This course gives students a practical and theoretical introduction to the Western theatrical tradition. We examine the major developments in playwriting, acting and staging that have occurred since the time of the Ancient Greeks. The unit focuses on key dramatic texts from the fifth century BC to the present day. In lectures and tutorials, students will study the plays in relation to their historical contexts. In workshops we examine performance styles appropriate to the texts and consider some of the issues faced by practitioners when producing these plays today.

On completion of this course, students should be able to:

  1. Analyse characters and plays in relation to:

•  Their historical contexts and
•  Theories of acting.

 2. Verbally articulate ideas about play texts from the Western theatrical tradition and the problems faced by contemporary theatre practitioners when staging these texts today.

3. Contribute to group work in workshops and rehearsals.

4. Express, in written form, ideas about play texts in relation to their historical contexts and contemporary production.

5. Apply ideas about acting theories and context to the performance of play texts.

6. Justify your approach to performance, based on your understanding of the plays in relation to their historical contexts and theories of acting.

Tutorial attendance and active participation (10%), Written Tutorial paper (15%), Major Essay 1,500-2,000 words (25%), Practical performance and active participation in weekly workshops (25%), End of semester performance task (25%).

In order to pass the course, students must pass both the written/tutorial and the practical components of the course.

Four contact hours per week, including 1-hour lecture, one 1-hour tutorial and one 2 hour workshop. Plus approximately two hours reading per week and at least four hours extra rehearsal during the semester.

1. Anton Chekov Plays including The Three Sisters.
2. A Streetcar Names Desire, by Tennessee Williams.
3. The Emperor Jones by Eugene O'Neill.
4. Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill.