Module Directory

This module introduces first year Drama students to the concept of Ensemble theatre-making – where a company of theatre-makers work together over a period of time to make a performance with the emphasis on group creation. It will also give students the chance to work together towards a full production of a play onstage involving their entire year-group in Drama (both Single Honours and Joint degree students).

Over the Spring term, we will begin work on a given play-text. As we do this we will also explore ensemble as a concept and practice. We will look at case-studies – examples of which might be Berliner Ensemble, Theatre de Complicite, Kneehigh, Michel St Denis at the London Theatre Studio or Joan Littlewood at Stratford East, Secret Theatre at the Lyric, Hammersmith, and contemporary directors such as Ivo Van Hove and Katie Mitchell – and will try out exercises and games in the weekly workshops.

The given play will not be cast until week 21 or 22 of the spring term, so that all members of the group are equally engaged with the work of the spring term.

We will then move toward a more intensive period of rehearsals in the summer term, over weeks 30,31, 32 and 33 with a final performance taking place in week 33/34. (Or the assessment period post Term 2, in the new framework).

The play may be slightly abridged or shortened to enable a high quality of production and will be directed by the module supervisor although the emphasis will be on ensemble-working and group-responsibility. Students will be involved in every aspect of the performance, from acting, designing, lighting, costuming, stage managing and marketing the production. Students will learn the entire process of how to stage a production, from first concept to final performance.

Students will be assessed on their individual contribution to the process over the four-week period; on the quality of their individual contribution to the final production, and on their reflection on their own practice in the form of a production diary that they will keep over the entire module.

There will be throughout a particular focus on ensemble work and collaboration.

Employability skills of time-management, teamwork, budget management, creative problem-solving, project management, and meeting deadlines will be practised and demanded at a high level throughout this module (as well as all the practical theatre skills required by a full production).

The aims of this module are:

• To learn and apply all the processes and practices involved in the full production of a play from first concept, through rehearsals to final production.


• To introduce students to the concept and practice of ensemble, learning about famous ‘ensemble’ companies and practitioners.


• To develop ensemble and collaborative skills as students of theatre.


• To evaluate and reflect on practice, and articulate that in writing.


• To apply and deepen all the skills learned in first year in textual analysis of playscripts, acting, technical theatre and teamwork.


• To prepare students thoroughly for theatre-making aspects of modules in their second and third year.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of the processes of theatre production from first concept to final performance onstage.


2. Critically evaluate and interpret dramatic text, as actors, designers, stage managers and directors.


3. Demonstrate and apply ensemble theatre approaches both as knowledge and skills.


4. Demonstrate professional levels of punctuality, diligence, time-keeping and preparation.


5. Apply and demonstrate skills of movement, voice, acting, design, stage management, and production.


6. Evaluate and reflect critically on their own theatre practice and that of others.

Transferable and Employability skills

These skills are highly valued by graduate employers:

Creative problem-solving; planning and time-management; considerations of sustainability in the workplace; considerations of equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as health and safety, in the workplace; collaborative skills; timekeeping, punctuality and meeting deadlines; professional conduct; artistic, technical, and professional skills in theatre-making both onstage and backstage.

Syllabus information

In this module students will study and apply ensemble practices.  Teaching will be in the form of practical seminar/workshops.

Case-studies of ensemble theatre companies and theatre-makers will be explored through readings on Moodle and then in-class practical exercises. These may include all or some of the following:

• Berliner Ensemble


• Theatre de Complicite


• Forced Entertainment


• Joint Stock


• Kneehigh


• Joan Littlewood and Theatre Royal Stratford East


• Michel Saint Denis and London Theatre Studio


• Secret Theatre, Sean Holmes and Lyric Theatre


• Corn Exchange, Dublin

In the first five weeks we will be looking at ensemble as a concept and practice; and we will explore the play-text, its imaginative world, its production history, and its meanings. We will generate production ideas as an ensemble without assigning parts.

From week six onwards the play is cast and we will start rehearsing the play every week in our time-tabled sessions, with students undertaking independent study and work on the production as appropriate.

The focus in spring term will be on:

1. Ensemble Case studies


2. Ensemble Physical, Voice and Movement Skills appropriate to the play chosen;


3. Textual analysis


4. Production research on thematic and other content relevant to the play chosen;


5. Technical design and production preparation relevant to the play chosen;


6. Preparatory rehearsal processes – time management ; scheduling, creating a curious and inclusive space for actors and the whole team.

In summer term, weeks 30, 31 and 32 we will hold time-tabled intensive rehearsals (some will be student lead and some staff-led):

• In week 33 we will produce the play in the Lakeside main space and perform it for an audience.


• Monday Week 34 – Students will hand in their Production diary, (25% module mark).

This module will be delivered via:

• Weekly workshop/rehearsals in Spring term of 2 hours plus time-tabled independent rehearsal time and independent study/preparation for the group (learning lines and working on production and technical aspects of the production)
• Intensive rehearsal period and performance for 3 intensive weeks in summer term – weeks 30, 31 and 32 - (or Term 2 assessment period in new framework). Production week in week 33 of summer term.

Students will be expected to study and learn lines in their own time, as well as undertake any other tasks such as rigging lights, stage management activities, sourcing props and costumes and so on.

The Lakeside is fully accessible and this module and production will be designed to be fully accessible to students with disabilities.

Students will submit a production diary at the end of the module, worth 25% of the module assessment.