EA155-4-FY-SO:
Specialised Performance Skills
2015/16
East 15 Acting School
Southend Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
15
14 January 2008
Requisites for this module
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BA W412 Acting and Stage Combat
These units look at increasing your range of skills, while instilling the principles that will be taught in EA154 Performance Skills I. By concentrating on more specific disciplines, you will gain skills that will be called upon in performance, extend your range as a performer, and introduce alternative styles of approaching character or a rehearsal situation. These units provide the building blocks for further specialist skills and performances that you will encounter as you progress through the Foundation degree.
Terms One, Two and Three - Singing
At East 15 singing is a crucial part of the actor training programme. By the end of this unit the successful student will be able to progress with an adequate knowledge of vocal technique, an ability to begin the control of nerves in performance, and a sense of the combinatory nature of singing, music, movement, voice and acting, as exemplified in the song presentations in which he/she will have participated. The student will also have begun to understand the individual characteristics of his/her own voice, and the appropriate care needed to maintain it.
Term Two - Commedia del'Arte
This unit is designed to enhance a variety of the students' skills, including physical, imagination, and improvisation. The style reflects a boisterous type of theatre during the Italian Renaissance, in which the actors improvised the dialogue as they went along. The commedia script consisted only of a scenario and stock characters - and the main interest lay in the comic characters. The unit will help you progress in both movement skills and character development. While the style differs from other forms of acting that are taught at Year One - there is still the underlying principle that you must truthfully commit to the requirements of their character and imaginary situation.
Term Three - Devised Performance Project
This final project will call upon the skills developed during the first year of training. Each student will adopt the personality of a character from a set period in history. A scenario is devised that will enable all 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 process will call upon the ability to develop and sustain a character over extended periods.
The script and structure of the final performance will be devised by the group. The focus of the performance will be on the creation of believable, truthful characters and a focused storyline. The performance can take a number of forms - but will be created so that the student actors will have to go through the process of recreating moments of from the extended improvisation.
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No additional information available.
Practical Classes, Presentations, Tutorials, Independent Study, Research, Rehearsals
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Practical |
Singing |
|
50% |
| Practical |
Commedia |
|
30% |
| Practical |
Devised Performance Project |
|
20% |
Additional coursework information
Compliance with Professional Code of Conduct
The overall pass mark for the module is 40. Students must pass this module in order to proceed to the next year
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
Nick Hall, Chris Main, specialist tutors
For further information please email halln@essex.ac.uk
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No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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