Overview
In this unit, you will explore classical methods of acting including the commedia dell'arte (a form of theatre characterised by masked 'types') and the Elizabethan theatre (a style of theatre in England from the mid 1500's until the mid 1600's). Commedia dell'arte is studied in a practical and applied fashion giving you the opportunity to adopt the various personas associated with commedia. You will also explore the work and theatrical world of the Elizabethan theatre such as the works of William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe and Ben Johnson. You will explore the plays both as scripts and as literary works and investigate Elizabethan theatre conventions as the precursors to our own. You will also undertake a course in the technical aspects of theatre such as lighting and sound and participate in an open theatrical performance.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2018
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Surveys
Students were very happy with the course and the structure of the unit.
Maintain the current course structure and teaching staff.
- Contextualise and perform using classical acting techniques
- Use technical aspects of theatre including stage lighting, sound, and stage management to design a scene
- Perform in a university production.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 25% | |||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 25% | |||
| 3 - Presentation - 10% | |||
| 4 - Performance - 40% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 25% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 25% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Presentation - 10% | ||||||||||
| 4 - Performance - 40% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
Textbooks for this Unit are not compulsory. Relevant readings will be provided to students through the Moodle Page.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
r.doran@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Commedia dell'arte: history, form and modern applications.
Introduction to Elizabethan Theatre: history, conventions and major playwrights.
Applied voice development.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Exploration of Commedia scenarios and performance components: lazzi, burle and movement techniques.
Reading and analysis of selected plays by Shakespeare.
Applied analysis of literary devices in Shakespearean texts.
Applied voice development
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Exploration of Commedia scenarios and performance components: lazzi, burle and movement techniques.
Reading and analysis of selected plays by Shakespeare.
Applied analysis of literary devices in Shakespearean texts.
Applied voice development
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Exploration of Commedia scenarios and performance components: lazzi, burle and movement techniques.
Reading and analysis of selected plays by Shakespeare.
Applied analysis of literary devices in Shakespearean texts.
Applied voice development
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Exploration of Commedia mask and stock characters.
Allocation and rehearsal of scenarios and mask characters for Practical Assessment 1: Commedia scenarios
Allocation, script analysis and rehearsal of selected scenes for Practical Assessment 2: scenes by Shakespeare.
Applied voice development
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Rehearsal and development for Practical Assessment 1: Commedia scenario
Rehearsal and development for Practical Assessment 2: scene by Shakespeare.
Design and development of Assessment 3: Presentation.
Applied voice development
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Rehearsal and development for Practical Assessment 1: Commedia scenario
Rehearsal and development for Practical Assessment 2: scene by Shakespeare.
Rehearsal and development of Assessment 3: Presentation.
Applied voice development
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Practical Assessment 1: In Studio performance of a rehearsed Commedia scenario.
Practical Assessment: Commedia scenario Due: Week 7 Friday (31 Aug 2018) 12:30 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Rehearsal and development for Practical Assessment 2: scene by Shakespeare.
Rehearsal and development of Assessment 3: Presentation.
Applied voice development
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Practical Assessment 2: In Studio performance of a scene by Shakespeare.
Practical Assessment: Play a scene by Shakespeare Due: Week 8 Friday (7 Sept 2018) 12:30 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Rehearsal and development of Assessment 3: Presentation.
Rehearsal and development of Assessment 4: Production 2.
Applied voice development.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 3: Presentation.
Presentation Due: Week 9 Friday (14 Sept 2018) 12:30 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Rehearsal and development of Assessment 4: Production 2.
Applied voice development.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Rehearsal and development of Assessment 4: Production 2.
Applied voice development.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Rehearsal and development of Assessment 4: Production 2.
Applied voice development.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Rehearsal and development of Assessment 4: Production 2.
Applied voice development.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 4:
Production 2 - End of Term Production
Friday the 12th of October
Production 2 Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (8 Oct 2018) 7:00 pm AEST
1 Practical Assessment
Students are to work in small groups (of 3 to 4 performers) to devise, rehearse and present a Commedia dell'arte scenario using stock mask characters and application of rehearsed and directed lazzi and burle techniques. Scenarios should be 5 - 7 minutes long and allow all participants to demonstrate applied Commedia technique. Performances should include applied voice, movement and stagecraft skills as rehearsed and directed. Students will be allocated time in studio for rehearsal with direction and feedback, and are expected to undertake additional unsupervised rehearsals to prepare the scenario to a performance ready state.
