From Page to Stage

From Page to Stage is designed to equip students with a knowledge and understanding of a range of theatrical movements, practitioners, genres, styles, and structures.  Module activities will be based on exploring play texts in a range of contexts, such as contemporary adaptation of classic texts and productions.  Throughout the module, students are encouraged to consider their emerging knowledge in terms of applying it in a rehearsal studio, workshop, or classroom setting.

The content is explored from the perspectives of actor, director, and designer.  For example, in taking a text from page to stage, students will explore rehearsal techniques for actors, directorial concepts and approaches, and how design also ‘performs’.  Other indicative content:

• The evolution of texts and contemporary dramaturgy.
• Approaches to developing character.
• Foundational concepts in drama and theatre: plot, narrative, character, tension, exposition, denouement.
• Playwrights: Sophocles, Shakespeare, Ibsen, Strindberg, Buchner, Samuel Beckett, Arthur Miller, Caryl Churchill, Zinnie Harris, Simon Stephens, Bryony Lavery, Richard Bean, Laura Wade, and Winsome Pinnock.
• Contemporary companies / artists: Kneehigh, Frantic Assembly, Complicité, Out of Joint, Gecko, Steven Berkoff, Paper Birds, and Tim Crouch.
• Practitioners: Stanislavski, Chekhov, Strasberg, Meyerhold, Grotowski, Brecht, Artaud, Edward Gordon Craig, Le Coq, Keith Johnstone, Robert Wilson, Anne Bogart, Uta Hagen, Boal, Laban, and Littlewood.
• Movements: Naturalism, Realism, Expressionism, Absurdism, Epic Theatre, and Forum Theatre.

Throughout the module, students will be introduced to a range of production skills such as basic lighting design as a means of complementing their practical exploration of concepts, play texts, and performance techniques.

On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre in terms of form, style, genre, and structure.
• Think critically in terms of presenting and analysing drama and theatre.
• Demonstrate competency in using texts, practitioners, and histories to realise a live staged performance.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of social, cultural, economic, and political contexts of major theatre movements.
• Demonstrate and apply a knowledge and understanding of how contemporary theatre is influenced by historical theatrical movements.

This is an SCQF Level 7 module, and upon successful completion, participants will be awarded 20 credits.

Delivery 

• Monday 15th January, online 18.00-20.00
• Monday 22nd January, online 18.00-20.00
• Monday 29th January, online 18.00-20.00
• Monday 5th February, online 18.00-20.00
• Monday 19th February, online 18.00-20.00
• Saturday 24th February, Ayr Campus, 11.00-17.00
• Monday 26th February, online 18.00-20.00
• Monday 4th March, online 18.00-20.00
• Monday 11th March, online 18.00-20.00
• Monday 18th March, online 18.00-20.00
• Monday 25th March, online 18.00-20.00
• Saturday 30th March, Ayr Campus, 11.00-17.00
• Monday 8th April, online 18.00-20.00
• Saturday 20th April, Ayr Campus, 11.00-15.00

Course presenters

This module will be delivered by Dr James Layton and Dr Henry Bell.

NOTE: This is a university module and upon approval of your application, you will be invited to register and then supported to complete enrolment. To enrol on the university system, the first step involves security set-up using the Microsoft Authenticator app; you will need to ensure that you have a compatible smartphone.

Further information is available at the Student Information Portal.

To access this module via the CPD route, individuals should be ordinarily resident in Scotland.  If you do not meet this criteria, please enquire here.