Media, film, theatre: Applied theatre

The main objective of the course “Applied theatre and role play” is to examine the application of dramatic and theatrical techniques broadly described as applied theatre, with the practical focus on the use of drama and theatre in education.

The course “Applied theatre and role play” examines the application of dramatic and theatrical techniques broadly described as applied theatre, with the practical focus on the use of drama and theatre in education (including the context of foreign language teaching). The theoretical part of the course is dedicated to the study of theatrical and dramatic theories and methods applied in education and therapy, such as theatre in education, theatre of the oppressed, sociodrama and psychodrama, community theatre as well as role play and simulation. Students will become acquainted with a variety of approaches and methods used in theatre and learn how these methods can be applied in various social and educational contexts. In the practical part students will participate in role play, forum theatre, warm­ up games and acting exercises as well as practice team management, confidence, creativity and spontaneity. As the final learning outcome, the students devise and prepare their own theatre projects, in which they apply the theoretical knowledge gained in the first part of the seminar.

1. Introduction (introducing learning outcomes, the course content, assessment methods and criteria) (2hrs)

2. Applied theatre: definition, types, aims, components, strategies (2hrs).

3. Theatre in education (2hrs)

4. The theatre of the oppressed (2hrs)

5. Community theatre (2hrs)

6. Sociodrama and psychodrama (2hrs)

7. Museum, prison, reminiscence theatre (2hrs)

8. Evaluation 1: Test (2 hrs)

9. Role-play (4hrs)

10. Theatre exercises (4hrs)

11. Evaluation 2: projects presentation (6 hrs).

Required reading:

Selected chapters and excerpts from

Boal, Augusto. 1992. Games for Actors and Non-Actors. London: Routledge.

Huxley, Michael and Noel Witts, eds. 1996. The Twentieth Century Performance Reader. London: Routledge.

Ladousse, Gillian Porter. 1987. Role Play. Oxford University Press.

Leveton, Eva. 2010. Healing Collective Trauma with Sociodrama and Drama Therapy. NY: Springer. [e-book]

Prendergast, Monica and Juliana Saxton, eds. 2010. Applied Theatre: International Case Studies and Challenges for Practice. Bristol: Intellect. [e-book]

Optional reading:

Cohen-Cruz, Jan. 1998, ed. Radical Street Performance: An International Anthology. London: Routledge.

Rasmussen, Bjorn, and Anna-Lena Ostern, ed. 2002. Playing Betwixt and Between. Bergen: Idea Publications.

Assessment methods:

- test - W1, W2, U3, U4

- theatrical project (presentation and its written description) - W1, W2, U1, U2, U4

- active participation in discussion and theatre exercises - W1, W2, U1, U2, U3, U4.

Assessment criteria:

The final mark consists of:

- test results (40% of the final mark)

- the assessment of theatrical projects (40% of the final mark)

- the assessment of participation (20% of the final mark)