BA Music and Drama

This module will change the way you think about theatre and performance. It will challenge you to think about what theatre and performance are, what they can do, and the concepts we use to study them. In the module we think about performance as an artistic form and also as a social and cultural phenomenon. The module helps you develop skills in performance analysis, critical reading, and theoretical writing that are useful for the study of a wide range of events, from theatre to politics to the performances of everyday life. Each week we explore major theoretical debates in the study of theatre and performance by focusing on a single keyword. Such keywords might include: performativity, time, space, archive, repertoire, audience, and liveness. We ground these concepts in discussion and analysis of a wide range of contemporary performance. 

• To engage students with foundational theoretical concepts prevalent within theatre and performance studies.
• To encourage students to critically examine practice using theoretical frameworks as proposed in the fields of theatre/performance studies.

• Distinguish key theories of theatre and performance studies 
• Recognise the significance and importance of these theories and apply them to independent analysis of performance practices and theatre events
• Draw on a range of critical texts on contemporary performance in studying contemporary practices 

• Use appropriate theory to analyse performance practice in artistic, social and political terms
• Identify the social, political or ethical issues raised by contemporary performance practice
• Articulate the significant formal features of different kinds of performance practice

• Locate and use academic sources on theatre and performance
• Locate and use performance documentation in different forms
• Present critical analysis of performance to peers in verbal and written forms

Transferable skills that students can expect to gain from successful completion of this module include:

• Ability to analyse concepts, techniques, methods, study materials (et cetera) independently and with others
• Basic interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to draw on individual research preparation to engage in discussions in learning environments
• Ability to present self effectively – through discussion, presentation and in writing (including adherence to academic conventions)

• Marvin Carlson, Performance: a critical introduction. London: Routledge, 2003
• Richard Schechner, Performance studies: An introduction. London: Routledge, 2015, 3^rd edition
• Diana Taylor, Performance, Durham: Duke, 2016.
• Simon Shepherd and Mick Wallis, Drama/Theatre/Performance, London: Routledge, 2004

Palgrave Macmillan’s Theatre & series provide a useful set of introductions to theatre. Particularly recommended are:

• Jill Dolan. Theatre & Sexuality Palgrave, 2010
• Helen Freshwater. Theatre and Audience, 2009
• Kim Solga. Theatre & Feminism Palgrave 2015
• Harvey Young. Theatre & Race Palgrave, 2013