Study-unit Aims

The study-unit provides first year students with an informed conception of Theatre Studies as an academic disciple at tertiary level – a conception that is emergent from different voices, perspectives, and methodologies that combine the practice, history, and theory of theatre with a special focus on the contemporary situation. The study-unit applies the interdisciplinary approach of Performance Studies as a tool with which to analyse various forms of performing arts, in particular theatre and performance art. Furthermore, the study-unit equips students with the necessary skills to conduct and present basic research in an appropriate manner that follows academic conventions.

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. develop and apply informed concepts of theatre and performance studies introduced in Semester 1;
2. understand and apply basic methodologies appropriate to theatre and performance writing, critiquing, and reviewing; locate the practical aspect of theatre-making within its application in the professional world;
3. apply concrete and pragmatic tools and approaches – including interdisciplinary – in the analysis of performance events and of human behaviour ‘as’ performance;
4. draw conceptual and pragmatic links with the other history and practice study-units in their first year of study.

Learning Outcomes: Skills

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. work autonomously on individual writing tasks that follow a prescribed style and set of conventions;
2. negotiate group-work dynamics within collective written and practical presentations;
3. demonstrate knowledge and awareness of various theatre and performance venues in Malta;
4. develop contacts with practitioners in the Maltese performing arts industry;
5. apply a set of sophisticated critical skills in analysing cultural events.