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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures : Common Courses (School of Lit, Lang and Cult)

Postgraduate Course: Theatre Industry Practice and Research (CLLC11194)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Literatures, Languages and Cultures CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course focuses on applied learning of key concepts in Theatre and Performance Studies to current practice in the professional Theatre and Performance sectors in Scotland and beyond, to enhance the academic study of a professional field.
Course description This course focuses on applied learning of key concepts in Theatre and Performance Studies to current practice in the professional Theatre and Performance sectors in Scotland and beyond, to enhance the academic study of a professional field. The course has three pathways:
1. Practice-as-research (in the studio)
2. Archival research (in the library)
3. Embedded research (within an arts organisation) There may be an element of embedded research within a Scottish or UK theatre organisation, or with an individual theatre and performance artist, on this course either self-directed by the student or by staff. This needs to be identified in semester one for practical arrangements to be put in semester one. A close institutional or artist affiliation has limitations and expectations which determine the sort of research project that can be undertaken.

The course requires the students to undertake a range of applied activities which may include: creative collaboration & group work; research and analysis; embedded research; continuous reflection; critical thinking, analysis and reflection and the pragmatics of delivery in the professional sphere. This course will develop students' understanding and observation of the professional sphere within the context of the application of academic scholarship. It is about providing students with the opportunity to acquire and apply knowledge, skills and understanding through research that has many of the characteristics of real work or are set within the workplace and which relate to academic study. Most importantly, the purpose of the research must be relevant to real work in the sector.
In addition to reflection in the classroom as a group, and the formal essay/ presentation component of the course, the students must keep reflective logs as an aide to identifying, continuing and developing learning. This is then used as reference for the Research Essay/ Presentation component which is presented in a mini symposium during the examination.
Seminars:
There will be 5 bi-weekly three-hour seminars.
1) Introduction and course overview
2) Practice as Research I
2) Archival Research
4) Practice as Research II
5) Presenting Research
In alternate weeks students will be engaged in practice as research, embedded research or self-directed academic research.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs Should students choose embedded research as part of their project, all costs for travel and subsistence must be met by the individual student. The University does not cover costs.
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. master the ability to comprehend the connections between their academic work and the professional spheres of theatre and performance studies
  2. formulate advanced skills in reflection which can be carried into further academic study and into a variety of professional environments
  3. acquire the ability to articulate and apply critical thinking across a range of outcomes
  4. generate evidence of their ability to work at a professional level in the field of theatre and performance studies
  5. develop an understanding of how to present practice as research.
Reading List
The reading is designed and planned in relation to the project themes as they develop. Students will be provided with relevant reading in advance of the course beginning. However, these texts are likely for form part of the list:
Primary:
Kershaw, Baz & Nicolson, Helen ed. Research Methods in Theatre and Performance; Edinburgh University Press (2010)
Recommended (by topic):
Stage Management:
Coleman, Peter. Basics - A Beginner's Guide to Stage Management. Entertainment Technology Press, Jun 2007
Dean, Peter. Production Management: Making Shows Happen ¿ A Practical Guide. The Crowood Press, Jul 2002

Theatre Design:
Collins, Jane & Nisbet, Andrew. Theatre and Performance Design. Routledge, Mar 2010
McKinney, Jocelyn & Butterworth, Philip. The Cambridge Introduction to Scenography. Cambridge University Press, Nov 2009
Coleman, Peter. Basics ¿ A Beginner¿s Guide to Stage Lighting. Entertainment Technology Press, Sept 2003
Coleman, Peter. Basics ¿ A Beginner¿s Guide to Stage Sound. Entertainment Technology Press, Jul 2004
Arts Management:
Walmsley, Ben. Key Issues in the Arts and Entertainment Industry. Goodfellow Publishers Limited, Mar 2011
Chong, Derrick. Arts Management. Routledge, Dec 2009
Dramaturgy:
Turner, Cathy; Behrndt, Synne. Dramaturgy and Performance (Theatre & Performance Practices). Palgrave Macmillan, Nov 2007
Irelan, Scott R.; Flecher, Anne; Dubliner, Julie Felise. The Process of Dramaturgy: A Handbook . Focus Publishing (AU), Dec 2009

Devising:
Milling, Jane & Heddon, Deirdre. Devising Performance: A Critical History (Theatre & Performance Practices). Palgrave Macmillan, Sep 2005
Oddey, Alison. Devising Theatre: A Practical and Theoretical Handbook. Routledge, 1996
Directing:
Swain, Rob. Directing - a Handbook for Emerging Theatre Directors. Methuen Drama, Sept 2011
Barba, Eugenio. On Directing (Drama and Theatre Studies). Routledge, Nov 2009
Theatre in Education & the Community:
Bond, Edward & Nicholson, Dr Helen. Theatre and Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Jun 2009
Boon, Richard & Plastow, Jane. Theatre and Empowerment: Community Drama on the World Stage (Cambridge Studies in Modern Theatre). Cambridge University Press, Aug 2
Further Reading:
Stevenson, Randall (ed.) & Wallace, Gavin (ed.). The Scottish Theatre: Since the Seventies. Edinburgh University Press; 3 edition (1 July 1996)
Pilbrow, Richard. Stage Lighting Design: The Art, the Craft, the Life. Nick Hern Books, Aug 2008
Pallin, Gail. Stage Management: The Essential Handbook. Nick Hern Books, Feb 2010
Yeoman, Ian (ed.), Robertson, Martin (ed.), Ali-Knight, Jane (ed.), Drummond, Siobhan (ed.), McMahon-Beattie, Una (ed.) Festival and Events Management: An International Arts and Culture Perspective. A Butterworth-Heinemann Title, Oct 2003
Larmann, Ralph. Stage Design. Daab, Oct 2007
Graham, Scott & Hoggett, Stephen. The Frantic Assembly Book of Devising Theatre. Routledge, April 2009
Etchells, Tim. Certain Fragments: Contemporary Performance and Forced Entertainment. Routledge, April 1999
Alfreds, Mike. Different Every Night: Rehearsal and Performance Techniques for Actors and Directors: Freeing the Actor. Nick Hern Books, Oct 2011
Mitchell, Katie. The director's craft: A handbook for the theatre. Routledge, Aug 2008
Shvetsova, Maria & Innes, Christopher. Directors/Directing: Conversations on Theatre. Cambridge University Press, April 2009
Kaye, Charles & Blee, Tony. The Arts in Health Care: Palette of Possibilities. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Jul 1996

** N.B. Also consult the bibliography of Time and Space of Performance. The above list is not exhaustive. You should research widely and read further on your specific area of study. Use of industry newspapers and periodicals is useful.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills The applied learning component of this course promotes significant learning, including problem-solving skills, higher order reasoning, integrative thinking, goal clarification, openness to new ideas, ability to adopt new perspectives; application of critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to issues; development of original and creative responses to problems and issues; exercise of substantial autonomy and initiative; systemic thinking.
Keywordstheatre studies,performance,embedded research,practice
Contacts
Course organiserMs Nicola McCartney
Tel: (0131 6)50 3629
Email: nicola.mccartney@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Kara McCormack
Tel: (0131 6)50 3030
Email: Kara.McCormack@ed.ac.uk
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