Introductory description

This module looks at how, where and for what purposes theatre history is activated in society and culture today. It will introduce students to key principles of theatre historiography and will provide opportunities for them to apply these in a variety of ways. Students will engage with archives, archival practices and different types of evidence that inform us about the theatrical past and will be challenged to think critically about these structures and sources. Specific weeks of the course will consider how historical acting styles and audiences can be understood; how the digital humanities are changing research into theatre history; how theatre history is curated and narrated in museums, galleries and a range of theatre spaces and for what purpose; and how and why we produce historical reconstructions and engage with historic theatre practices, such as at Shakespeare's Globe or the Tyne Theatre and Opera House. Students will also see how theatre history and historians are activated in the creation of new theatre pieces, including through a practical workshop with a practitioner/ company who ground their work in real people and events. Ultimately, the module asks students to think about the relationship between theatre, history and theatre history in a variety of ways. Examples studied will often be taken from British theatre history in the long nineteenth century, though students can bring materials from other contexts and periods to classes and their assessments.

Module aims

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 Theatre Historiography
Week 2: Organising Theatre History: Archives and Periodisation
Week 3: Interrogating Evidence: Material Traces and Iconography
Week 3: Curating Theatre History: Museums and Galleries
Week 4: On Acting and Audiences
Week 5: Theatre Reconstruction and Historical Practices
Week 6: Reading Week Field Trip
Week 7: History on Stage: Contemporary Practices
Week 8: History on Stage: Practical Workshop and supplementary Project Tutorials
Week 9: Digital Humanities: Big Data and Mapping Theatre History
Week 10: In-Class Project sharing and research and development.

Learning outcomes

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

• confidently engage in a research-based investigation and demonstrate an ability to locate primary and secondary sources using a range of resources and archives (digital and/or physical) that they have been exposed to within classes and through out-of-class tasks.
• critique and interpret the primary and secondary sources that they locate relating to theatre history.
• demonstrate a sound understanding of historiographical principles, concepts, questions and methods.
• think creatively about how contemporary audiences do and could engage with theatre history and disseminate theatre history to a contemporary audience for themselves.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Research element

in the assessment students are asked to undertake original research.

Subject specific skills

• Subject-specific research skills: an understanding of how to locate sources and resources for research into theatre histories.
• Critical analysis of sources for the development of theatre histories.
• Practical knowledge on how to transfer theatre history into writing/ curated exhibitions/ theatrical works.

Transferable skills

• Communication skills: written and oral, through in-class discussions and activities and assessments.
• Organisational and project management skills: in delivering assessments and weekly tasks.
• Research skills: in libraries and archives, using a range of primary and secondary sources.
• Intellectual skills: critical analysis, developing an argument, reasoning, discussion.