Module: DRA4100-20 Contemporary Theatre

Level: 4

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Roy Connolly

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

1. Brief description and aims of module:

The module examines some of the most influential playwrights and plays shaping contemporary theatre and the movements and genres with which these playwrights and plays are associated.

This module aims to:

Develop your understanding of some aspects of contemporary theatre practice

Develop your critical awareness, research and information technology skills

Provide you with the opportunity to develop individual and group project work in response to a directed brief

2. Outline syllabus:

This module examines the work of a range of significant and influential contemporary playwrights and the issues with which their work engages. In any given year, it may choose as its focus a single area relating to current critical debate for example focusing on representations of politics, identity and gender and/or examining playwrights’ experiments with language and theatrical form. Plays will be explored critically and practically and you will be given the opportunity to both undertake research and engage in practical exploration of texts in workshops and rehearsals. The selection of playwrights covered on this module will vary year on year but typically may include writers such as Jez Butterworth, Simon Stephens, Tim Crouch, Roy Williams, Martin McDonagh, Martin Crimp, Mark Ravenhill, David Hare, Philip Ridley, Caryl Churchill, Richard Bean, Joe Penhall and Richard Norton-Taylor.

The module develops your understanding of some aspects of contemporary theatre practice by providing you with the opportunity to undertake:

The examination of some influential ideas in contemporary theatre practice and the movements and genres with which these ideas are associated;

Analysis of the context that informs contemporary theatre

Play text study

A group research, presentation or performance project

3. Teaching and Learning Activities:

Teaching and learning will involve activities such as readings, workshops, rehearsals, seminars, research tasks, practical tasks, presentation tasks and writing tasks.

You will be given the opportunity to complete formative tasks before presenting summative work for assessment.

The first formative task develops your research and group work skills

The second formative task builds on these skills in research and group work and develops your skills in critical analysis and presentation

The first summative task (essay) further extends your skills in research and critical analysis

The second summative task (collaborative presentation) draws on and extends your skills in research, group work, critical analysis and presentation

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: Essay (1600 words)

• % Weighting: 40%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: Collaborative performance presentation

• % Weighting: 60%