MFA — 2027 entry Theatre

This module will engage students in the study of Ancient Greek Theatre, examining its origins, influence and impact. Topics to be studied include, but are not restricted to: Myth, Ritual, Performance Space, Politics, The Actor and The Playwright. Original performance contexts will be studied alongside diverse global historical and contemporary productions. This module seeks to empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. 

This module will engage students in the study of Shakespeare, examining his work, influence, impact and legacy upon theatre. Topics to be studied may include, but are not restricted to: The Tragedies, The Histories, The Comedies, Character, Themes, Language, and Shakespeare in Production. Original performance contexts will be studied alongside historical and modern productions, and students will have the freedom to investigate Shakespeare in non-Western theatre contexts.  This module is committed to sustainable learning and research in both its content and manner of delivery. With respect to the former, it embraces and celebrates the global inclusiveness of Shakespeare’s works as a core component of an ongoing cultural conversation characterised by collaboration, tolerance and mutual respect. With regard to the latter, the methods of engagement with the module materials are interactive, supportive, dialogic and always positive, in that they are rooted in the interests and experience of an international online learning community.

This module will engage students in the study of Naturalism, examining its origins, influence, impact and legacy upon theatre and actor training.  Practitioners to be studied include, but are not restricted to: Ibsen, Strindberg, Chekhov, Stanislavski, Shaw, O'Neill. Original performance contexts will be studied alongside historical and contemporary development and contexts. Students will have the freedom to investigate Naturalism within the context of non-Western theatre practices if they wish.

This module will allow students to engage in study of contemporary theatre movements and traditions from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day. Practitioners and movements studied may include, but are not restricted to, Expressionism, Surrealism, Meyerhold, Agitprop, American Political Theatre of the 20th Century, Brecht and Epic Theatre, Documentary Theatre, In-Yer-Face Theatre, Kitchen Sink Theatre, Feminist Theatre, Theatre of the Absurd, Theatre of the Oppressed, Verbatim Theatre, Immersive Theatre, Site-Specific Theatre, Applied Theatre. Students will have the freedom to research into non-Western contemporary theatre practices where these align with the module content.

This module will engage students in the study of music and dance forms in Western theatre.  Movements and practitioners studied include, but are not restricted to, Musical theatre (the Book Musical, the Concept Musical, the Revue Musical, the Juke Box Musical and the Rock/Pop Musical, the Mega Musical, the contemporary musical); opera; ballet; modern and contemporary dance; contemporary mixed dance/physical theatre companies. Students will have the freedom to investigate non-Western contexts, influences and practices where these reflect the module aims and content.

This module will allow students to engage in study of non-Western theatre movements and traditions. Practitioners and movements studied may include, but are not restricted to, theatre traditions of Japan, China, India, South-East Asia, Africa, Arabic theatre, the Pacific, such as Noh, Kabuki, Bunraku, Butoh, Kyogen, Beijing Opera, Balinese Theatre, Wayang Kulit, West African griot.

This module will afford students the opportunity to engage in reflective analysis of their personal professional development. Through discussion and task-based activities, students will critically reflect upon steps taken so far, will identify further action and detail potential professional development opportunities and methods. Students are also free to include creative work in the portfolio such as a sample of professional script or a video recording of the student's own practice. The module's reach allows for students to approach the creation of the portfolio in line with their cultural background and preferences.

This module introduces students to key principles, skills and techniques required to facilitate training for performance across a variety of teaching and learning contexts, including, but not limited to, schools, community groups, education outreach activities, professional training and online learning across diverse communities. Learning and teaching processes will be examined through individual observations of pedagogical and/or professional performance practices, and will be articulated through critical analysis and curriculum development plans.   Through the development of their practice and analysis of teaching, students will be encouraged to empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

This module enables the student to develop their knowledge and expertise of either theatre, dance and performance practice or the pedagogies of performance (building upon TDLM017). The module is structured around the creation of an independent research project that reflects the student¿s own professional and creative interests.  Students will initiate, develop, and see to completion such a project under the guidance of an assigned project supervisor, with whom they meet periodically throughout the module.  As such, the content of the module will be individually tailored to each student, and the delivery/tutelage will be structured according to each project and each students individual working methods.