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Playwriting for Performance - TFT00019I

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  • Department: Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Hannah Davies
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24

Module summary

This module seeks to to build on your own scriptwriting practice as developed in Year 1's Playwriting in Practice, to give you tools and strategies to
develop longer narratives and to consider the challenges of creating stageable work in more detail. The module will study a selection of full play texts as
well as playwriting craft manuals to enhance your craft in planning, developing and delivering dynamic theatre scripts. The module also provides ongoing
peer and tutor feedback for your own written work.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching cycle
A Semester 1 2023-24

Module aims

Module aims:

  • To build on the tools and techniques developed in Playwriting in Practice in Year 1
  • To engage with a variety of contemporary and significant playtexts and playwriting craft manuals, as a means to further develop skills in dramaturgical thinking, planning and application
  • To provide you with a developmental workshop space to develop your idea for your summative playscripts

Module learning outcomes

  • Have further developed their craft in writing dynamic stage scripts be able to engage with the process of conceiving, researching and planning a short piece of work for the stage
  • Be able to work collaboratively with peers in a writing workshop setting, having developed the skills of giving, receiving and acting upon feedback' Written a short one-act complete narrative playscript

Module content

The weekly playscript reading will be set by the module convenor each year. In the past these have included:

East is East by Ayub Khan Din

Foxfinder by Dawn King

Country Music by Simon Stephens

A Number by Caryl Churchill

Belongings by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm

The Container by Clare Bayley

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Complete stage play with short statement of intent		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Formative feedback on developing scripts takes place weekly seminars across the semester. Students will also receive an individual tutorial of 30 minutes.

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Complete stage play with short statement of intent		 N/A 100

Module feedback

You will receive written feedback in line with standard University turnaround times.

Written feedback from the tutor and fellow students will be given on first drafts of plays in workshops; additional verbal feedback from the tutor will be provided in one-on-one meetings.

Indicative reading

Edgar, D. (2009). How Plays Work. London: Nick Hern Books.

Jeffreys, S. (2019). Playwriting: Structure, Character, How and What to Write. La Vergne: Nick Hern Books.

Yorke, J. (2015). Into the Woods: A Five Act Journey into Structure. New York: The Overlook Press.

Neipris, J. (2005). To Be a Playwright. London: Routledge.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.