Week 7 Friday (31 Aug 2018) 12:30 pm AEST
In studio performance assessment.
Week 9 Monday (10 Sept 2018)
Assessment Marks and Feedback Rubric will be made available on Moodle.
Students will be individually assessed on:
- Applied voice in performance, applied stage craft, and evidence of adequate rehearsal and preparation (15%)
- Ability to follow and apply given direction (15%)
- Evidence of individual contribution and participation in the scenario (15%)
- Demonstrated ability to work within an ensemble (15%)
- Demonstrated applied understanding of Commedia dell'arte conventions (40%)
- Contextualise and perform using classical acting techniques
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
2 Practical Assessment
Students are to work in small groups (of 2 to 4 performers) to rehearse and present a given scene from a selected play by Shakespeare. Scenes should be between 4 to 7 minutes in length and allow each participant to demonstrate applied Shakespearean conventions and technique in delivery of the performance. Performances should include applied voice, movement and stagecraft skills as rehearsed and directed in relation to the style and conventions of Elizabethan theatre. Students will be allocated time in studio for rehearsal with direction and feedback, and are expected to undertake additional unsupervised rehearsals to prepare the scenario to a performance ready state.
Week 8 Friday (7 Sept 2018) 12:30 pm AEST
In studio performance assessment.
Week 10 Friday (21 Sept 2018)
Assessment Marks and Feedback Rubric will be made available on Moodle.
Students will be individually assessed on:
- Applied voice in performance, applied stage craft, and evidence of adequate rehearsal and preparation (15%)
- Ability to follow and apply given direction (15%)
- Evidence of individual contribution and participation in the scenario (15%)
- Demonstrated ability to work within an ensemble (15%)
- Demonstrated applied understanding of Elizabethan theatre performance conventions and literary techniques. (40%)
- Use technical aspects of theatre including stage lighting, sound, and stage management to design a scene
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
3 Presentation
As a group, students will develop a live performance presentation, up to 10 minutes in length, utilising Commedia dell'arte techniques, conventions and stock mask characters, to educate and inform the viewer of the historical context and conventions of Elizabethan Theatre, including a summary introduction into the life and work of Shakespeare.
Week 9 Friday (14 Sept 2018) 12:30 pm AEST
In studio performance assessment.
Week 11 Friday (28 Sept 2018)
Assessment Marks and Feedback Rubric will be made available on Moodle.
Students will be individually assessed on:
- Evidence of applied stage craft and adequate rehearsal and development (15%)
- Applied voice in performance (15%)
- Ability to follow and apply given direction (15%)
- Evidence of equal participation the presentation and ability to work within an ensemble (15%)
- Applied understanding of Commedia conventions, used to inform and explain Elizabethan Theatre (40%)
- Contextualise and perform using classical acting techniques
- Use technical aspects of theatre including stage lighting, sound, and stage management to design a scene
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
4 Performance
Students will participate in a University production. The production will include component elements from Practical Assessment 1 (Commedia scenario), Practical Assessment 2 (A scene by Shakespeare), and Presentation Assessment 3 (an applied use of Commedia conventions to explain Elizabethan Theatre).
Review/Exam Week Monday (8 Oct 2018) 7:00 pm AEST
University production to an invited public audience.
Exam Week Friday (19 Oct 2018)
Assessment Marks and Feedback Rubric will be made available via Moodle.
Students will be assessed on:
- Evidence of applied stage craft, voice in performance, and ability to follow given direction (20%)
- Ability to meet all technical and dress rehearsal requirements; including call times, responsibility for personal props and costumes, and working constructively with all crew including production technicians, operators, stage manager and director. (20%)
- Demonstrated understanding of applied Commedia dell'arte scenario techniques as directed. (30%)
- Demonstrated understanding of applied Elizabethan performance conventions as directed. (30%)
- Perform in a university production.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
