EA111-4-FY-LO:
Introduction to Acting Theory, Methods and Practice, and Development From Self to Character
2025/26
East 15 Acting School
East15 (Loughton) Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 26 June 2026
15
05 December 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BA W411 Acting,
BA W411MV Acting,
BA W83A Acting (International),
BA W441 Acting and Contemporary Theatre
This first year acting module provides an initial training in acting theory, method and practice based on the uniqueness of the individual and the ability to change, adapt, extend, perceive, accept and reject.
Students move through self-study to look outside themselves, approaching firstly improvised situations and then scripted text in imaginative and collaborative ways. By the end of the course you will know how to start work on a play and will have begun collaborative text work. You will be able to begin to create a character from a text and to start the process of creating the world of the play.
The aims of this module are:
To provide students with opportunities to learn
- The building blocks of the art of acting
- How to imvise truthfully
- Sight-readiskills
- Play reading Objective self-assessment
- How to create a character
- The importance of the ensemble
- To observe and understand aspects of human development
- To develop an appreciation of the complexity of human nature
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Professional potential: range, focus, presence
- Commitment: energy, positive attitude, personal contribution
- Creative Inventiveness: fresh responses, spontaneity in a range of experiences
- Flexibility & Sensitivity to Change: responsiveness to others and to direction
- Ensemble Acting: adaptability, generosity, awareness of relationships
- Objective self-assessment: awareness of own strengths and weaknesses as an actor, ability to accept criticism and act upon it
- Research Skills: which may include in-depth interviews, objective observation, selection of appropriate material, accurate documentation
- Application of research to practice
- Textual comprehension
- Creative repetition
No additional information available.
This module will be delivered via:
- Practical classes.
- Workshops and rehearsals.
- Oral formative assessment from/ with tutors
- Written formative assessment and tutor feedback report at the end of the first and third terms
- Group discussion.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Continuous Assessment |
|
|
Additional coursework information
This module is taught over three terms. Students will receive formative verbal feedback and assessment continuously throughout the year.
Continuous assessment is arrived at through observation of contribution to class work and project work throughout the year, which may include:
•Storytelling
• Play reading
•Acting Theory, Method & Practice
• Improvisation/Sensory World
• A Community Project
• Self to Character
• Text Analysis
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Mr Philip Weaver, email: prweaver@essex.ac.uk.
Gerry McAlpine and staff
East 15 Acting School
Hatfields Campus
Rectory Lane
Loughton, IG10 3RY
No
No
No
Mr Michael Andrew Hayden
Ms Isobel Beatrice Pemberton
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
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