EN107-30 British Theatre Since 1939

Department: English and Comparative Literary Studies
Level: Undergraduate Level 1
Module leader: Liz Barry
Credit value: 30
Module duration: 21 weeks
Assessment: 100% coursework
Study location: University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

Introductory description

The module will serve both as an introduction to contemporary theatre and as a first investigation of the relationship between literary texts and the conditions of performance. Major plays of the period will be studied in their own right but also as examples of trends and developments in the period. Design, theatrical architecture, performance styles, organisations and repertoires will be studied, with special attention to assumptions concerning the social role of the drama. Where possible, texts will be related to specific productions. Writers studied will normally include: John Osborne, Arnold Wesker, Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, Edward Bond, Caryl Churchill, Brian Friel.

Module web page

Module aims

To examine post-war dramatic writing in the UK and consider the social, political and philosophical ideas of leading playwrights.
To discuss a range of modern British plays in their historical contexts.
To consider the relationship between playwrights and the work of significant theatre companies and directors.
To study plays both as literature and as texts for performance.
To assist students to develop their analytical skills and the ability to develop coherent arguments in essays.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Pattern of the Module:
Term 1: Postwar British theatre: Realism and the Absurd
Term 2: Plays after 1968: exploring national, personal and gendered identity
Term 3: Contemporary theatre: student-led syllabus

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

To examine post-war dramatic writing in the UK and consider the social, political and philosophical ideas of leading playwrights.
To discuss a range of modern British plays in their historical contexts.
To consider the relationship between playwrights and the work of significant theatre companies and directors.
To study plays both as literature and as texts for performance.
To assist students to develop their analytical skills and the ability to develop coherent arguments in essays.

Subject specific skills

To examine post-war dramatic writing in the UK and consider the social, political and philosophical ideas of leading playwrights.
To discuss a range of modern British plays in their historical contexts.
To consider the relationship between playwrights and the work of significant theatre companies and directors.
To study plays both as literature and as texts for performance.
To introduce key theories in literary and dramatic theory relevant to the study of theatre in the context of English studies.

Transferable skills

To assist students to develop their analytical skills and the ability to develop coherent arguments in essays.

Study time

Type	Required
Seminars	21 sessions of 1 hour 30 minutes (10%)
Other activity	30 minutes (0%)
Private study	268 hours (89%)
Total	300 hours

Private study description

Reading & Research

Other activity description

TBC

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A3

	Weighting	Study time	Eligible for self-certification
1st essay	50%		Yes (extension)
2nd essay	50%		Yes (extension)

Feedback on assessment

Via Tabula and face to face.

Courses

This module is Core for:

Year 1 of UTHA-QW34 Undergraduate English and Theatre Studies