Course

Acting for the Stage: Level III

Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Department
Theatre
Course Code
THEA 2310
Credits
3.00
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
22
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Tutorial
Typically Offered
Fall

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, historical research, 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 and for historical research regarding specific plays, playwrights, and acting styles. They will learn specific terminology and vocabulary appropriate to the acting profession including terms and definitions relating to specific historical and contemporary acting styles and specific playwrights and plays. Students will learn to apply appropriate resources to the development and playing of characters from specific historical and contemporary acting genres.  Students will rehearse and play in major performance projects.

 

Historical & Contemporary Styles (specific genres to be selected by the instructor and included on course outline)

a)       Shakespeare

b)       Canadian Content – Murrell, Walker. Tremblay, Panych, Thompson, Clarke, Pollock, Bushkowsky

c)       Farce

d)       Realism – Ibsen, Chekov, Synge, Williams

e)       Absurdists and PostRealism – Pinter, Mamet, Beckett

f)        Epic Theatre – Brecht

g)       Physical Metaphor – Artaud, Grotowski

Learning Activities
  1. Lectures will explore the theoretical aspects of stage acting including detailed examination of specific historical and contemporary acting styles and specific playwrights.  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 major 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 and historical research 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 in relation to specific plays and playwrights
  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 2310
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CA 1XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU THTR 2XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU THTR 361 (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) DOUG THEA 2310 (3) & DOUG THEA 2311 (3) = UBCO THTR_O 2nd (6)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV THTR_V 2nd (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC UNSP 2XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV THEA 1XX (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC THEA 2XX (1.5)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025