Module: ACT4000-20 Introduction to Acting Processes

Level: 4

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Sam Ellis

Module Tutor Contact Details: s.ellis@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This module equips you with the knowledge, practical skills and experience needed to understand the broad subject of acting, and highlights avenues for further exploration. The module explores a series of key tools and strategies for understanding the interconnectivity between acting processes, rehearsal and performance.

The module aims are:

To introduce you to a range of approaches and approaches to acting

To develop your creative, critical, analytical and interpersonal skills

To instil strategies for creating and sustaining individual projects and/or collaborative scenarios

2. Outline syllabus:

This module encourages you to establish and develop a personal acting process that responds to a variety of professional working scenarios. An initial focus on practical and effective exercises facilitates a playful, creative, curious and responsive actor and is followed by a post-Stanislavskian approach to acting. The focus is on equipping you with a series of tools and strategies to commensurate with an acting career

Object exercises provide a formative assessment point before progressing to the study and performance of text, using texts by seminal playwrights. This module enables assessment of transferable skills within an artistic context. These include contextual research, analysis, ‘uniting’ and ‘actioning’. These tools are explored from an embodied perspective.

3. Teaching and learning activities:

This module uses a combination of tutor-led workshops, student-led practice, lectures, and research assignments. You are expected to support these taught sessions with independent study and rehearsal.

At key points through the module, tutor feedback gives you opportunities to check your progress. Formative assessment involves feedback on independent scene study and character development, before progressing to the rehearsal and performance of studio-based scenes. Summative assessment of practical work is through the presentation of a prepared text-based scene. Self-directed study is expected in preparation for the assessment.

It is important to keep a journal or blog recording your development and to use this to evidence any required research along with annotated texts, character profiles, etc. This is not an assessed item, but you are expected to refer to this in class discussion and the Personal Development assignment in Skills 1.

The Bath Spa VLE, Minerva, provides information to help develop an appreciation of the broader technical and artistic aspects, which underpin this subject area, and develop skills in independent learning.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Acting scene (1 piece)

• % Weighting: 100%