History of Drama and Performance 1 (DRAH1504)
The module focuses on the origin and development of drama and theatre practice from the Greek to the Romantic periods. The module will start off by exploring the origins of traditional African Theatre. Students will be exposed to the main role players and selected works of the periods and will be assessed on their knowledge of theory related to the module.
Unit 1: Theatre History & Event
The history of theatre charts the development of theatre over the past 2,500 years. While performative elements are present in every society, it is customary to acknowledge a distinction between theatre as an art form and entertainment and theatrical or performative elements in other activities. The history of theatre is primarily concerned with the origin and subsequent development of the theatre as an autonomous activity.
Unit 2: Theatre History & Spirituality
This unit will explore spirituality in a global theatre history context. Specific emphasis will be given to African, Asian, Western and other historical performance practices that developed up until the 19th Century.
Unit 3: Theatre History & Physicality
While Physical Theatre deals with the physicality within any theatre performance, it is important to recognise all the existing theatre styles that emphasize the physical aspect. Some of these styles, like Noh and Greek Chorus, are accompanied by ancient written text, but all styles include a physically improvised aspect. Visual images interpreted physically can vary greatly from one performance to another, according to factors such as what has happened onstage a moment before, the actor’s general health, the company’s mood, the audience’s reception, or the state of the stage and condition of the props.
The student will also explore the components of religious influences, aspect of oral African and Asian storytelling performances, the creative use of technical aspects such as costumes and masks, the impact of colonialism so as the aftermath of Eurocentric views of African and Asian theatre.
Unit 4: Theatre History, Gender & Sexuality
This unit will explore gender and sexuality in a global theatre history context. Specific emphasis will be given to African, Asian, Western and other historical performance practices that developed up until the 19th century.
Unit 5: Theatre History & The Performer
This unit will focus on the performer of African, Asian, Greek, Roman, Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Artists who participate in performing arts in front of an audience are called performers. Examples of these include actors, comedians, dancers, magicians, circus artists, musicians, and singers. Performing arts are also supported by workers in related fields, such as songwriting, choreography and stagecraft.
Unit 6: Theatre History & Performance Space
Drama, whether it is a comedy or tragedy or a movement or dance piece, can be performed in many different types of theatres, as well as outdoors, and in warehouses, stairwells, in houses and other unusual places. Examples of formal theatre spaces include the amphitheatre, stationary and processional staging, thrust and open stages, proscenium theatre etc.
Unit 7: The Restoration Theatre
This unit focuses on the development of drama and theatre practice during the English Restoration period. The emphasis is placed on the playwrights, their influence on the development of drama and theatre, as well as various other aspects.
Unit 8: 18th Century Theatre
This unit explores the development of drama and theatre practice during the 18th Century. The focus is predominantly on the playwrights of the time and the influence that the Age of Enlightenment and the Storm and Stress movement had on the theatre practitioners of this time period. Various other aspects will also be explored.Unit 9: Romantic Period Theatre
The focus of this unit is on the development of drama and theatre practices during the Romantic Period. The general history of this time period, as well as the influences that Darwin, Comte and Marx had on the theatre practitioners of the period, is explored, along with various other aspects.