Contemporary Performance Practices

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Contemporary Performance Practices

Overview

An interdisciplinary taught programme that combines performance practice with imaginative and rigorous critical engagement.

Summary

This innovative postgraduate programme combines cutting edge contemporary performance practice with rigorous thinking. Students explore examples of contemporary performance in an atmosphere of rigorous and imaginative academic inquiry. Students also make their own performances in response to research questions that emerge from their artistic and scholarly work.

In addition to the core modules, students engage with the professional landscape through seminars with visiting practitioners and through placements; and may opt to study playwriting and dramaturgy with a professional dramaturge.

About

The design of the course incorporates knowledge and understanding of the subject with subject-specific, intellectual, practical and transferable skills. The course structure is designed to equip students with an integrated, interdisciplinary perspective on the nature and scope of contemporary performance practice within the creative industries and the skills necessary to put that perspective into practice.

With this in mind, the course is designed to provide students with appropriate progression in terms of depth of study and to offer them an equitable range and balance of core and option courses in each semester of their degree.

Work placement / study abroad

The module DRA705 includes both an exploration of the professional landscape, and a placement with a professional arts organisation.

The placement is negotiable in length but must include an element of consultancy: i.e., the student must have a specific set of responsibilities and a task to be completed. This might include surveys of audience base; development of marketing or social media presence; identification of funding sources; management of a time-limited project, or other.

The student will negotiate the placement with the module coordinator and the management of the arts organisation.

Teaching and learning assessment

Learning and Teaching Methodsinclude lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, work-based learning and independent study.

Assessment Methods include essays, presentations, performances, assessed workshops, practical presentations, and viva voces.

Students may often negotiate the title and form of the assessment.

Entry requirements

Applicants must normally have gained a second class honours degree or better, and provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent).

In exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, and a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route.

For more information, contact the Course Director.

English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Exemptions and transferability

Studies pursued and examinations passed in respect of other qualifications awarded by the University or by another university or other educational institution, or evidence from the accreditation of prior experiential learning, may be accepted as exempting candidates from part of the programme provided that

(a) they shall register as students of the University for modules amounting to at least the final third of the credit value of the award at the highest level.

(b) no exemption shall be permitted from the Independent Project

Duration

Attendance

Full-time: three semesters (one calendar year in total).

This will normally be timetabled as one contact day per week full-time (normally Wednesdays), with an expectation that students will work individually and in collaboration in the preparation of work on the campus or other suitable venues and locations.