Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

Pre-requisite SEL1000 is for QW38 students only.
All students should have taken SEL2215 OR SEL1031, though students who do not have these pre-requisites may apply to the Module Leader.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

Exploration of students own individual and unique voices in the context of writing for the contemporary theatrical stage. Specifically:

1. Development of the craft skills of writing for theatre e.g. plot, setting, scene development, dialogue, pace, etc.
2. Development of critical skills in watching, reading and writing about contemporary theatre.
3. Experience in drafting and revising in response to a range of feedback and reading.

Outline Of Syllabus

Students will attend seminars which will focus on the drafting process and may include reading and discussing student work.

Students will have discursive workshop/lectures, contemporary plays will be discussed and craft exercises undertaken.

Students will watch plays (in person or online) and attend a cross-module discussion group, Play Club in order to present on and discuss what they have watched.

There will also be individual and pair tutorials to be scheduled during the semester by teaching staff, during which each student will present a short extract of their own writing for constructive criticism from their tutor, or submission plans may be discussed.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

1. The students will acquire a familiarity with the basic craft elements of writing for contemporary theatre.
2. The students will also acquire some insight into the landscape of contemporary theatre and be able to situate their own writing within that landscape.
3. The students will understand how a script will change through drafting and feedback.

Intended Skill Outcomes

1. The ability to create and develop script for theatre.
2. The ability to respond as a writer to watching and reading contemporary plays.
3. The ability to assess and reflect upon their own creative work with constructive rigour in workshop, tutorial and in their self reflective writing.
4. The ability to build on and develop work already underway and engage in the process of editing and revision.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The seminar enables the general principles of the course to be applied through craft exercises and reading and responding to viewing of contemporary plays.

Lecture/Workshops and tutorials focus the student’s attention on the process of writing for the stage, and specifically on the unique qualities of their own work which they develop through drafting during Guided Independent Study.

Viewing and discussion of plays ensures students understand the performance context of their work.

Professional visiting speakers will be invited, where possible, to enhance learning and diversity of teaching.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Students will submit a short self contained script (amounting to no more than 2000 words) for the stage and an accompanying 300 word synopsis of the same.

A critical essay of 1500 words will also be submitted. In this students should discuss their drafting process, and their principles of selection. They should also discuss craft and plays that they have seen and read in this context. They must include a bibliography as part of this module.

The submission of creative work allows students to develop the range of skills and knowledge associated with the course. The accompanying essay enables to student reflect critically upon their own creative processes, and to relate these to contemporary theatre.

General Notes

N/A