DTS3450 - Contemporary Drama

Leader: Will Peterson

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit investigates a range of contemporary playtexts such as 'Waiting for Godot', 'Cloud Nine', 'Stolen' and 'The Birthday Party'. The subject also covers performance processes, such as theatre audiences and theories of directing and acting and discuss ideas about popular culture, gender, bodies and interculturalism. Workshops will focus on making, analysing and theorising theatre.

Objectives

Students completing this unit will:

1. Develop and manifest a clear familiarity with each text in its context.
2. Work singly and collectively to bring information in the playtext off the page and into creative dramatic life.
3. Understand conceptual "meaning" in scripted language.
4. Bring energy and subtlety to dramatic interaction.
5. Be able to discuss and analyse the assigned critical material and how it contributes to your understanding of theatre.
6. Employ methods of analysis, reflection and judgment.
7. Evaluate ideas, issues and concepts the student considers significant in the texts/discussion.
8. Demonstrate clarity and relevance through discussion and performance.

Assessment

Workshop participation: 25%
Short weekly written response (1500 words total): 25%
Final essay, design piece or performance: 50%
Third-year students will be expected to show, in presentations and written work, evidence of wider reading in theories of contemporary performance.

Contact hours

2.5 hours (1 x 1 hour lecture and 1 x 1.5 hour seminar) per week

Prerequisites

A second-year sequence in Drama and Theatre Studies

Prohibitions

DTS2450