TH995-30 Theorising and Facilitating Applied Theatre: Ethics and Reflective Practice
Introductory description
Theorising and Facilitating Applied Theatre: Ethics and Reflective Practice.
Module aims
This module invites students to view themselves as reflective practitioners, exploring diverse approaches to understanding and facilitating applied theatre projects, engaging with related ethical issues through a combination of theory and practice. The module therefore provides a conceptual and practical underpinning for how and why theatre and performance modes are used with specific client groups and in different environments. Looking at key practitioners and providers in the sector, at its heart is a concern with the politics, aesthetics and ethics of practice and what it means to facilitate applied theatre projects with and for potentially vulnerable people (e.g. the young, elderly, disabled, incarcerated, homeless, refugees and asylum seekers and those experiencing periods of mental distress) in a variety of contexts. The module will explore strategies for initiating, making, facilitating, analysing and evaluating applied theatre, inviting external guests working in the field and involving learning and practice in community contexts to create an informed culture of practice.
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.
Week 1: Introduction to module and 'Ethics, facilitation and reflective practice'
Week 2: Participation: Between rhetoric and reality
Week 3: In role and through play
Week 4: Planning a workshop
Week 5: Working in communities - tips, dos, don'ts AND Weekend Intensive on facilitation skills
Week 6: Reading week
Week 7: In communities - observations and reflective session
Week 8: In communities - observations and reflective session
Week 9: In communities - observations and reflective session
Week 10: Assessed workshop and essay tutorials
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Engage creatively and conceptually with key forms of applied theatre forms and techniques, while demonstrating an awareness of their histories, ethical issues, and how these relate to practice;
- Rigorously reflect upon their own practice, making links to key theoretical and conceptual concerns in the field, as well as to other practitioners and providers in the sector, to show a developed understanding of how applied theatre projects are impacted by politics, aesthetics and the ethics of practice;
- Plan and implement workshops that are relevant and appropriate to specific participants and contexts, and informed by independent research;
- Analyse and critique applied theatre practices and theories, evaluating the possibilities and limitations of the field against the wider social, political and cultural contexts in which projects take place.
Indicative reading list
Balfour et al. (2015) Applied Theatre: Resettlement: Drama, Refugees and Resilience, Methuen.
Balfour, Michael (Ed.) (2004) Theatre in Prison: Theory and Practice, Intellect.
Baxter, Veronica and Katharine Low (2017) Applied Theatre: Performing Health and Wellbeing,
Methuen.
Emert, Toby and Ellie Friedland (Eds.) (2011) Come Closer: Critical Perspectives on Theatre of the
Oppressed, Peter Lang.
Freebody, Kelly and Michael Finneran (Eds.) (2016) Drama and Social Justice: Theory, Research
and Practice in International Contexts, Routledge.
Hughes, Jenny and Helen Nicholson (2016) Critical Perspectives on Applied Theatre, CUP.
Johnston, Chris (2017) Disobedient Theatre, Methuen.
Nicholson, Helen (2015) Applied Drama: the gift of theatre, 2nd ed., Palgrave.
Prentki, Tim (2015) Applied Theatre: Development, Methuen.
Preston, Sheila (2016) Applied Theatre: Facilitation, Methuen.
Schon, Donald (1991) The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action, Ashgate.
Thompson, James (2017) Applied Theatre: bewilderment and beyond, Peter Lang.
Research element
Students will research case studies and theories for their essays. They will also need to undertake research to support their practical assessment and the development of their workshop.
Interdisciplinary
Students will explore theories and practices from related areas including education, develoment studies, sociology.
International
The module will engage with international practices and case studies throughout the teaching.
Subject specific skills
Close analysis and creative and conceptual engagement with key applied theatre forms; ability to reflect on their own practice; planning and facilitating workshops independently drawing on relevant research.
Transferable skills
Independent research skills; group collaboration; advanced writing skills
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 7 sessions of 1 hour (12%) |
| Seminars | 9 sessions of 3 hours (46%) |
| Tutorials | 3 sessions of 1 hour (5%) |
| Project supervision | 6 sessions of 1 hour (10%) |
| Practical classes | 2 sessions of 8 hours (27%) |
| Total | 59 hours |
Private study description
Private study - research and group work outside of session in preparation for classes
Costs
| Category | Description | Funded by | Cost to student |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other |
The weekend intensive is budget at approx £1,000 |
Department | £0.00 |
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A2
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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| 1 x 3,000-word Essay | 40% | Yes (extension) | |
|
A critical essay, comparing and contrasting at least two case studies of theatre companies/practitioners focussing on the politics, aesthetics and ethics of their practice |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Community-based workshop and reflections on practice | 60% | 40 hours | No |
|
1 x Workshop in a community context, with additional assessment materials/modes including: a reflective journal and presentation reflecting on their own practice (20 pages of A4, workshop plans approx. 3 pages of A4; appendix if appropriate) |
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Reassessment component |
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| Simulated workshop and reflections | No | ||
|
1 x workshop which will address the issues resulting in previous failure and will be delivered to a group of peers (rather than community context). This should include additional materials including: a reflective journal and presentation reflecting on their own practice (20 pages of A4, workshop plans approx. 3 pages of A4; appendix if appropriate) - these materials should specifically address the issues that resulted in failure |
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Feedback on assessment
Written feedback: Essay; reflective journal; summative feedback for module \r\nOral feedback: Provided for workshop
Pre-requisites
To take this module, you must have passed:
Post-requisite modules
If you pass this module, you can take:
- TH997-60 Final Project (practical)
- TH996-60 Final Project (written)
Courses
This module is Optional for:
- Year 1 of TTHS-W440 Postgraduate Taught Applied Theatre: Arts, Action, Change