MKUF502B Applied Theatre

Contents and structure

The first half of the course is an introduction to practice and research in applied theatre, both locally and internationally. This involves gaining knowledge and experience with different forms and genres, such as participatory theatre, drama processes with people with dementia, storytelling workshops with people with substance dependence, theater in various societal arenas, and drama and theatre with marginalised groups.

The second half is an artistic/educational practical project with a group in a chosen societal arena (nursing home, cultural center, hospital, SFO, prison etc.).

The drama courses build on basic education and experience in drama and theatre. The study is research-based and requires an interest in and ability to reflect on both theory and one's own and others' practices. The teaching combines theory and practice and takes place through workshops, lectures, and seminars on campus and in digital platforms. There will be online sessions on some days from 14:15-16:00.

In the course MKUF502B Applied Theatre, the student, individually or in pairs/groups, will plan and implement a practical project over time in a chosen societal arena (approximately 30 hours). An Alternative is to do two to three shorter projects wich corresponds to approximately 30 hours.

Learning Outcome

Upon completion of the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student

• has in-depth knowledge of various forms of applied theatre, participatory theatre, and community theatre
• has in-depth knowledge of applied theatre as an artistic and educational philosophy and field
• has in-depth knowledge of issues and concepts from theory and practice in applied theatre
• has in-depth knowledge of project development, artistic educational facilitation, and artistic communication through work on a scenic presentation/a scenic program

Skills

The student

• can demonstrate performance skills and master the expressive forms of the field
• can combine form and content in an artistic/educational practice
• can interact and communicate performatively with target groups in selected societal arenas
• can develop concepts and project plans for their own project

General Competence

The student

• can realize applied theatre in various societal arenas
• can lead and manage projects in applied theatre
• can assess and utilize research approaches to their subject project

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

It is recommended to have completed MKUF501B before the student starts this course.

Teaching methods

The course will initially have joint teaching in a combination of workshops, lectures, seminars, project work, project presentations, and guidance. The student has a practical project in a chosen community setting with an estimated duration of about 30 hours, an alternative is to do two-to-three shorter projects wich corresponds to about 30 hours. The student is responsible for making arrangements with the selected target group.

The syllabus consists of approximately 1000 assigned pages in addition to about 200 self-selected pages related to the individual project.

Compulsory learning activities

The following mandatory learning activities must be approved by the course coordinator before the student can present themselves for the exam:

1. Mandatory Learning Activity 1: Oral presentation in pairs of a selected course article. Students are required to analyse and reflect on the article's academic intention/problem statement, argumentation, and source base. Pair work (one defending and one criticising the article).
2. Mandatory Learning Activity 2: The class is devided in groups of 3-4 students. Each group is going to co-read a given chapter. The group stops along the way. What do we understand, what do we wonder about. After the collective reading is finished, the groups meet and present the chapter for the other group and what questions they have to the text.
3. Mandatory Learning Activity 3a: Introduce, present, and demonstrate parts of the project plan through a workshop. 3b: Submit the project description with a progress plan for project development and testing out parts of the performative material. Guiding scope: approximately 1500 words.
4. Attendance at sessions is mandatory, with an active participation requirement.

If a mandatory learning activity is assessed as not approved, written feedback will be provided. Students who do not pass one or more learning activities are given a second chance to correct errors and deficiencies during the course if possible within the given deadlines. Mandatory learning activities must be approved no later than two weeks before the exam.

Assessment

Practical Exam.

The exam will take place at a community venue outside the campus and beyond institutional theatres. The test format is a performance or work demonstration for/with participants at the chosen venue.

Timeframe for the performance/work demonstration: ca. 30-45 minutes. After the performance/work demo. the candidate/s and the examinator team will have a conversation about the performance and the project (ca. 25-30 minutes)

The exam can be taken individually, in pairs or in groups.

Grading scale: Pass/Fail.

Detailed guidelines for the applied theatre project are available. These will be distributed at the beginning of the project.

For postponed/new exam a revised version of the work is presented/performed.

Examination support material

All

More about examination support material