Applied and Contemporary Theatre BA (Hons) — 2027 entry

This module aims to develop the skill base of the creative practitioner in key elements of performance. Across Level 4, students will study practical skills in studio-based group classes. Students will encounter and explore the application and integration of core technical performance skills. Students will engage with the rudiments of music, voice and singing and undertake movement training designed to develop the experiential, expressive and analytical skills of the creative individual. Students will be guided to engage in reflective practice to engender resilience and wellbeing by documenting and reflecting upon their learning journey. This module provides students with the foundational training that is required to develop an artistic skill-set, within an international context.

The Actor and the Ensemble enables students to explore different modes of performance. This includes collaborative & devised practice, applied theatre and social justice, and contemporary political performance. In the first teaching block you will be working as an ensemble exploring post-modern collaborative practices. In the second teaching block students consider how theatre can be used to reflect the stories and issues pertaining to a diverse range of communities, both locally and internationally. The third teaching block looks in depth at contemporary political performance. Work is shared with peers at the end of each teaching block as work in progress in a safe practical performance setting.

This module will engage students in the study of the history, impact and ethos of theatre by focusing on key ideas and approaches that have formed its development. Topics to be studied include, but are not limited to theatre history, theories of performance and exploration of the political, social and ethical response, role, responsibility and impact of theatre in relation to communities and societies globally. 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 builds on the programme's Level 5 modules and is designed to allow students to advance the development of skills and knowledge in a practical professional context, enabling students to learn and discover with autonomy. This module enables students to undertake a placement within GSA or with an external organisation, subject to availability. It provides a flexible framework through which students can pursue professional experiences aligned with their individual interests and areas of enquiry, which may include practical placement activities, observation, and engagement with industry professionals. 

This module builds upon the work undertaken at Level 4 and further develops the skill base of the creative practitioner and facilitator in theatre practice, singing, music, movement and voice, in relation to both self and others. Across Level 5 students will study practical skills in studio-based group classes and undertake observations of teaching and rehearsal practice within GSA. Students will encounter, explore and research the application and integration of core technical skills through the lens of the facilitator. This module continues the process of the individual understanding how they relate to the world and those around them through the inclusive and considered facilitation of the core fundamentals that underpin the programme. Students will be guided to engage in reflective practice to engender resilience and wellbeing by documenting and reflecting upon their learning journey. This module provides students with the foundational training that is required to develop an artistic skill-set, within an international context.

This module enables students to consider theatre making approaches in a variety of contexts. These may include, but are not limited to schools, small scale theatre, site specific theatre, fringe theatre, community groups, professional training, education outreach activities and online learning, across diverse global communities. Through guided and independent case studies, students will explore a range of innovative and established practices as well as working alongside guest artists.  

The Ensemble and the Audience offers the student the opportunity to integrate principles and skills encountered from across the programme. Building on the work of The Actor and the Ensemble at Level 4, the student will deepen their relationship to collaboration, artistic autonomy and self-made work by exploring techniques of and taking stimulus from theatre for youth in Teaching Block 1 and theatre with communities in Teaching Block 2 to create inclusive ensemble based, self-generated work. Work is developed via critical reflection of existing practitioners and companies, examining global practice through the lens of both creator and participant. The creative outcome is shared with their chosen community group.. Students may wish to engage with the work by taking on a professional creative role required in the facilitation of the collaborative project.

This module enables students to work collaboratively on the research, rehearsal and making of inclusive theatre for performance to specific audiences, integrating principles and skills from across the programme. Students engage with three fully realised performance projects, one per Teaching Block, continuing to interrogate the landscape of collaboration, artistic autonomy and self-made work for a specific audience. In Teaching Block 1 students work collaboratively to create an Applied Theatre project with a chosen community group. The project should be a series of practical workshops that respond to the needs and interests of their participants. In Teaching Block 2 students will work either as a group or as solo artists to form a devised piece of  politically engaged performance. This performance may take place at GSA, in the community or at a particular site.  In Teaching Block 3 students will work on a public production at a performance space at GSA. This project will be directed by a professional creative.

Students will engage with reflective analysis of their personal professional development and undertake critical reflection of steps taken so far. Students will identify detail potential further personal professional development opportunities and methods. The module engages students with a range of areas relating to industry practices, protocols and resources in pursuit of developing the necessary skills to undertake and sustain a career within the creative industries. Students will be encouraged to identify sustainable practice regarding good health and well being, to understand the creation of sustainable funding streams, to encourage collaboration with the community, and to foster an understanding of relevant sustainable financial and business models. 

This module aims to maintain the skill base of the creative practitioner in theatre practice, singing, music, movement and voice. Across Level 6 students will utilise the contact time of this module to support and further develop their inclusive practical skills in studio-based group classes as best supports their personal development as a creative practitioner according to the student’s individual skill set and projected career aspirations. This module also provides space and support for any technical requirements that arise out of their fully realised performance projects. Students will be guided to engage in reflective practice to engender resilience and wellbeing by documenting and reflecting upon their learning journey.

This module aims to develop the skill base of the creative practitioner in key elements of performance. Across Level 4, students will study practical skills in studio-based group classes. Students will encounter and explore the application and integration of core technical performance skills. Students will engage with the rudiments of music, voice and singing and undertake movement training designed to develop the experiential, expressive and analytical skills of the creative individual. Students will be guided to engage in reflective practice to engender resilience and wellbeing by documenting and reflecting upon their learning journey. This module provides students with the foundational training that is required to develop an artistic skill-set, within an international context.

