Module: COM4003-20 Comedy Skills 1

Level: 4

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Thomas Kampe

Module Tutor Contact Details: t.kampe@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This module offers an introduction to the physical comedy, movement and voice skills required to support your comedic performer training process.

The module aims are:

To introduce you to the physical comedy, movement and voice skills relevant to a professional comedy career

To foster a dedicated personal commitment to individual skills learning and training

To Introduce you to reflective learning approaches related to personal skills development as individuals and as ensemble members

2.Outline syllabus

This module offers you an introduction to skills learning and training for comedic actors/performers, which relies on the absorption of embodied knowledge and practical skills. The module provides focused tuition in each skills area, and through its interaction with the Acting and Writing and Performance modules, places these skills in a range of performance contexts. Tutors recognise that you enter the programme with varying abilities, prior knowledge and habitual practice. This module lays the foundations for useful learning modalities and professional standards in all areas of study, and allows you to identify how to improve your skills development. Significantly, you are introduced to vocal and movement self-care, observation, warm-up strategies and to diverse qualitative performance processes.

3.Teaching and learning activities

This module uses a combination of tutor-led workshops, reflective reading and listening assignments, peer-observation and student-led practice.

Movement training aims to build coordination, flexibility, body awareness, stamina, and expressive range in terms of character and creative ensemble practice. Somatic movement education encourages you to develop observation skills and an internal sense of their individual movement practice and in partnering contexts. An emphasis on movement analysis and embodied self-care and learning corresponds to the exploration of bio-mechanics, spatial and dynamic studies to support your capacity for embodied communication.

Voice classes ensure a clear and focused use of the voice through effective posture, breathing and release; effective use of resonance and placing; and clear articulation and shaping.

Comedy classes emphasise the establishment of the ensemble and a safe and supportive environment for playful exploration through games and exercises. You will be introduced to comedic concepts, principles, structures and vocabulary as a foundation for the development of your comedic understanding and skills development.

Personal Development Planning (PDP) requires you to reflect on your skills acquisition and learning and how this informs your development as actors. Through a series of weekly lectures, you are introduced to assessment criteria as a means of reviewing your progress on the course. It is important to critically reflect on your personal discoveries, challenges, as well as the feedback you receive from tutors. Through the introduction of a SWOT analysis tool, you reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities and threats that either maximise or interfere with your development. This will involve a formative feedback tutorial.

In skills classes, assessment in semester one is chiefly diagnostic (such as physical or vocal assessment of each student) taking into account any identified learning support needs. Formative assessment of practical skills happens towards the end of the module when work is shared in class and you receive peer and tutor feedback. This establishes the rehearsal/feedback process critical to the development of the actor. Skills specific feedback precedes all summative assessments and self-directed study will be expected to help you to prepare for assessments.

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: CW

• Description: Skills Profile (Movement, Voice, Comedy): Diagnostic

• % Weighting: 100