The course presents an introduction to the basic understanding of technical and performance elements of theatre production. The course allows students to release their own creativity and imagination using a wide range of stimuli. A variety of creative games and exercises will be used to explore group trust and dynamics, communication, physicalisation of action, story building and technical design through role-play and improvisation. Taught in collaboration with the Performance Analysis course, Theatre Ensemble Production will present students with the opportunity to explore Classical, Elizabethan, Absurd and Modern plays through assuming either technical or performance roles in a final production.

This course aims to expose to students to the basis of vocal techniques. Students learn vocal anatomy, relaxation techniques, and a series of exercises designed to improve breath control, resonance, energy and vocal range. These skills will be applied to various standard English poets and modern playwrights.

This is a survey course that introduces students to the history of theatre and drama from both Western and non-western forms, and examines theatre from its earliest ritual beginnings to contemporary dramatic literature. This includes selected periods and styles, genres from the Greeks to the development of post-war century drama. This course involves extensive private reading with an emphasis on understanding the social, political, and cultural milieu of the writings of that time as well as an understanding of the elements of plays read.

This course enables students to study different methodologies of script analysis in order to develop creative skills in interpretation of plays. Analytical methods provide students with glimpses of plays, both modern and historical and underlying structural principles leading to deeper understanding of overall meaning. The course also provides students with common working vocabulary and techniques for facilitating communication of production ideas for the actor, director, designer and technician.

This course further develops students’ understanding and skills in the technical and performance elements of theatre. The course allows for further exploration of students’ creativity, with emphasis on Caribbean theatrical forms and practice. Taught in collaboration with the Caribbean Theatre course, Ensemble Theatre 2 presents students with the opportunity to explore Caribbean texts for script and character analysis for both performance and technical work. The course also introduces students to the use of film in theatre, both as an element in theatrical productions and for documentary purposes. Students present their work in a final production, using film and/or theatre techniques.

This course exposes the student to further work on articulation; understanding of phonemes; the techniques of inflection, exercises for syllabication. Students prepare voice for performance on stage. Students develop critical and analytical skills and the expressive voice through interpretive work on scenes, monologues and verse using classical and contemporary sources.

This course offers students an overview of the influences that shape Caribbean theatre. It makes special reference to conquest, colonisation and independence with an analysis of the classical, traditional, ritual, social realism, yard plays, calypso and carnival theatre forms and styles, as well as the modern Caribbean playwrights in the diaspora. Students will examine the socio-political context,the technical aspects of the regional theatre aesthetic and critically interpret at least one major work.

This course is designed to increase students’ capacity and versatility for movement that may be required in theatrical productions. It is designed to help theatre students develop an understanding of the actor's body-mind connection. The course aims to increase awareness, range, and freedom in the full physicality of the actor’s body as an instrument of artistic expression. Students explore the following basics: body awareness, strengthening and stretching, turning, partnership, and movement studies reflecting character. The course also draws on rudiments of Caribbean cultural forms to inform the integration of movement into theatre performances.

This course offers further exploration of sound and lighting. Students examine the basic aspects of lighting, including: electricity, colour theory, history and types of theatre lighting. Students are involved in hanging and focusing lights and crewing a production. In the course students will also explore some of the artistic and practical aspects of sound design and operation, including pre-show music and sound effects for the stage. Students are required to work collaboratively and make creative decisions regarding lighting and sound design. They will work under the supervision of a technical tutor to provide design, rigging and operation for a variety of Departmental in-house productions, such as Music Recitals, Community Drama, Musical Theatre and Performance Studies.

This course is divided into two sections and aims to introduce non-music majors to the fundamentals of music theory and music theatre performance. Technical students will be introduced to: pitch, duration, basic sight and ear training and performance.

Through assigned projects, students investigate costume as a vehicle of communication. They learn to identify the factors that define a look and analyse the synchronicity of fashion and theatre. The make-up component of this course will focus on communicating character to audience through make-up. Students will learn basics of stage-make-up, use of colour, and use of simple modelling materials; crepe hair and beginnings of special effects. Students will be required to apply makeup for a character and select appropriate costume for at least two characters in a production. Students must pass both components of costume and makeup.

This course is designed to help students develop a basic level of practical competence in stage design. The course encompasses all aspects of stage design, both technical and creative. Students will be required to analyse a text and conduct research, produce sketches, drawings, diagrams and a model set for the production. They will also be required to produce production budgets. Students must also design within various theatre spaces using materials and colours. Students will be required to work collaboratively on a design and the construction of at least one set for at least one production.

This is an introductory course in stage management techniques and their application to play and dance productions. Students gain a working knowledge of safety, rules, regulations, and the procedures to facilitate the smooth running of a production. Additionally they are taught effective back stage communication skills and techniques; the role of stage management personnel and the relationship between the stage management team and the design and production team. Students work on a stage management aspect of a production in a rehearsal and performance environment.

This course outlines the operational procedures for secondary schools, universities, community and professional theatre. It includes a consideration of organisation, personnel, budgeting, purchasing, accounting, ticket sales, publicity, audience development, house-management. Students will gain an understanding of artists’ rights, presentation of portfolio; intellectual property, royalties and copyright.

This course is an introduction to research in the arts. It is designed to expose students to the research tools which are relevant to the discipline while also allowing the students the opportunity to conduct a study in an area of personal interest in the arts. Using a practice-based approach, students are guided through the process of writing a research paper. It is expected that the knowledge and experience gained through this approach will encourage students to contribute to the growing number of publications in arts-based research.

This course is designed to expose students to the rigours of a full public performance of a full length play over a two/three day period. Students follow either the acting or technical component, demonstrating competence in acting or designing and stage managing as they apply the concepts and perform the skills acquired in the acting and technical courses. Both acting and design students are assessed through continuous assessment and by external examiners. All students are involved in two productions.

This course provides further study of the use of the body as a performance instrument. Students are given opportunities to consolidate first year courses. Dance improvisation, dance making, solo performances, mime as well as advanced scene work are explored by examining a number of performance techniques and acting theories. Alternative acting techniques and theories are investigated through a final full-length in-house production.

This course is designed to introduce non-music majors to the fundamentals of musical theatre performance. The students will be taught the basic elements of singing and how to combine these techniques with the principles of acting and movement. Additionally, students will be exposed to the collaborative work of a musical director and choreographer and expected to demonstrate their ability to follow these dual directives. The course culminates in an in-house production in which students demonstrate their ability to combine acting, singing and movement in a twenty to thirty minute production.

This course is designed to survey a sample of the applications of theatre in non-conventional contexts. Through its delivery, students examine the work of relevant practitioners and applied theatre companies, as well as consider the ethical implications of this form of theatre. Students choose, facilitate and research a specific mode of applied theatre, and present their findings within a theatrical context.

This course builds on the previous courses and focuses on strengthening the actors’ breath and the techniques needed to sustain a prolonged performance. The course is expected to support those acting students doing Portfolio Theatre.