EA114-4-SU-LO:
Improvised Living History
2024/25
East 15 Acting School
East15 (Loughton) Campus
Summer
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Tuesday 22 April 2025
Friday 27 June 2025
15
31 March 2021
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BA W411 Acting,
BA W411MV Acting,
BA W83A Acting (International)
For their work on this project students will research the experiences of a society of people living in a set period of time and specific location. Each student adopts the personality of another person arising from their research, aiming to create a character firmly based on research and evidence. A scenario is devised that will enable all the characters to combine in a particular location and to interact with each other.
You will put into practice your ability to use research and improvisation to create truthful characters. The project will allow you to progress from this to the more advanced discipline required to sustain character over an extended length of time. The project is also designed to reinforce students' understanding of the process of ensemble work. By the end of the course you will be able to demonstrate the ability to extend and refine your acting with increasing depth and detail.
1. To consolidate research methods and their importance in improvisation and character relationships
2. To deepen students’ understanding of human behaviour and roles in life
3. To reinforce students’ ability to work creatively as part of an ensemble
4, To provide opportunities for characters to live in the moment
5. To allow characters to adapt promptly and spontaneously without pre-empting outcomes
By the end of this module you will be able to demonstrate:
1. Professional potential: range, focus and presence in improvised work
2. Commitment: energy, positive attitude, personal contribution in the recreation of a living history project
3. Creative Inventiveness: fresh responses, spontaneity in a range of experiences
4. Flexibility & Sensitivity to Change: responsiveness to others and to direction
5. Ensemble Acting: adaptability, generosity, awareness of relationships
6. Objective self-assessment: awareness of own strengths and weaknesses as an actor, ability to accept criticism and act upon it
7. Research Skills: in-depth interviews, objective observation, selection of appropriate material, accurate documentation
8. Application of research to practice
9. Textual Comprehension: understanding and interpreting language and plot
10. Creative Repetition: concentration, synthesis of technique, individuality, appropriate connection, consistency
No additional information available.
Learning also takes place in lectures, workshops and presentations.
Independent research
At the end of the project students will receive verbal tutor feedback in a group session as well as formative, written feedback.
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Merlin, B. (2014)
The complete Stanislavsky toolkit. Rev. ed. London: Nick Hern Books. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1725505.
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Benedetti, J. (2008)
Stanislavski: an introduction. 4th rev. ed. London: Methuen Drama. Available at:
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=140700.
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Caldarone, M. and Lloyd-Williams, M. (2004)
Actions: the actors’ thesaurus. London: Nick Hern. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5149866.
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Demidov, N.V. (2016a)
Nikolai Demidov: becoming an actor-creator. Edited by A. Malaev-Babel and M.N. Laskina. Abingdon: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. Available at:
http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781315621685.
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Chekhov, A.P., Hercher, J. and Urban, P. (2011)
Chekhov on theatre. London: Nick Hern. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5286985.
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Davies, O.F. (2019)
Performing Shakespeare: [preparation, rehearsal, performance]. London: Nick Hern Books. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5965209.
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Benedetti, J. (2005)
The art of the actor: the essential history of acting, from classical times to the present day. London: Methuen. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1074537.
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Demidov, N.V. (2016b)
Nikolai Demidov: becoming an actor-creator. Edited by A. Malaev-Babel and M.N. Laskina. Abingdon: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. Available at:
http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781315621685.
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Annett, M. (2004)
Actor’s guide to auditions & interviews. 3rd ed. London: A. & C. Black. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=6160017.
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Bishop, N. (2009)
Secrets from the casting couch: on camera strategies for actors from a casting director. London: Methuen Drama. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=692114.
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 |
Practical |
Continuous Assessment |
|
|
Additional coursework information
Continuous assessment through observation of contribution to coursework.
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
No
No
No
Ms Lucy Skilbeck
Mr Michael Andrew Hayden
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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