Theatre in London Now: Theories

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 5
• Convenor: Dr Molly Flynn
• Assessment: coursework of 2000 words (40%) and 3000 words (60%)

This is a research-led module based on your study of five set performances taking place in London now. It builds on the knowledge and skills you developed in Theatre in London Now: Histories regarding the social and historical contexts of theatrical production and reception. In this module, you turn your attention to the insights you can garner through applying a range of critical concepts to a set of live and digitised performance works, including but not limited to genre, politics, performativity, liveness and authorship.

Indicative syllabus

• Introduction to theatre and performance theory
• Naturalism
• Avant-garde
• Political theatre
• Utopia and theatricality
• The ontology of performance
• Re-enactment and liveness
• Performativity and gender
• Race and representation

By the end of this module, you will:

• be familiar with some of the major debates in theatre and performance theory of the modern and contemporary periods
• understand the relationship between theatre and performance theories, practices and their historical contexts
• be able to apply theoretical concepts to different examples of theatre and performance practice
• be able to critically analyse live performance works
• demonstrate skills of independent research, critical reflection and writing.