RA4S08 - Contemporary Themes and Ideas in Theatre and Performance Research 01 Sep 2024 - 31 Aug 2030 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: RA4S08
Module Title: Contemporary Themes and Ideas in Theatre and Performance Research
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Music and Drama
Faculty Sub Group: Drama
Module Leader: Michael Carklin
Module Team: Jesse Schwenk, Jodie Allinson, Ian Staples
First Intended Intake: SEP 2024 Final Year of Intake: 2029
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100069 - drama
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 0
Valid From 01 Sep 2024
Valid To 31 Aug 2030

Module Aims

  • To contribute to the development of research knowledge and skills at postgraduate level. 

  • To encourage a critical engagement with approaches to creative practice, and with ideas, debates and issues in contemporary theatre and performance.

  • To develop an advanced broad understanding of theatre and performance in a range of contexts to inform students’ own practical explorations. 

Content Summary

Indicatively, the module will focus on the following content:  

  • MA Study and the Reflective Practitioner: an introduction to ideas and practices  

  • Theatre in society past and present 

  • Understanding Practice as Research  

  • Research methods in theatre and performance 

  • Making sense of sources: building on ideas and insights  

  • 'Creativity' - exploring ideas of creativity and creative processes  

  • Key Themes in Theatre and Performance Research 

  • Theatre-making contexts and environments 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 10
Seminar 24
Tutorial 2
Directed Study (Including online independent learning) 12
Independent Study? 152
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Articulate critical insights into ideas, issues and approaches to practice and research in theatre and performance.
LO2 Apply knowledge and critical awareness to situate and frame students’ own practice

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Presentation (Asynchronous) 1 Individual conference style presentation, linked to particular themes and issues explored in the module, in relation to the students’ own discipline and area of interest. 20 N/A 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 A research project proposal which includes a literature/sources review relevant to the student’s own discipline and area of interest. 0 3000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Presentation (Asynchronous) 1 ✔ ✔
Essay 1 ✔ ✔

Reading List

Allegue, L., Jones, S., Kershaw, B., and Piccini, A. (2009). Practice-as-Research: In performance and screen. Basingstoke: Palgrave. 

Barrett, E., and B. Bolt (2019). Practice as Research: Approaches to Creative Arts Enquiry. London: I.B. Tauris. 

Collins, H. (2010). Creative Research: The Theory and Practice of Research for the Creative Industries. Worthing: AVA Publishing. 

Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research Design, Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. London: Sage. 

Freebody, K., and M. Finneran (2021). Critical Themes in Drama: Social, Cultural and Political Analysis. London and New York: Routledge. 

Kershaw, B., and Nicholson, H. (ed.) (2011). Research Methods in Theatre and Performance. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. 

McIntosh, P. (2010). Action Research and Reflective Practice: creative and visual methods to facilitate reflection and learning. London and New York: Routledge. 

Nelson, R (ed.) (202213). Practice as Research in the Arts (and Beyond): Principles, Processes, Contexts and Acievements. London: Palgrave Macmillan. 

Performance Research journal (1995-2024). London: Taylor and Francis. 

Smith, H., and Dean, R. T. (ed.) (2009). Practice-led Research, Research-led Practice in the Creative Arts. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. 

Thompson, S., and Thompson, N. (2018). The Critically Reflective Practitioner (2nd ed.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. 

Varied authors (2009-2024). Theatre & … series. London: Red Globe Press.