FINAL PROJECT - 2025/6

Module Overview

Final Project is the sixth of six compulsory modules within the BA (Hons) Theatre. Students will pursue an independent pathway option toward an original piece of scholarly and / or creative work. The pathway options are: Essay, Play Script, Musical Theatre Scenario, Choreography, and Theatre Design. Students will be assigned a staff supervisor who will be available to advise on a range of academic tools and / or artistic approaches during the development of the project. The coursework assignment is the summative assessment.

The module is underpinned by an ethos of research innovation through practice, independent production of academic and imaginative outputs, professional engagement with the theatre discipline, and the values of inclusion, inspiration, innovation, and integrity. Students are encouraged to identify the themes in their work that may address sustainability in practice, including, but not limited to, responsible and ethical use of production and human resources, community outreach and social engagement, and the ways in which the arts contribute to improved health and wellbeing.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

TRINGHAM Anna (GSA)

Number of Credits: 45

ECTS Credits: 22.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content for the module consists of a series of units of study and a reading list which is prepared by the module tutor and delivered via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Surrey Learn. Final Project may include the following indicative topics: essay writing, play writing, musical theatre writing, choreography, and theatre design. Seminars and tutorials will focus on introductions to, and discussions of, the pathway options, and mentorship from staff supervisors. Independent learning hours are allocated to allow the student to fully engage with this content.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

Through their summative submission of a coursework essay, in addition to their engagement with formative assessment, the module content, and associated reading,  the students are provided with the opportunity to demonstrate: 

• Knowledge and comprehension of the processes by which theatre and performance are conceived and realised.


• Ability to identify areas of special interest in professional development and demonstrate resourcefulness and resilience through research.


• Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of one's own capabilities in producing scholarly and creative outputs online and in person.


• Creation of original work based on independent research and critically evaluate the outcome in relation to the brief.


• A developing awareness of professional sustainability and wellbeing within the creative industries.


• A pro-active and self-regulatory approach to coursework.


• Ability synthesise verbal and written feedback on coursework from faculty.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Essay: written work following academic standards on a self-devised topic in theatre, performing arts, education, etc (6000 words)


• Play Script: an outline for a play; a written excerpt (20 minutes of stage time) from the play script; supporting notes (2000 words).


• Musical Theatre Scenario: an outline for a musical; a written excerpt (20 minutes of stage time) from the libretto or score; supporting notes (2000 words).


• Choreography: a self-devised, narrative choreography, performed and filmed on video (8 minutes); supporting notes (2000 words).


• Theatre Design: a design overview for a published play or musical including set and costume; supporting notes (2000 words).

The formative assessment and feedback consists of:

• An outline or plan for the summative assignment. This may include, but is not restricted to:


• Drafts of written material for the essay, playscript, and musical theatre scenario pathway options


• Drafts of visual material for the choreography and theatre design pathway options.

Informal, formative feedback from tutors will be provided by, but is not restricted to:

• Personal tutorials via video call


• Question and answer exchanges via email


• News feed on the VLE.

Ongoing, informal, formative feedback from the tutor may be facilitated by, but is not restricted to, discussion Boards on the VLE and email exchanges at the students' request.

Module aims

• Engage students in the conception, development, realisation, and reflection on an original piece of work.
• Challenge students to integrate intellectual and aesthetic concepts with practical skills and techniques.
• Support students in their ongoing scholarly and / or creative production of a final project.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Actively engage the online learner with the key concepts relevant to their pathway option for the final project.


• Unfold a structured approach to producing an original piece of work in either a written or performance format.


• Enable the online learner to build a personal work method in approaching their chosen pathway option.


• Support the online learner to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the key concepts.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Guided Learning in units of study and a reading list delivered via the VLE, Surrey Learn


• Independent Learning allowing the student to fully engage with the content and beyond


• Seminars delivered during intensive study weekends, online or (optionally) on campus


• Tutorials delivered online by the module tutor throughout the study period

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

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: TDL3019

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:

Resourcefulness & Resilience, Global & Cultural capabilities, Employability, Sustainability

Final Project contributes to achieving the educational aims of the programme by providing students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge from conception to realisation, to demonstrate resourcefulness and resilience through the implementation of creative and critical skills, and to consider professional sustainability and intercultural awareness within their final projects. As always, digital citizenship is fostered through the nature of online learning, thus preparing students for a wide range of graduate destinations and future employability.

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.