COURSE IN DEPTH
Year one
Applied Theatre
20 credits
The module explores the range of work covered by the term, ‘Applied Theatre’, looking at its roots in political social and educational theatre, and tracing lines through to current provision.
Students will be given a directory of 60 small-scale theatre companies in the Birmingham area, and encouraged to make contacts and see work. Within the module there will be the opportunity to see work and work with some of these professional practitioners.
Drama for Learning 1
20 credits
The module will cover the history and theory of Theatre-in-Education, introducing key practitioners, and exploring key texts. Looking at the roots of TIE in progressive education and in earlier theatre practice, the module will cover TIE practice from the first company at the Coventry Belgrade in the 1960s, through to current provision in the UK.
There will be an opportunity to see examples of professional Theatre-in-Education with local companies, and some timetabled discussion events, and there will be a practical approach to exploration of theories and methods, and some introductory skills sessions on facilitation and drama conventions.
Community Stories
20 credits
The module will introduce Community Theatre, investigating the history and key philosophy of work of this kind. You will look at current practice through examination of the work of local companies, and will visit a community project, looking at the process of researching with a community, to create work responding to specific needs.
The assessment is through the creation of a group piece of performance [5 minutes] aimed at a specific community group, and a brief individual account – a short reflective commentary - placing the piece in the context of its intended audience, and the principles and practice of community theatre.
Performance 1
60 credits
The 60 credit module takes place through the whole of Year One, and from week 10 of Semester Two it is the full-time activity. You will work with a tutor or professional practitioner as director, and collaborate to perform a new piece of theatre for a young audience, either from adapted or commissioned script or through a devising process. The play will be performed by the whole year group to a public audience.
Through the year you will have classes on performance skills [acting, singing movement voice and text] which as the play develops will shift from general classes into direct support for the piece.
Year two
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Professional Practice
40 credits
The core of this module is the full-time professional placement in Semester 2.
You will be responsible for arranging a full-time placement in an applied theatre company, arts or education organisation, or appropriate related organisation, for a period of 6-8 weeks during Semester 2. You will be supported in making this placement, which can be in Birmingham, elsewhere in the UK or abroad. The placement needs to be full-time and related to the course.
Drama for Learning 2
20 credits
Building on Drama for Learning 1, this module will expand your drama teaching and facilitation skills through practical application in live contexts.
You will add to your toolkit of drama conventions, exercises and approaches in a series of workshops, and you will then have an opportunity for an extended application of these skills, working with West Midlands Fire Service to create interactive workshops for school groups visiting the Safeside facility.
Political Stories
20 credits
This module will look at a number of areas of Applied Theatre where a group or practitioner is working from a particular viewpoint, individual or collective, and explore the history, philosophy and themes of this work.
You will trace the origins of ‘political’ theatre in a range of movements, and look at key texts, and explore the issues raised by devising or writing around themes.
Performance 2
40 credits
Continuing from the performance module in Year One, you will work in small groups to create a new piece of applied theatre and perform it to a specific target audience.
Initially exploring the process of devising, in a series of workshops you will then form small groups, and each group will use a devising process to create a new original piece. The piece will then be performed to its intended audience. Each group will be directed by an MA Student, tutor or professional practitioner, and will be responsible for researching, devising, rehearsing and performing the completed piece.
Year three
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Personal Project
20 credits
This module covers many of the practical aspects of working within the field of Applied Theatre. It is built around each student creating an Applied Theatre ‘project’ of your choice and compiling a full business plan for carrying it out. There is flexibility in the nature of the project, with students encouraged to consider their intentions after graduation, and create a resource of value to them. This could mean you work on something that you intend to do when leaving [for example a plan for setting up a company and carrying out a full-scale Applied Theatre performance project, or a plan for an individual freelance project offer] or it could be a hypothetical project, designed to explore wider issues around developing Applied Theatre practice, or to develop those areas and skills that you feel will be of most benefit to you [for example you could look at how a company might plan work in a specific community or country, or you might create a plan designed to assist a teacher in a term’s work with a particular class].
Each student will need to agree the scope of their plan with the module leader during individual tutorials, and further individual tutorials are available through the module, along with a range of sessions designed to explore careers and employment across the field.
Drama for Learning 3
20 credits
The module follows from the previous Drama for Learning modules and takes the facilitation and drama skills you have learned to a professional level. In groups you will explore the role of a Learning and Participation team in a theatre and create work to accompany an existing production.
You will receive relevant inputs initially, including from professional practitioners, exploring the role of a Learning and Participation team in a theatre, digital and IT-based approaches, and also advanced workshop skills.
Community Project
40 credits
You will work for an extended period in a small group, running an extended project with a community group. [In previous years, projects have been run with older people, with young people with learning disabilities, with nurseries, with refugees] The division into groups, and the decision about the target community group will be made through meetings before the beginning of the academic year [i.e. at the end of Year 2] so that arrangements can be put in place. You will be appointed a professional practitioner as mentor and tutor for the project.
Early in Semester One you will produce a group plan with details of the aims and scope of the project. The group will research the needs of the chosen community, and construct an extended project, using appropriate Applied Theatre and drama approaches.
Applied Theatre Festival
40 credits
The final module of the Applied Theatre course consists of a Festival of Applied Theatre pieces, created by students. You will work in a small group, forming a ‘company’, and together devise, produce and perform a new original piece of applied theatre aimed at a specific ‘audience’. Each group will be mentored by a member of staff or visiting artist, and will be given a small budget for the production.
The Festival will take place in one building or area each year, and the company will be tasked with deciding how to use the space, so that the piece might be ‘site-specific’ or ‘site-responsive’ – taking account of the qualities of the place. The organisation of the Festival as a whole, including arrangements for ticketing, marketing and technical support, will be in the hands of the companies, with this process being mentored by an industry professional. The Festival will also house an exhibition of the Personal Projects and examples of Community Project work, and serve as a showcase of your work for invited professional practitioners.
