Contemporary & Classical Subjects

It is important that actors develop a foundation of knowledge of key periods of theatrical history. To this end, these classes provide students with a strong overview of the forces that have shaped theatrical performance in the West from the ancient Greeks and Romans, through the Renaissance and Restoration leading up to Contemporary Drama. Students are also introduced to various theorist-practitioners whose ideas have influenced theatre craft and actor training in modern times, and are also encouraged to explore theatrical forms from around the world. This component is delivered through seminar and reciprocal learning: though certain aspects of these classes are delivered by teaching staff, students are required to research and deliver information to their peers through lecture and active learning exercises.

In this area of the course, students work in a practical way on texts from periods explored in the Theatre in Context classes. The aim of this component is to enable students to explore the skills they are developing in their ‘Acting’ classes -- to listen and respond in an authentic way - within the world of a play and its text. Examples of plays explored are: Anton Chekhov’s The Three Sisters, Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi, Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, Eugene Ionesco’s The Chairs, Caryl Churchill’s A Mouthful of Birds.