THTR20021: Shakespeare in Performance

1x1000 word Short Essay/ Passage Analysis; 1x10 minute performance in tutes with 1000 word write-up; 1x2000 word Research Essay

I'll try and go through this systematically so this isn't just an extended gushing rant about how wonderful this subject is:

Texts/Readings:
The workload was more than manageable. Chances are you've studied Macbeth or Hamlet before anyway, and if you haven't, this LMS for this subject gives you access to all the BBC performances, alongside a program that scrolls through the text while you're watching (as well as basically every other known Shakespeare adaptation in existence!) Even if you're familiar with the plays, this is probably recommended since this isn't a standard 'here's a book, write what you think' kind of subject. How things are performed is really central to a lot of the lectures, and tutorial discussions, so knowing what the standard BBC version gives you a good starting point for the plethora of other adaptations.

Films:
^And I do mean plethora. For each text we would have discussed at least three different adaptations ranging from the bizarre (Macbeth set in gangland Melbourne) to the sardonic (Taming of the Shrew in the London political sphere) to the grotesque (literally any version of Titus Andronicus.)
You can get by without watching all of them, of course, though whichever texts you're planning on using for assessment, the more alternate views and performative choices you can discuss, the better.

Assessment:
This was what almost put me off this subject at the start of the year; I'm fine with essays, but I am so not a 'theatre-kid.' I have no performance background at all, and I really don't enjoy acting. The tutors were quick to allay fears during the first week, telling us we weren't actually required to perform if we didn't want to; you could join a group and just be a 'backstage' light/sound operator, or the brains behind the operation. Furthermore, you aren't at all judged on your acting abilities, the task is simply an exercise in performance decisions.
There's a lot of freedom here: you can chose any scene in any text, and you're even free to modify, modernise and mutilate the text as you see fit. The actual performance environment is pretty casual, just an open studio room where tutes are held, and everyone was always really supportive.
Being a Theatre Studies subject, it does of course attract some skilled thespians who put many of us to shame, but this subject is more about the thought that goes into the performance than the way it is performed. (Hell, I got a H1 on that section and I was far from the most talented actor in the room.)
After the performance you're asked to explain some of the choices you made, for instance, dialogue, positioning, costuming, sound, modifications to the original text, etc. and then by next week you have to do a 1000 word write up of this process. It's not a formal essay, and following the set formula of subtitles and prompts is pretty easy.
The other assessment is fairly straightforward; just regular English essays with a bigger emphasis on how a text might be performed

Tutorials:
Again, I was a bit worried this would consist of a bunch of drama exercises involving finding your spirit animal or passing energy around a circle, but there was none of that. We had the occasional performative or reading exercise, but you could usually opt out or just let others havev their time in the spotlight. Even then, I found myself enjoying a lot of the tasks anyway since it was more about the intent than the delivery.
Tutors are very open to ideas as well, so if you're in a group that would prefer some more performative sessions or more discussions of the readings then they're always willing to work these into the lesson plan where possible. Both tutors (from what I heard, but I can defintely confirm this for mine) were approachable when it came to content/assessment-related questions, and frequently opened up additional office hours when assessment was due.

Lectures/Co-ordination:
I saved the best for last. Most people who've taken a first year English subject will know David McInnis. He's widely regarded as one of the best lecturers in the department, and you can tell this is his pet subject. These lectures were the highlight of my week and I often wished they were more frequent. I feel like David probably knows more about Shakespeare than Shakespeare himself did. Although each lecture centred on a certain text, the breadth of concepts and criticism was incredible, and there was just the right balance between information on slides and additional verbal stuff.
He's also the subject co-ordinator and the whole thing was run just as well as his lectures. Everything was clearly set-out, the LMS page wasn't nearly as messy as my other English subjects, and the sheer amount of resources and help available was staggeringly good.

Overall I'd say this is an incredibly fun subject, definitely geared at the English-inclined, but don't be put off by the theatre-studies elements.

Now here's a bunch of amusing images from the lectures to win you over:

Yes, though occasionally some of the videos were under copyright, so weren't included in the lecture capture.

Dr. David McInnis

No exam.

6 Out of 5... yes I can do that... shut up, this is English, not maths.

No textbook, subject reader is a must. The handbook specifies Oxford editions for all the texts but this isn't necessary.
Texts studied are: (in order)
-The Taming of the Shrew
-Titus Andronicus
-Midsummer Night's Dream
-Hamlet
-Macbeth
-The Tempest

1x1.5 hour lecture (usually closer to 70 mins) and 1x1 hour tute

2014, Semester 2

H1