The Actor and the Ensemble enables students to explore different modes of performance. This includes collaborative & devised practice, applied theatre and social justice, and contemporary political performance. In the first teaching block you will be working as an ensemble exploring post-modern collaborative practices. In the second teaching block students consider how theatre can be used to reflect the stories and issues pertaining to a diverse range of communities, both locally and internationally. The third teaching block looks in depth at contemporary political performance. Work is shared with peers at the end of each teaching block as work in progress in a safe practical performance setting.

This module will engage students in the study of the history, impact and ethos of theatre by focusing on key ideas and approaches that have formed its development. Topics to be studied include, but are not limited to theatre history, theories of performance and exploration of the political, social and ethical response, role, responsibility and impact of theatre in relation to communities and societies globally. 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 builds on the programme's Level 5 modules and is designed to allow students to advance the development of skills and knowledge in a practical professional context, enabling students to learn and discover with autonomy. This module enables students to undertake a placement within GSA or with an external organisation, subject to availability. It provides a flexible framework through which students can pursue professional experiences aligned with their individual interests and areas of enquiry, which may include practical placement activities, observation, and engagement with industry professionals. 

This module builds upon the work undertaken at Level 4 and further develops the skill base of the creative practitioner and facilitator in theatre practice, singing, music, movement and voice, in relation to both self and others. Across Level 5 students will study practical skills in studio-based group classes and undertake observations of teaching and rehearsal practice within GSA. Students will encounter, explore and research the application and integration of core technical skills through the lens of the facilitator. This module continues the process of the individual understanding how they relate to the world and those around them through the inclusive and considered facilitation of the core fundamentals that underpin the programme. Students will be guided to engage in reflective practice to engender resilience and wellbeing by documenting and reflecting upon their learning journey. This module provides students with the foundational training that is required to develop an artistic skill-set, within an international context.

This module enables students to consider theatre making approaches in a variety of contexts. These may include, but are not limited to schools, small scale theatre, site specific theatre, fringe theatre, community groups, professional training, education outreach activities and online learning, across diverse global communities. Through guided and independent case studies, students will explore a range of innovative and established practices as well as working alongside guest artists.  

The Ensemble and the Audience offers the student the opportunity to integrate principles and skills encountered from across the programme. Building on the work of The Actor and the Ensemble at Level 4, the student will deepen their relationship to collaboration, artistic autonomy and self-made work by exploring techniques of and taking stimulus from theatre for youth in Teaching Block 1 and theatre with communities in Teaching Block 2 to create inclusive ensemble based, self-generated work. Work is developed via critical reflection of existing practitioners and companies, examining global practice through the lens of both creator and participant. The creative outcome is shared with their chosen community group.. Students may wish to engage with the work by taking on a professional creative role required in the facilitation of the collaborative project.

This module enables students to work collaboratively on the research, rehearsal and making of inclusive theatre for performance to specific audiences, integrating principles and skills from across the programme. Students engage with three fully realised performance projects, one per Teaching Block, continuing to interrogate the landscape of collaboration, artistic autonomy and self-made work for a specific audience. In Teaching Block 1 students work collaboratively to create an Applied Theatre project with a chosen community group. The project should be a series of practical workshops that respond to the needs and interests of their participants. In Teaching Block 2 students will work either as a group or as solo artists to form a devised piece of  politically engaged performance. This performance may take place at GSA, in the community or at a particular site.  In Teaching Block 3 students will work on a public production at a performance space at GSA. This project will be directed by a professional creative.

Students will engage with reflective analysis of their personal professional development and undertake critical reflection of steps taken so far. Students will identify detail potential further personal professional development opportunities and methods. The module engages students with a range of areas relating to industry practices, protocols and resources in pursuit of developing the necessary skills to undertake and sustain a career within the creative industries. Students will be encouraged to identify sustainable practice regarding good health and well being, to understand the creation of sustainable funding streams, to encourage collaboration with the community, and to foster an understanding of relevant sustainable financial and business models. 

This module aims to maintain the skill base of the creative practitioner in theatre practice, singing, music, movement and voice. Across Level 6 students will utilise the contact time of this module to support and further develop their inclusive practical skills in studio-based group classes as best supports their personal development as a creative practitioner according to the student’s individual skill set and projected career aspirations. This module also provides space and support for any technical requirements that arise out of their fully realised performance projects. Students will be guided to engage in reflective practice to engender resilience and wellbeing by documenting and reflecting upon their learning journey.

Students have the option to undertake a work placement, study exchange abroad, or work/study exchange combination. This module supports students' development of personal and professional attitudes and abilities appropriate to a Professional Training placement. It supports and facilitates self-reflection and transfer of learning from their Professional Training placement experiences to their final year of study and their future employment in diverse global contexts. The module is concerned with Personal and Professional Development towards holistic academic and non-academic learning, and is a process that involves self-reflection, documented via the creation of a personal record, planning and monitoring progress towards the achievement of personal objectives. Development and learning may occur before and during the placement/study exchange, and this is reflected in the assessment model as a progressive process. Additionally, the module aims to enable students to evidence and evaluate their placement/study exchange experiences and transfer that learning to other situations through written and presentation skills.