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Year:

THEA333 Directing and Production

Updated: 21 April 2010
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 2 Off Campus C - Internet access required
Armidale Semester 2 On Campus C - Internet access required
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
10 September 2010 13 September 2010 Non-Mandatory
Supervised Exam There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites 30cp in THEA including THEA330 and permission of unit coordinator
Co-requisites None
Restrictions THEA308 or THEA319
Notes None
Combined Units None
Coordinator(s) Susan Fell (sfell@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

This unit is a practical investigation of the techniques of staging a theatre production. Topics to be covered include design, audition and rehearsal techniques, directing skills, production administration, publicity and management of technical crew.

Referenced Material
Optional
Text(s):

Note: Reference material is held in the University Library - purchase is optional

The Director at Work
ISBN: 0132149095
Benedetti, R.L., Prentice Hall
Note: Available from the Dixson Library, UNE Call number: 792.0233/B462d
Text refers to: Semester 2 , On and Off Campus
The Director's Vision: Play Direction from Analysis to Production
ISBN: 0874847605
Catron, L., Mayfield Publishing Co.
Note: Available from the Dixson Library, UNE Call Number: 792.0233/C367d
Text refers to: Semester 2 , On and Off Campus
The Actor and his Text
ISBN: 0245543821
Berry, C., Harrap
Note: Available from the Dixson Library, UNE Call Number: 792.028/B534a
Text refers to: Semester 2 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 1: Rationale 10% On Campus 1000
Assessment Notes
Rationale for a production of the chosen script
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1 GA: 1, 2, 5, 7
Assignment 1: Rationale 20% Off Campus 1000
Assessment Notes
Rationale for a production of the chosen script
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1 GA: 1, 2, 5, 7
Assignment 2 60% Off Campus
Assessment Notes
Director's Blueprint OR Rehearsals and Performance of 15 minute theatre piece OR attendance and structured participation at non-mandatory Intensive School
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-6 GA: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8
Assignment 2: Production 70% On Campus
Assessment Notes
Rehearsals and Performance of 15 minute theatre piece - includes journal, prompt copy and production management equivalent
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-6 GA: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8
Assignment 3: Evaluation 20% On Campus 1000
Assessment Notes
Interview evaluation of project
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 6 GA: 1, 2, 4
Assignment 3: Evaluation 20% Off Campus 1000
Assessment Notes
Written evaluation of project
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 6 GA: 1, 2, 4

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. prepare a script or concept for production including lighting and set and costume designs;
  2. run a theatre audition and make informed choices about casting;
  3. run a series of rehearsals with actors;
  4. run technical rehearsals with stage crew;
  5. meet production deadlines for performance, publicity, technical and dress rehearsals;
  6. review and rework production ideas in the light of feedback.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
This unit requires students to extend their practical knowledge of all the essential aspects of theatre production in detail.
True True True
2 Communication Skills
The major assessment task requires students to communicate their ideas to other artists involved in the production of a theatre event. They are instructed in effective communication with other theatre personnel; they practise communication one on one and with a group and are continually assessed on and guided in their level of skill and effectiveness in this area.
True True True
3 Global Perspectives
The understanding of a play and its appropriate staging may require research into philosophies, cultural practice and aesthetics from a variety of cultures.
True
4 Information Literacy
For this unit students are required to provide a 'rationale' for their choice of play - to locate it within its culture; to research previous productions; to make decisions about their own production of it. They need to access journal articles, reviews in the print media and www sites.
True
5 Life-Long Learning
In taking responsibility for all the processes involved in making a product for a general public audience, students are continually practising creative, managerial and leadership skills. The unit teaches and assesses reflective and recursive learning practices.
True True True
6 Problem Solving
The unit introduces students to the idea that the work of a director is essentially the solving of a series of problems. They are required to make a number of choices by applying logical, critical and creative thinking to tasks that include casting their play, timetabling rehearsals, rehearsing actors, meeting the various deadlines in relation to production management. They are assessed on their ability to solve these problems. If they are unsuccessful they are given the opportunity to critically evaluate their process.
True True True
7 Social Responsibility
The development of directorial skills (ranging from the choice of play through to the running of a rehearsal) can and usually does involve decision-making about societal and ethical implications associated with theatre production. Students are instructed in thinking about the social and ethical implications of their choice of play and the methodologies they employ to bring it to the stage. They are expected to practise responsibility for the people with whom they work and for the final product that will go before an audience. They are assessed on their ability to work/act responsibly.
True True True
8 Team Work
Students are tutored in good teamwork practice; they practise it in each of the sessions leading to the production of a piece of theatre. Directing for theatre requires them to work within different kinds of teams: in rehearsal they are central to the team that includes actors and technical crew; in production meetings they are one of a team of directors involved in the logistics of mounting a season of plays. One of the major criteria for assessment is their ability to create effective teams and to work collaboratively to achieve common goals.
True True True
   

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