Making Theatre New

Skip to:

Header
Main Navigation
Main Content
Footer

Key facts

UNE unit code: THEA111

*You are viewing the 2026 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.

Start

Trimester 2 - On Campus
Trimester 2 - Online

Campus

Armidale Campus

24/7 online support

Intensive schools

Supervised exam

Credit points

UNE student studies on a laptop on her lounge at home

The theatre is a reflection of the views and perspectives of the world around us.

This introductory unit will provide an overview of the artistic, philosophical, and political ideas underpinning theatre practice in the western world from the late nineteenth century to the present day, with a focus on playwrights and directors.

You will learn how theatre-makers during this period undertook bold theatrical experiments in response to significant social, cultural and political upheavals. Through studying key plays and practitioners from this period, you will develop a theoretical and practical understanding of the relationship between play text, director and performance, and have the opportunity to create your own piece of innovative theatre.

Offerings

Teaching period	Mode/location
Trimester 2	On Campus, Armidale Campus
Trimester 2	Online

*Offering is subject to availability

Intensive schools

There are no intensive schools required for this unit.

Enrolment rules

There are no requisites for this unit.

Notes

Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.

Unit coordinator(s)

Richard JordanSenior Lecturer in Theatre and Digital Performance - Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education; School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

demonstrate an understanding of different theatrical and narrative structures and genres in the work of selected playwrights;
describe how theoretical approaches influence and stimulate ways of thinking about theatre in performance; and
demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between playwright and director, text and performance.

Assessment information

Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Title	Must Complete	Weight	Offerings	Assessment Notes
Lecture Quizzes	Yes	10%	All offerings	Lecture Quizzes No. Words: 200 (equivalent)
Performance/Dramaturgical Task with Viva Voce - Assurance Task 2	Yes	45%	All offerings	Students may either: perform an excerpt from one of the set plays OR submit a design portfolio. All students submit a written 700-word exegesis, AND attend a mandatory fifteen-minute Viva Voce (oral examination). Students must pass both Assurance Task 1 and 2 in order to pass the unit and all other passing requirements of the unit. No. Words: 2600 (equivalent)
Reading Diary Oral Task - Assurance Task 1	Yes	15%	All offerings	Viva Voce, fifteen-minutes (approx.) Students must pass both Assurance Task 1 and 2 in order to pass the unit and all other passing requirements of the unit. No. Words: 700 (equivalent)
Reading Diary Written Tasks	Yes	30%	All offerings	Two short essays 600-700 words each Total No. Words: 1400

Learning resources

Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.