Module: PM7008-30 Production 1: Scene Study

Level: 7

Credit Value: 30

Module Tutor: Roger Apfelbaum

Module Tutor Contact Details: r.apfelbaum@bathspa.ac.uk

1.Brief description and aims of module

This practical module explores a range of performance skills and studies how these skills relate to acting. You study and perform extracts (monologues and scenes) from plays relevant to your chosen study and demonstrate your skills through practice and knowledge sharing. This

module aims to:

● Provide a study environment that enables you to identify and explore key concepts, common practices and working processes.

● Enable you to place these key concepts, common practices and working processes within an academic framework

● Nurture a collaborative approach to practice

● Examine the practical demands of classical texts make of actors

2.Outline syllabus

The module takes a developmental approach to the process of acting. You consider how the processes of textual analysis, character development and direction inform and make demands of your acting process, as well as the skills and insight you must bring to it.

The module encompasses core voice and movement skills for acting through classes and rehearsal exercises. Rehearsal sessions encourage you to apply these skills to the playing of monologues and scenes.

This module looks at the basics of acting, either to reaffirm them or to develop now outlooks. The focus is on both verse and prose text, and on the development of character through sub textual interpretation.

3.Teaching and learning activities

Specialist staff teach this module through workshops, seminars and lectures. This is one of three modules where you work with other students looking at directing and Shakespeare, but in so doing this places your own subject discipline within a broader context.

Workshops in the first part of the module consider the expectation of a Greek Theatre verse monologue or chorus and how you apply acting, voice and prosody. Workshops in the second part of the module consider scenes with multiple characters and looks at naturalistic prose text. Focus is on the clarity of thought and the additional considerations of staging and spatial relationship.

Throughout the module you consider notions of subtext, preparatory research and characterisation.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work
• Description: Performance 1 - presentation of 1-2 monologues or duologues
• % Weighting: 40%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work
• Description: Performance 2 - presentation of 1-2 scenes
• % Weighting: 60%