Theater and Drama (MGL0080)

Content

Are you interested in creating art and culture that includes and engages children and youth? Do you wish to explore, perform, and apply theatre in diverse community settings through an international program?

If so, our subject Theatre and Drama is a great place to start.

The subject introduces theatre in various contexts, such as Performing Arts, Drama and Theatre Pedagogy, as well as Applied Theatre Practices. It also explores how these areas can be relevant in today’s multicultural society within the fields of art and culture, as well as various forms of educational and social work.

Throughout the study, you will gain knowledge of acting, directing, dramaturgy, stagecraft, and various theatrical methods. You will also gain experience in creating your own theatre projects, where you develop your own artistic language within collective artistic processes in an international context.

This one-year course will prepare you to plan, create, and lead theatre productions, artistic projects, and other creative processes in schools, cultural settings, and community activities.

• The subject is open to both national and international students
• Collaborations with local and international art and culture centres, museums, schools and educational institutions
• Study trip to international theatre festival
• Various placement opportunities at children's and youth theatre, as well as cultural and educational institutions.
• Police certificate of conduct is required

Content:

The course is structured around three themes: Acting and Theatre Production, Theatre and Drama Pedagogy, as well as Applied Theatre. The teaching materials and methods are based on the unique characteristics of theatre in various societal contexts, such as the arts and culture field as well as different forms of educational and social work.

Acting and Theatre Production

This theme introduces the basic elements and fundamentals of performing arts, focusing on acting, directing, and dramaturgical tools in theatre.

Students will work with acting techniques and methods based on the traditions of Stanislavski and Brecht, as well as physical approaches to stage presence in theatre. Improvisation, character work, and scenic text development, both individually and collectively, are central and form the foundation of the artistic process.

Students will gain experience in creating their own theatre projects, where they develop their own artistic language within collective artistic processes. The course uses theatre production as a learning model, where directing, dramaturgy, concept development, working methods, and stagecraft in theatre are key elements. Additionally, the relationship between the theatre’s form and content will be further developed.

This work will provide students with a practical understanding of the various aspects of theatrical production. Teaching and guidance are based on the connection between practical work and theoretical reflection, where students develop the knowledge and skills needed to plan and carry out collective artistic processes.

Theatre and Drama Pedagogy

The topic emphasises theatre and drama as methodological and pedagogical tools, focusing on play, practical activities, intercultural work, and aesthetic learning processes in educational centres, learning centres, and non-formal education organisation projects.

The students will gain experience in how theatre and drama pedagogy that promotes democracy and active citizenship can be applied in the classroom. Furthermore, the students will acquire knowledge and skills in how theatre and drama pedagogy can be applied in practical and creative learning, where intellect, emotions, and the body are activated in a collective exploration of various school subjects and topics. These aesthetic learning processes, through sense, reflection, and creative-practical work, are based on a holistic approach to learning that provides deep learning and is a prerequisite for pupils' development and identity construction.

Students will gain experience in planning and applying theatre and drama techniques as teaching methods across various school subjects, interdisciplinary topics, and cross-curricular projects. This approach fosters pupils' intercultural competence, engagement, creativity, and curiosity. The focus is on practical, creative learning in Norwegian, English, mathematics, science, and social studies.

Applied Theatre

In this subject, students will apply their experience from the aforementioned topics- Acting and Theatre Production, and Theatre and Drama Pedagogy- to explore community-related issues and promote social development through applied theatre as a tool for intercultural communication and relationship-building. The instruction will be closely coordinated with professionals from the arts and culture sector, as well as various educational and social work settings, such as children's and youth theatres, learning centres, and leisure clubs.

The work aims to provide students with a practical understanding of various aspects of applied theatre, where teaching and guidance are based on the connection between practical work and theoretical reflection. The approach is rooted in critical and humanistic pedagogy, with an emphasis on Freire, Boal, and Barba. Students will gain experience planning workshops and various interdisciplinary arts and culture projects. They will also gain experience developing applied theatre practices for leisure clubs, learning and immigration centres, as well as experiencing different forms of collaboration and partnership within different organisations, promoting intercultural competence, democracy, and active citizenship.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

A candidate who has successfully completed the course will have knowledge of:

• Key movements and forms of expression in theatre, drama, theatre pedagogy, and applied theatre in the arts and cultural field, in schools, and in social life
• Various acting techniques, working methods, dramaturgy, and directing methodologies, with a focus on dramatic and epic theatre, as a foundation for creative stage work
• Key trends in intercultural work within the arts and cultural sector, in schools, and in social life
• Artistic work that includes children and young people in intercultural contexts
• Key features in the development of theatre as an art form, from antiquity to the Modern Breakthrough, and various approaches within drama and theatre as art tools in school and applied theatre in different societal contexts.
• Aesthetic learning processes through drama and theatre as a prerequisite for learning in primary and lower secondary school, with an emphasis on the subjects Norwegian, English, mathematics, social studies, and science.
• Intercultural communication in a multicultural classroom.
• The ability to function effectively across cultures, to think and act appropriately, and to communicate and collaborate with people from different cultural backgrounds, whether at home or abroad.
• Interdisciplinary work and methods in artistic practice
• Communication, collaboration, and innovation
• Technological tools and new media in creative work within theatre, drama, theatre pedagogy, and applied theatre.

