Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE THS2106

 
TITLE Applied Performance 1: Skills

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Theatre Studies

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit introduces students to the way in which theatre and performance processes can be applied to contexts of social and community learning and development. It presents a theoretical and practical framework on the discipline that has emerged as applied theatre. It also sensitises students to the ethical issues that need to be considered when facilitating theatre processes where vulnerable people and children may be involved.

The study-unit will begin with a series of lectures which will place students within the theoretical context. The second part of the unit will be a series of practical workshops in which students will gain skills and build a tool-kit of applied theatre techniques.

Study-unit Aims:

This study-unit aims to:
- Enable students to transfer performance processes within social and educational contexts;
- Equip students with practical skills in creative development;
- Empower students in workshop facilitation;
- Enable students to make dynamic links between theory and practice;
- Sensitise students to ethical concerns of working within social and educational contexts.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Understand the transferability of performance processes;
- Learn and develop a practical understanding of workshop approaches;
- Understand the theory relating to an applied performance context;
- Understand the ethical issues pertaining to applied performance.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Apply workshop facilitation skills;
- Understand and negotiate group dynamics;
- Reflect and develop creative and practical skills through written and practical work;
- Identify health and safety and ethical issues.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- A. Boal, Games for Actors and NonActors (London: Routledge, 2002).
- A. Boal, Theatre of the Oppressed (London: Pluto Press, 2008).
- A. Chesner, Groupwork with Learning Disabilities: Creative Drama (Oxon: Speechmark, 1998).
- R. Landy and D.T. Montgomery, Theatre for Change: Education, Social Action and Therapy (New York: Palgrave Macmillam, 2012.
- H. Nicholson, An Introduction to Applied Drama, Theatre and Performance in Applied Drama (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005) pp.1-20.
- Research in Drama and Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance.

Supplementary Readings:

- C. Johnston, House of Games: Making Theatre from Everyday Life (London: Nick Hern Books, 2005).
- V. Spolin, Improvisation for the Theatre (Illinois: Northwestern University Press, 1999).

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Fieldwork, Lectures and Practicum

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Classwork SEM1 No 50%
Essay SEM1 Yes 50%

 
LECTURER/S Tyrone Grima

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit