This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
Making artistic and logistic ends meet is the key skill to create successful theatre. All too often, performances are mere spectacular commodities, while other projects of artistic merit fail to survive in today’s leisure pound market. This M-Level module will look at basic aspects needed to make theatrical events of professional artistic quality happen successfully, such as a stimulating and interesting content, a competent and suitable artistic team, evocative design, a suitable venue, pragmatic logistics, an effective business plan, and, most importantly, an audience to play to.
Students are expected to spend a full forty hour working week on their MLevel Theatre specialism. On this module, there will six weekly hours of intensive teaching-led contact time in lectures, seminars, and workshops over the first eight weeks of Autumn Term. These sessions include Master Classes with invited practitioners demonstrating and discussing their work. In addition, students will be expected to spend approx. ten weekly hours on set projects preparing, compiling and assessing case studies and sample material in both self-directed and team-based study and research. The remainder of the working week is required on developing their own individual knowledge base and ideas. Self-directed learning and research is indispensable for this module, including continuous theatre visits, the extensive study of playtexts old and new, and keeping up-to-date with the regional, national and international world of theatre performance.
100% Coursework: Case Studies - Performance (12.50%); Case Studies - Contract Law (12.50%); Contribution to Group Production Project (30%); Individual Contribution and Research (20%); Group Presentation (25%)
Cathy Turner and Synne Behrndt, Dramaturgy and Performance, Palgrave Macmillan 2007
R Knowles, Reading the Material Theatre, Cambridge UP 2004
Theaterschrift 5/6/1994: On Dramaturgy
S Jonas, G Proehl, M Lupu, eds, Dramaturgy in American Theater: A Source Book, Thomson 1997
P Dean: Production Management: Making Shows Happen. Crowood 2002
C Raymond, Essential Theatre: The Successful Management of Theatre and Venues, Arts Council 1999
C Raymond, Clear Sightlines: The Successful Management of Touring Companies, Arts Council 1993
C Barrow, R Brown, L Clarke, The Business Enterprise Handbook, Sunday Times & IoD 2001
B Cardullo (ed.) What Is Dramaturgy?, Peter Lang 1995
M Luckhurst Dramaturgy: A Revolution in Theatre, Cambridge University Press 2006
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
Successfully participating in and completing this module, students will have developed:
1. Advanced skills in the creation of original theatre of artistic quality and financial sustainability, supported by detailed understanding of artistic processes as well as entrepreneurial methods in theatre production.
2. A systematic understanding of professional procedures, processes and disciplines in the running and programming of a venue and theatre company, informed by professional practice.
3. Advanced comprehension of the realisation of original artistic ideas within frameworks of legislation, cultural policy, and professional enterprise.
4. Knowledge of contemporary regional, national, and – to certain degrees – also international contexts and networks of theatre artists, producers, companies and venues.
5. Proficiency in assessing actual professional practice, and to present and defend original, informed and competent analysis, arguments, and recommendations.
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