Theatre and Performance MA

Core modules

Block 1: Methods and Innovations

This module is designed to expand your knowledge and application of practical and research methodologies in theatre and performance at an advanced level. Through research-engaged teaching, you will be introduced to current innovations in performance making/ training, scholarship and knowledge exchange. In the first part of the module, a series of workshops, lectures and seminars will offer a range of principles, practices and processes that you might usefully draw upon to model your own creative and critical investigations and activities. The specialist programme team will share their expertise in techniques emerging from both well-established and burgeoning areas of interest within theatre and performance. Practical methodologies may include but are not limited to improvisation, devising, systems for rehearsal, performer training, popular performance, adaptation, live art, writing for performance, stand-up comedy, and intermedial practice.

Assessment is through an individual or collaborative project, e.g., extensive studio practice; performance; workshop(s); presentation; critical reflection; case study analysis; developed critical analysis of theory and practices (70%) and an individual viva (30%).

Block 2: Perspectives and Provocations 

You will explore and analyse a range of twentieth and twenty-first century provocative practices and theoretical and philosophical perspectives. You will be introduced to and will hone your understanding of exciting theoretical perspectives, which might include germinal and recent debates and ideas concerning gender and sexuality, abjection, phenomenology, the grotesque body, critical race studies, and space and time. You will explore and critically consider a range of provocative, difficult or challenging cross-disciplinary performance practices, which may include sex positive and gender fluid practices, bloody and messy performance, anti-racist practice, and intermedial performance. The contexts and perceptions that have positioned these practices as difficult, challenging or provocative will be interrogated. You will develop your ability to examine and analyse these practices through the theoretical perspectives explored, supported by careful research and clear and original argumentation.

Assessment is through a lightning talk or provocation (20%) and a presentation (80%).

Block 3: Audiences and Documentation

You will investigate and analyse different models of engaging with audiences of theatre and performance, and documenting experiences, processes, and practices. You will be introduced to different approaches to and critical considerations of audience engagement, which might include participant-spectatorship and immersive theatre; technologically engaged performance and audience experience; community engagement and performance co-creation; theatre historiography and archives; and popular or contemporary performance and its audiences. You will also consider who the audiences for your own work might be and will participate in ‘artist survival’ activities around identifying and reaching your audience(s), documenting your practice, pitching for funding, and preparing grant applications.  

Assessment is through a presentation (20%) and either a practical project or a research project (80%).

Block 4: Creativity and Collaboration

You will be introduced to several different models of creative partnership and practices of collaboration/co-creation. A wide-ranging and interdisciplinary context for this work will be provided to enable you to contextualise your own work in a critically informed manner. At the core of the module is the placement or negotiated project. You will devise a creative portfolio plan in negotiation with the module leader, in which you will be required to choose a structure that allows you to demonstrate reflective engagement with the placement or project. There will be several different strands within the module and the creative portfolio plan will clarify the chosen path and format of the final submission:

• Own negotiated placement
• Placement at a partner organisation such as Curve or as part of DMU research projects
• Collaborative performance – a written or practical project that explores collaboration/co-creation. This might be a group project or a written project that explores specific case studies/methodologies in collaborative performance.  

Assessment is through a creative portfolio (100%).

Blocks 5 and 6: Take one from the following:

Dissertation

The dissertation provides the opportunity for sustained, independent work in an area related to the course. The topic may be developed from one of the taught modules; or may be linked to issues touched upon only peripherally in class.  Your dissertation should contain an element of originality - some will yield new insights from primary research, in others originality will emerge from the nature of engagement with existing scholarly work and the attempt to offer new readings, analyses or challenges to established authorities. The methodology may also be original - for example, a multidisciplinary approach to the topic. 

Assessment is through a viva (20%) and written dissertation (80%).

Practice as Research

The Practice as Research module provides the opportunity for sustained research and the development of an independent project in an area related to the course. The topic may be developed from one of the taught modules; or may be linked to issues touched upon only peripherally in class. Your Practice as Research projects should contain an element of originality – some will yield new insights from primary/embodied research, in others originality will emerge from the nature of engagement with existing scholarly work and the attempt to offer new readings, analyses or challenges to established authorities. The methodology may also be original - for example, a multidisciplinary approach to the topic. 

Assessment is through a viva (20%) and a practical project (80%) (the style of presentation will depend on the form of practice).

Overview

Teaching strategies include staff-led workshops, lectures, seminar discussions, talks, theatre visits/field trips, and thought laboratories. The structure of the programme moves students from a more taught experience in Blocks 1, 2 and 3 to a greater blend of taught and independent study in Block 4; and finally, to a more fully independent study in Blocks 5 and 6 (full time students).

Assessment is through ongoing coursework and there are no timed exams. Types of assessment include performance, presentation, performative/practical demonstration/workshop, creative portfolio, and written commentary/essay.

Contact hours

In your first two terms you will normally attend around 12 hours of timetabled taught sessions including lectures, tutorials and workshop and studio sessions each week, and be expected to undertake at least 23 hours of independent study each week. Your third term will be pre-dominantly self-directed (including meetings with your supervisor), during which you can expect to undertake 35 hours of independent study each week.