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This is the second in a series of modules designed to introduce you to the fundamentals of acting theory and provide practical workshop sessions for exploring the application of theory in varied contexts. While the actual texts and settings will be focused slightly differently in each of the modules, the work will always concentrate on the relationship between acting and psychology, acting and emotion, acting and character, acting and cognitive processes, and the many ways in which traditional theories of acting have responded to the question of how actors prepare and perform. Techniques for inspiring imagination and play will be at the heart of the work, and you will be developing the first steps toward creating acting that is engaging, believable and sustainable in varying contexts. The workshops will focus on collaborative exploration, and on learning from both doing and evaluating. You will learn to work with fellow students and on your own to develop complex, believable short scenes that will test your imagination and creativity. You will gain knowledge of some key approaches to acting in both live and recorded media, and develop the ability to think critically about the ways in which acting theory has developed over the last century.
You will begin to learn how to integrate your acting, voice and movement work, starting each day dedicated to the module with a physical warm up focusing on the voice or body. You will learn specific warm-up skills that you can apply on your own, and you will learn to lead the team in physical, vocal and imaginative exercises.
You will build on your knowledge of acting theory through practical exercises and classes – particularly the works of Stanislavski, and Michael Chekhov, as you learn to approach, prepare and create engaging, complex and believable acting, using the texts of playwrights such as A. Chekhov, Gorky, Ibsen and others.

You will work on discovering and communicating psychological depth in your acting work, understanding the physical and cultural life of the plays, as well as creating a sustainable thought process in increasingly longer and more complex scenes. Work in strengthening and refining physical and vocal technique will happen alongside work on scenes. The compilation of a visual and musical ‘character study’ portfolio an annotated bibliography of research will underpin your performance work. The module will culminate in a final assessed showing.

LO1: Apply knowledge of various acting theories and techniques, particularly in bringing to life psychological realism and Naturalist works.
LO2: Demonstrate techniques for engaging imagination - both your own and that of others.
LO3: Understand how to exploit dramatic conflict to communicate elements of character, emotion, and narrative to an audience.
LO4: Work with fellow students to explore, understand and communicate in rehearsal and performance LO5: Demonstrate enhanced observational and analytical skills, particularly in conveying complex psychological character response.