Skills

A candidate who has completed and passed the course will be able to:

• Master basic skills in acting techniques, directing, and dramaturgy, with particular emphasis on creating original theatre productions in various contexts.
• Master basic skills in exploring and applying dramatic and epic forms in theatre.
• Master basic skills in active analysis and devising processes in own creative work.
• Master fundamental knowledge of concept development, composition, and scenic means and design in directing work
• Be able to describe, interpret, and evaluate artistic and creative work and apply this knowledge critically and constructively in feedback situations
• Master basic skills in drama and theatre pedagogy and applied theatre
• Plan, implement, and facilitate hands-on activities through aesthetic learning processes within the subjects of Norwegian, English, mathematics, social studies, and science in primary and lower secondary school.
• Develop a reflective and experiance-based approch to drama and theatre, as well as theatre pedagogy in an intercultural context.
• Master basic skills in acting and theatre production, drama and theatre pedagogy, and applied theatre in an intercultural context
• Plan, execute, and evaluate theatre productions, drama and theatre teaching plans, and applied theatre in interdisciplinary settings within the arts and culture, schools, and community life
• Be able to critically reflect on ethical dilemmas that arise in applied theatre work Master and actively use digital tools in theatre productions, drama and theatre pedagogy, and applied theatre, as well as in theoretical, practical, and artistic presentations.

General competence

A candidate who has completed and passed the course:

• Should be able to plan, develop, and create theatre productions through collective artistic processes in diverse community settings, such as the arts and cultural field, schools and society.
• Be able to apply theatre’s expressive forms in the development of performances for, by, and with children, youth, and various communities
• Be closely engaged with societal challenges and its diversity by creating art and culture that includes and engages children and young people
• Should be able to plan, develop, and lead drama and theatre pedagogical work in intercultural contexts within schools and educational institutions
• Should stimulate engagement, creativity, problem-solving, and curiosity in students through the use of drama and theatre as an aesthetic learning process in schools
• Should be able to explore socially relevant issues and promote social development through applied theatre as a tool, with a focus on democracy and active citizenship
• Have competence in an intercultural approach to work, being able to combine the cognitive, physical, and emotional/motivational aspects as crucial factors in understanding not only external behavior but also the unwritten norms that shape different cultures
• Have competence development processes

Required prerequisite knowledge

Exam

Coursework requirements

Theatre and Drama is a practical and theoretical course where all classes and guidance are mandatory. Students must attend at least 80% of the course. Exceptions may be granted for chronic illness, documented by a doctor.

1. Theatre Production: Students must work in groups to complete a theatre project that culminates in six public performances.
2. Study Trip: Students are encouraged to participate in a study trip where they will watch at least five professional performances for children and young people. These performances will be analysed and discussed in group conversations during the trip. The trip usually takes place early in the semester and lasts 3-4 days. Alternatively, students can attend five theatre performances for children/youth on their own and submit individual performance analyses.
3. Attending Theatre Performances: In addition to the study trip, students must attend at least five professional theatre performances for adults. This is done in collaboration with Rogaland Theatre, where students receive free tickets to rehearsal performances.
4. Drama and Theatre Pedagogy: In groups, students will plan and carry out a project in drama and theatre pedagogy at a primary school, the Children's and Youth Theatre, or Sølvberget - Stavanger Cultural Center. The project will take place at least four times with supervision. After the practical work, students must submit a written report. This is assessed as "approved" or "not approved."
5. Portfolio Assignment: Students must complete a written individual or group assignment on a self-selected topic in one of the following areas: Acting, Theatre Production, Drama and Theatre Pedagogy, or Applied Theatre. The assignment should be 3,000 words (+/- 10%)

All coursework requirements must be approved to take the exam. Failure to meet the coursework requirements will result in denial of exam access, as per the University of Stavanger’s study and exam regulations.

Students who do not meet the coursework requirements initially will be given one opportunity to resubmit their revised assignments.

Course teacher(s)

Course teacher:

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Course coordinator:

Study Program Director:

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Method of work

Competence in acting, theatre production, drama and theatre pedagogy, and applied theatre can only be developed through exploratory and creative collaboration with others.

The course is organised into themes/topics, with practical and theoretical work integrated. Teaching includes various formats such as workshops, lectures, project work, seminars, study groups, independent study, supervision, and practical work.

Open for

Course assessment

Literature