EA321-6-SP-LO:
New Plays
2025/26
East 15 Acting School
East15 (Loughton) Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 12 January 2026
Friday 20 March 2026
30
11 April 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BA W441 Acting and Contemporary Theatre
This module builds on the creative writing work students have been doing in their second year Contextual Studies module EA226. New plays will be selected by the module tutors from students' own self-authored work, to be staged in a production for an invited audience, usually in a studio performance or an external theatre venue. Through the process of staging the New Plays you will be given opportunities to take on a range of roles and responsibilities, for example, of writer, actor and director, experiencing and learning the flexibility and versatility that characterises the professional contemporary theatre practitioner.
You will put into practice the taught acting skills you have developed during Years One and Two and test the boundaries of your own creativity by applying your skills to the interpretation of untried texts. The process of staging the productions will provide students with experience of collaborating with writers and directors.
By the end of the module you will have participated fully in creating and staging a piece of original, self-created work.
The aims of this module are:
- To put into practice taught acting and technical skills
- To apply skills to an original, text-based work
- To inspire students’ own creativity and initiative
Following successful completion of the module, students will have:
- Expansion of acting skill (stretching and widening your acting abilities)
- Textual comprehension of new and untried texts. (understanding and interpretation of language plot & characters).
- Skills integration in original, text-based work (ability to utilise varied disciplines within the context of the project).
- Creativity & innovation (creative responses to task, to opportunity, to playing partners and to direction)
- Ensemble contribution in a range of production roles and responsibilities
- Flexibility & response to change (willingness to play, take risks, change habits and break boundaries): collaborating between actors, writers and directors
- Commitment (involvement and consistency) in the creation of original, self-created work
- Self-assessment of performance in new plays (awareness of own strengths and weaknesses and ability to respond creatively to criticism)
- Achievement of the aims of the project (accomplishment of ensemble and personal goals) in new and untried plays.
No additional information available.
- Students work with tutors in group classes, workshops and rehearsals
- Learning also takes place in feedback and group discussion on performances
- Independent study and research
- Verbal formative assessment and tutor feedback is given in group session
- Students receive written summative assessment and tutor comments at the end of the module
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Practical |
Continuous Assessment |
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Additional coursework information
The assessment criteria for this module are the extent to which students can demonstrate advanced understanding of the module Learning Outcomes.
Productions are staged in a short run of performances in Week 7 of Term One. Performances are observed by the tutor team and project directors for assessment. Shows are video-recorded for assessment and feedback.
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 Uri Roodner, email: uroodn@essex.ac.uk.
Uri Roodner, Guest Writers and Directors
No
No
No
Ms Isobel Beatrice Pemberton
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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