Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

When a work that has undergone creative development moves into production, a whole new set of challenges, imperatives and creative ethos come into play. Understanding and managing this complex transition is a vital skill for the emerging collaborative ensemble. This 3rd year capstone unit prepares you for entry into the performance/education industry and/or postgraduate study by building upon skills and knowledge from KTB105 Production 1, KTB205 Production 2 and KTB303 Production 3.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to provide you with the opportunity to apply the methodologies needed to take a project from proof of concept stage (Work in Progress) to fully realised public production.

Objectives

On completion of the unit you should be able to:
1. Critique effectiveness to work in a self-reliant way whilst engaging in teamwork practices, leadership and entrepreneurship.
2. Employ performance-making processes drawing upon an enhanced understanding of appropriate performance styles and content within a collaborative environment.
3. Produce a collaborative performance from proof of concept stage to fully realised performance to industry readiness.

Content

This unit gives you practical experience in the development of a performance under the mentorship of drama staff members and industry professionals. This process includes industry standard rehearsal models referenced to recognised national and international processes. To realise the performance, group members will draw upon each other's repertoire of skills and practice as well as collaborate with associated creatives such as stage managers, lighting designers/operators, sound designers/operators and audio-visual designers/operators. The process will culminate in a season of performances.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

You will work in medium to small groups, each under a drama staff member and/or industry professionals. You will engage in both directed and autonomous rehearsals, culminating in a short season of performance works. These performances will give you the opportunity to test your work against immediate audience responses and industry critique.

The unit requires you to work in a self-reliant way through the application of skills and techniques related to performance-making processes and outcomes including critical, creative and analytical thinking and effective problem solving in a professional context.

There will be opportunities for close contact with, and feedback from, the drama staff and industry mentors. There is an emphasis in this unit on your individual learning responsibilities, both to yourself and to the group. Attention and commitment is expected to the whole process of mounting a production, and the actual on-stage acting outcome is only part of what 'performance' implies.

You will participate as performers in the productions, and will take on front-of-house responsibilities during the season.

Assessment

Assessment will be practically orientated with students undertaking the creation of a polished performance to industry standard in small groups, based upon similar areas of interest in performance form and content. The culminating performance season will evaluated by industry professionals.Students will have access to both drama staff members and/or industry professionals throughout the unit. Drama staff members will be assigned to each of the performance making groups to feedback to students the rehearsal process and performance season for both assessment items. Comprehensive written and oral feedback will be provided to individuals and groups upon request.

Assessment name: Reflective Journal
Description: (Summative) A reflective journal is a personal record of your learning experiences. This written statement asks you to reflect in action (while doing something). Your reflections will be anchored around a sequence of pre-determined questions. The reflective journal will be undertaken consistently during the rehearsal process and should be an honest appraisal of your contribution to the performance project to date written in first person.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Performance
Description: (Summative) Your group's performance will be assessed by unit staff and industry professionals. You are required to fulfill your role in all shows during the season. These include performances on some evenings and weekends, and you are required to re-arrange prior commitments (eg work) in order to fulfil this obligation. The expectations that Drama staff will have of you as you enter the Performance Season are fully described in the document Performance Protocol published on the KTB313 Blackboard site. Consideration of your group's rehearsal practices will also be taken into account for the purposes of assessment.
Relates to objectives: 2, 3
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: End of Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

The readings as deemed appropriate by the unit co-ordinator and performance facilitators will be available on the KTB313 Blackboard site under the Course Materials Database.

Risk assessment statement

As all performance-makers understand, creating a performance potentially carries with it certain physical and/or emotional risks, both in the rehearsal room and in the theatre. Indeed taking risks is an integral component of the art form's processes. Some rehearsal warm ups and exercises, and some performance events may include physically or emotionally strenuous activities. Managing this risk to ensure working conditions are safe, is always a high priority in the production process. It is therefore extremely important that if you are aware of personal physical or emotional vulnerabilities that make you feel unsafe or at risk in any way, you should immediately inform your tutor or director or stage manager, so that your situation can be evaluated and appropriate rectifying action can be taken.

Theatres and other performance spaces are also potentially dangerous places, particularly backstage during performances when lowlight conditions prevail. You will be warned by the stage manager, the production manager or the director of any specific risks that you will need to be aware of, when your project team first moves in to the theatre. Whenever moving into a new performance space, you should always conduct your own risk assessment, and notify your team or director of any hazards you have personally identified.

Every effort is made by Drama staff at QUT to ensure that you work in a safe environment. Conversely you are absolutely expected to follow all safety rules, procedures and directions, and to ensure that you do not put at risk the safety of others, or yourself, or of the highest artistic fulfilment of the project in any way.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 27-Mar-2013