1. Demonstrate a critical and analytical awareness of the challenges of interpreting selected Shakespearean plays for performance for a variety of media.
2. Critically analyse and reflect upon the efficacy of choices made.
3. Explore and investigate selected Shakespearean sCenes as an actor, utilizing contemporary industry rehearsal approaches, methodologies and techniques.

All individually assessed.

ASSESSMENT 1: The Project is a 20 minute scene(s)presentation testing the efficacy of rehearsal methodologies [LOs 1, 3]
ASSESSMENT 2: Reflective viva examining process and procedures responding to pre-sent questions. – [LOs 1,2]

During the module you will engage in a series of practical workshops and rehearsals exploring key concepts, methodologies and acting exercises utilised by a variety of contemporary theatre practitioners when rehearsing Shakespearean texts for performance. You will learn to dissect, identify, and explore possible production choices and opportunities for interpreting texts for stage, screen and audio. You will engage in current critical debates about Shakespeare and performance and refer to examples drawn from a variety of media, drawn from Non- western and Western traditions and reflect critically on the assumptions which documented production choices employ.

During teaching week 6 of the module, you will present their ideas for their performance project to a nominated member of staff and be allocated into groups accordingly. You will agree on the performance text and casting and arrange to work independently, with supervision as required, to produce your project within a series of agreed guidelines and circumstances.. Dramaturgical elements that have been developed through Level 4 and 5 will be deepened through this module.

Finally, you will reflect upon the efficacy of your work through participation in an individual oral examination followed by a short series of questions centred on your learning. At this examination you will be encouraged to draw upon their working notebook and/or digital journal, to justify and substantiate your analysis and reflection.

During this module students will explore key scenes from Shakespearean plays from the perspective of an actor. They will explore the performance clues inherent in the language and structure of the play; investigate the relevance of original theatre practice and the conventions of the Elizabethan and Jacobean playhouses; examine Shakespeare as a ‘hidden’ director; analyse past performance and production choices made; and evidence a critical awareness and practical understanding of contemporary debates and practices associated with Shakespeare in performance.

You will learn from actively engaging with text on the rehearsal room floor. They will be primarily approaching their study from the perspective of a performer and will be encouraged to contextualise your work within current contemporary industry practice. You will be required to read and refer to examples of good practice drawn from a wide variety of theatre practitioners, critics and academics and to be able to contextualise your own work from the rich landscape of non-western and western traditions.

Block, G. (2013) Speaking the Speech. HNB
Calderone, M and Lloyd Williams, M (2004) Actioning. NHB
Carey, D and Carey, R (2015) The Shakespeare Workbook and Video. Methuen Drama: Bloomsbury
Crystal, D and Crytal, B (2002) Shakespeare’s Words. Penguin
Dromgoole.D (2017) Hamlet: Globe to Globe: Taking Shakespeare to Every Country in the World. Canongate Books
Hunter, K (2015) Cracking Shakespeare. Methuen.
Jackson, R (ed.) (2007) Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare on Film. Cambridge University Press.
Moseley, N (2016) Actioning and How to Do It. NHB.
Noble, A. (2010) How to Do Shakespeare. Routledge.
Stern, T (2000) Rehearsal from Shakespeare to Sheridan. Oxford University Press.

AV within mixed mode teaching spaces
Library
Internet
Box of Broadcasts
VLE

The teaching team will also recommend various podcasts, DVD’s and arrange a visit to the RSC archives in Stratford.

Studio space for workshops.