areas as a part of the summative assessment.

Sustainability

This module promotes sustainable industry & innovation though using digital display technologies, and responsible consumption through promoting the skills and practice of digital scenography and the use of energy efficient digital projection systems.

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.