BA Drama and Creative Writing Modules - year one

Year one

Performance: Theory, Practice and Critique 

This modules equips students with a basic understanding of the relationship between theatre, culture, performance and politics. Over the course of the module, students develop an awareness of and the ability to apply different methodological approaches to their own work and the work of others.

Studio Practice 

This module prepares students as artists, theatre and performance makers by opening up a space for experimentation and enquiry, and building their skills through attention to key principles of performance and theatre (for example: presence, focus, responsiveness/listening, full embodiment, psychophysical impulse).

Engaging Performance  

Engaging Performance is an introductory module to explore core principles of performance and theatre. It uses a blended teaching approach, interlacing critical discussion and practical exercise-based workshop, in order to encourage students to explore the disciplinary connections between theoretical and practical approaches in Drama. In this manner, it seeks to disturb easy dichotomies of theory and practice and emphasize the many intersections between studio and seminar room.

The module will explore the role and function of the broad concepts of performance (such as body, space, and time). Each of these concepts will be explored across a series of weeks, with readings, viewings and tasks between sessions that seek to highlight the complexities and diversity of each identified theme. The module will encourage collaborative and devising practice centred around these core concepts.

Production Skills

The module is a comprehensive introduction to the practical aspects of staging and organising shows and live events. Throughout the module students will be guided through the various production processes involved - encompassing the fields of stage technologies, such as lighting and sound, scenic and costume design, and stage management. Students will also focus on understanding health & safety procedures that need to be considered whilst working on productions / live performance events.

The module aims to give the students a foundational insight into these essential areas of backstage theatre and live events production. Through practical classes and engaging in departmental productions, students will develop a broad range of production skills and a clear understanding of the complexities and timelines involved in staging live events, whilst supported and guided by professional staff.

Contemporary Creative Writing

This module will give students a thorough introduction to current trends in creative writing in three principal areas: publishing (traditional, independent and self-publishing); prizes and awards; literary markets and presentation. Students will examine a number of case-studies including traditional vs. self-publishing; mainstream vs avant-garde; prize shortlists and book reviews. Students will create original creative works in response to these case studies.

Creative Writing Foundation

This module will give students the opportunity to develop a basic understanding of key issues and methodologies related to the study of creative writing as an academic discipline; to explore purpose and method in writing, both individually and collaboratively; to develop competence in basic creative writing skills in the traditional genres of prose and poetry, as related to each stage of the writing process; and to develop appropriate vocabulary and formats to reflect on their own writing as process and product. Generic themes and issues will be covered in lecture-demonstrations; while generic-specific skills and processes will be introduced in tutor-led seminars, and reinforced student-led groups.