[This is a certified Communication-intensive (CI) Course which meets all of the requirements endorsed by HKU’s Senate, including (i) the teaching assessment of oral and digital communication ‘literacies’; and (ii) at least 40% of the course grade assigned to communication-rich assessment tasks.]

Course Description

This course is suitable for students who like to enjoy themselves, be creative, are willing to work hard and collaborate with others and perform in front of an audience. Course participants will learn about the theory and practice of drama-making and will consider the following issues: What is drama? What, briefly, are its histories and current forms? What is necessary for drama to take place? What is entailed in the creation of drama? What does drama tell us about the human condition?

‘Drama’ will, in this course, not consist of a series of texts for study, but will be taught primarily as a series of inter-related activities in which all students can hone performance skills, critically analyze the theoretical concepts underpinning these skills, and then select, rehearse and perform a traditional tale in front of an audience. The performance produced at the end of the course will be that which takes the voice and body and a story to tell as the starting points for drama.

[The 2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial will be held back to back each week on Wednesday.]

Course Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

1. Describe, explain and evaluate theoretical perspectives related to drama and practical performance techniques.
2. Select the most appropriate theoretical perspectives and practical performance techniques for inclusion in their own drama performance.
3. Work collaboratively to prepare for staging a performance for a live audience and constructively critique their own and other’s work.
4. Stage a 15 minute performance for a live audience.
5. Reflect on the collaborative and creative process in drama-making and performance, as well as the audience’s responses to the drama.

Offer Semester and Day of Teaching

Second semester (Wed)

Study Load

Assessment: 100% coursework

Required Reading

• Mangan, M. (2013). The handbook of performance, theatre and drama. London: Routledge. [Chaps. 1, 2, 3, 8]
• Neelands, J., & Goode, T. (2000). Structuring drama work (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [Chaps. 2, 3, 4]
• Pickering, K. (2010). Key concepts in drama and performance (2nd ed.). London: Palgrave. [Chaps. 1, 2, 3]
• Winston, J., & Tandy, M. (2001). Beginning Drama with Games. In J. Winston & M. Tandy (Eds.), Beginning Drama 4-11 (2nd ed.) (pp. 1-17). London: Ablex.

Recommended Reading

• Chan, P. Y. -L. (2009). In their own words: How do students relate drama pedagogy to their learning in curricular subjects? Research in drama education, 14(2), 191-209.
• Nicolson, H. (2005). Applied drama. London: Palgrave. [Chaps. 2, 3]
• Wright, P. (1999, September). The thought of doing drama scares me to death. Research in drama education, 4(2), 227-239. Abingdon: Carfax.

Recommended Website

• The Journal of Drama and Theatre Education in Asia

Course Co-ordinator and Teacher(s)