Course

Acting for the Stage: Level II

Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Department
Theatre
Course Code
THEA 1210
Credits
3.00
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
22
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Tutorial
Typically Offered
Winter

Overview

Course Description
This course continues to explore the actor’s internal and external resources for the creation of character. Students participate in scenes and dramatic exercises with emphasis on script analysis and acting styles appropriate to specific plays, playwrights and genres.
Course Content

Students will continue to become familiar with the internal and external resources available to the actor for the effective creation of character. They will learn specific techniques for script analysis. They will learn specific terminology and vocabulary appropriate to the acting profession including terms and definitions relating to specific historical and contemporary acting styles. Students will learn to apply appropriate resources to the development and playing of characters from specific historical and contemporary acting genres.

  1. Script analysis
    • finding the playwright’s basic meaning
    • interpreting the lines
    • finding the event structure
  2. Speaking the lines
    • understanding the words
    • motivating the lines
    • handling long speeches, finding beats and transitions
    • memorizing the lines
  3. Stage terminology
    • stage directions
    • stage areas
    • actor’s positions
    • stage movement
  4. Historical & Contemporary Styles (specific genres to be selected by the instructor and included on course outline)
    • Greek
    • Shakespeare
    • Comedy of Manners
    • Farce
    • Realism – Ibsen, Chekov, Synge, Williams
    • Absurdists and PostRealism – Pinter, Mamet, Beckett
    • Epic Theatre – Brecht
    • Physical Metaphor – Artaud, Grotowski
    • Canadian Content
Learning Activities
  1. Lectures will introduce the theoretical aspects of stage acting including detailed examination of specific historical and contemporary acting styles. Lectures will also include extensive use of appropriate vocabulary and terminology with respect to stage acting.
  2. In the classroom/studio, students will work on practical exercises in the development of character. Students will be required to work individually as well as in small and large groups in the preparation and performance of a number of short acting projects. Students will rehearse and perform monologues and scenes from plays and playwrights with regard to their specific historical or contemporary relationship to changing acting styles.
Means of Assessment

Attendance (10%)

Due to the fact that this is a studio course, full attendance and regular punctuality is mandatory.  The following deductions will apply: 3% off the final mark per missed class and .5% off the final mark per late class.

Written Journal (5%)

Students are expected to keep a journal for this course.  Student reflections on class material, projects and exercises should be recorded at appropriate times throughout the semester. The instructor is most interested in seeing how the student is able to express his or her understanding of how to apply the class work to practical acting events.

Attitude/Participation/Progress (10%)

Students are expected to approach their work in a mature and professional manner.  Promptness, out-of-class preparation, and consideration of others will be reflected in this mark.

Students are expected to participate fully in all aspects of the work, not only as solo and/or ensemble performers but also as constructively critical audience members whose individual observations and opinions are valuable.

Students will be assessed on an ongoing basis according to level of commitment and dedication to the process of class work and practical application of techniques.

Presented Work (60%)

Students will be assessed on their individual progress toward achieving course objectives with regard to presentations of some or all of the following: prepared improvisations, monologues, small and large group exercises and major performance projects.  The weighting and number of Presented Work assignments shall be determined by the instructor but shall correspond to the following guideline:

  • Up to 3 assignments x   5%
  • Up to 4 assignments x 10%
  • Up to 3 assignments x 15%

Quizzes on lecture and textbook material (15%)

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the successful student should be able to:

  1. Develop a knowledge of internal and external resources available and necessary for the effective creation of a character, including script analysis techniques
  2. Learn and apply appropriate terminology and vocabulary of acting for the stage
  3. Become familiar with the elements of specific historical and contemporary acting styles
  4. Learn and apply specific resources to the development and effective presentation of character.
Textbook Materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided on the Instructor’s course Outline, which is available to students at the beginning of each semester. Example: Harrop, John and Epstein, Sabin R., Acting With Style,  Allyn & Bacon 2000.

Requisites

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for THEA 1210
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU ACTR 1XX (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU ARTS 1XXX (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG ARTS 1XXX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CA 1XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU THTR 1210 (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU THTR 162 (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) DOUG THEA 1110 (3) & DOUG THEA 1210 (3) = UBCO THTR_O 1st (6)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) No credit
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC UNSP 2XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV THEA 211 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC THEA 221 (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU THEA 106 (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum Seats
22
Currently Enrolled
11
Remaining Seats:
11
On Waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N3260
Times:
Start Time
13:30
-
End Time
16:20
Section Notes

THEA 1210 002 - This course is restricted to students in the Theatre Diploma program only.