University of Essex

EA140-4-FY-SO:
Playwriting

The details

Year: 2023/24

Department: East 15 Acting School

Campus: Southend Campus

Term: Full Year

Level: Undergraduate: Level 4

Status: Current

Start date: Thursday 05 October 2023

End date: Friday 28 June 2024

Credits: 15

Last updated: 09 March 2023

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): (none)

Key module for

BA W900 Creative Producing (Theatre and Short Film),
BA W900MV Creative Producing (Theatre and Short Film)

Module description

This module looks at the conventional art of developing character dialogue and story, while taking into consideration the working practices of the playwriting profession. Students will create short scenes and finish the module with a one-act play. Throughout the process students should organise to work with East 15 actors to read and workshop their scripts outside of normal teaching hours. Students will gain a broad understanding of different theatrical genres and develop the ability to work independently.

Module aims

No information available.

Module learning outcomes

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

An understanding of:

The narrative structure of a play

How dialogue furthers character development and plot

How theatrical conventions can further story

Various genres of theatrical texts

The ability to:

Craft a well written short scene

Take on board feedback and respond in your writing

Constructively critique your own and other's writing

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

Playwriting will involve group seminars in which students will learn about narrative and dialogue etc and undertake readings of their writing. Students will also receive one-to-one supervision as they work on writing their one-act-plays.

Bibliography

Trouble with accessing resources? (no date). Available at: https://essex.libwizard.com/id/0ca0192f0d51b4c22469d6030fd1306f.
Ayckbourn, A. (2004) Crafty Art of Playmaking. London: Faber. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=30260756.
Edgar, D. (2009) How plays work. London: Nick Hern Books. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=689972.
Gooch, Steve. (2004) Writing a Play (Writing). Third edition. A & C Black. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/611698.
Peter Ansorge (no date) From Liverpool to Los Angeles. Faber & Faber.
LaBelle, B. (2010) Acoustic territories: sound culture and everyday life. New York: Continuum. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9781501336225?locatt=label:secondary_bloomsburyCollections.
David Sonnenschein (2001) Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice and Sound Effects in Cinema. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=6188352.
Nisbett, A. (2003) The sound studio: audio techniques for radio, television, film and recording. 7th ed. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/66000.
Banham, M. (1995) The Cambridge guide to theatre. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Bentley, E. (2008a) The theory of the modern stage: from Artaud to Zola, an introduction to modern theatre and drama. [New ed.]. London: Penguin. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/1095981.
Bentley, E. (2008b) The theory of the modern stage: from Artaud to Zola, an introduction to modern theatre and drama. [New ed.]. London: Penguin. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/1095981.
Cowgill, L.J. (2005) Writing short films: structure and content for screenwriters. 2nd ed. Los Angeles, CA: Lone Eagle Pub. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=739969.
Booker, C. (2004) The seven basic plots: why we tell stories. London: Continuum. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/571060.
Cooper, P. and Dancyger, K. (2004) Writing the short film. 3rd ed. Boston, Mass: Focal. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=232109.
Donald C Farber (2006) Producing theatre. New York: Limelight Editions.
Shore, A., Carfora, J.M. and SMRO. (2011) The art of funding and implementing ideas: a guide to proposal development and project management. London: SAGE. Available at: http://sk.sagepub.com/books/the-art-of-funding-and-implementing-ideas.
Mitchell, K. and Hytner, N. (2009) The directors craft?: a handbook for the theatre. London: Routledge. Available at: https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.4324/9780203889701.
Figgis, M. (2014) Digital filmmaking. Revised edition. New York: Faber and Faber. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=30270939.
Thompson, R. and Bowen, C.J. (1998) Grammar of the shot. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=421062.
Bordwell, D., Thompson, K. and Smith, J. (2019) Film Art: An Introduction. 12th edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/387523.
Bruce A. Bergner (30AD) The Poetics of Stage Space: The Theory and Process of Theatre Scene Design. McFarland & Co. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=576885.
Donnellan, D. (2005) The actor and the target. London: Nick Hern Books. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=1128729.
Edgar, D. (1999) Playwrights on playwriting. London: Faber.
Radosavljevic, D. and Palgrave Connect (Online service) Theatre and Performance 2013 (2013) Theatre-making: interplay between text and performance in the 21st century. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Available at: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9781137367884.
Thurlow, M. and Thurlow, C. (no date) Making short films: the complete guide from script to screen. Third edition. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/931714.
Thurlow, C. (2005) Making short films: the complete guide from script to screen. Oxford: Berg. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/931714.
Weston, J. (1996) Directing Actors. Seattle, WA: Michael Wiese Productions. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=6188351.
Mamet, D. (1992) On directing film. New York: Penguin.
Crispin Raymond (1998) Essential theatre. London: Arts Council of England.
Marshall, K. (1998) Theatre Management: A Successful Guide to Producing Plays on Commercial and Non-Profit Stages. Studio City, USA: Scarecrow Press.

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	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Creative Writing Scene	30%
Coursework	Short One Act Play	40%
Coursework	Log Book	30%

Additional coursework information

Assessment for this module is a combination of continuous assessment, critical evaluations and creative writing

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

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor:

Teaching staff:

Contact details:

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: No

Available to Outside Option: No

Available to Audit: No

Work based/related learning eligible for travel expenses: Travel costs for UK - based unpaid, approved work placements and live projects which are an integral part of a module may be covered by your department. (NB this will usually exclude field trips and site visits). Please check with your module supervisor to ensure that the activity is eligible.

External examiner

Name: Ms Rosalind Maddison

Institution: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Academic role: Head of Production

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: No lecture recording information available for this module.

Further information

Department website: East 15 Acting School

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Module Directory

EA140-4-FY-SO:Playwriting