This module will extend and deepen your knowledge of acting theory and provide practical workshop sessions for exploring the application of theory to contemporary dramatic works. In collaborative settings, you will continue your work toward finding freedom and ease of expression, both vocal and physical. You will continue exploring 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, particularly in the mid- to late 20th century. Techniques for inspiring imagination and play will remain at the heart of the work, and you will be extending your ability to create 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 in groups and on your own to develop complex, believable scenes from the canon of contemorary drama that will test your imagination and creativity. This module runs alongside and complements CLP08103, Modern Drama.You will continue to integrate your acting, voice and movement work, continuing to develop physical and vocal freedom within the acting work. You will analyse, rehearse and present a number of excerpts from plays by authors such as Beckett, O'Casey, O'Neill, Williams, Pinter, Shaffer, Shepard, Stoppard, Friel, Greig and Soyinka, Ionesco and Brecht. You will be considering acting theory from a 20th century perspective, looking closely at the work of Uta Hagen, Stella Adler, Sandford Meisner, and others. An annotated bibliography of research into acting theory of the last half of the 20th century will underpin your practical work. The module will culminate in a final assessed showing of two scenes.