Theatre History & Theory (9719.6)
| Available teaching periods | Delivery mode | Location |
|---|---|---|
| View teaching periods | On-campus |
South Bank, QLD |
| EFTSL | Credit points | Faculty |
| 0.125 | 3 | Faculty Of Arts And Design |
| Discipline | Study level | HECS Bands |
| School Of Arts & Communication | Level 1 - Undergraduate Introductory Unit | Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021) Band 2 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021) |
Students will be provided with an overview of important historical eras, playwrights, and acting styles through play scripts, historical documents, archival footage and practical engagement with texts.
The unit also aims to develop students' individual skills for critiquing and analysing dramatic texts, productions and relevant performance theories.
This subject focusses on developing communication skills in academic and creative contexts.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:1. Identify the theatre practices and writing of various historical eras, and place them within their social political and historical contexts;
2. Identify and evaluate historical genres and theatrical techniques and compare them to contemporary theatre practices;
3. Critically examine and evaluate play-texts, productions, reviews and theoretical writings for the purposes of engaging in performance at an introductory level; and
4. Apply communication skills in an academic/creative context.
Graduate attributes
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
Prerequisites
NoneCorequisites
None.Incompatible units
NoneEquivalent units
NoneAssumed knowledge
None.| Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | South Bank, QLD | Semester 2 | 10 August 2026 | On-campus | Mr Anatoly Frusin |
| 2027 | South Bank, QLD | Semester 2 | 09 August 2027 | On-campus | Mr Anatoly Frusin |
Required texts
Required Text:
Nellhaus, T. (Ed.). (2016). Theatre histories: An introduction (3rd ed.). Routledge.
NB. It must be this 3rd Edition
Recommended Texts:
Cole, T., & Chinoy, H. K. (Eds.). (1970). Actors on acting: The theories, techniques, and practices of the world's great actors, told in their own words. Crown Publishers, Inc.
Gale, M. B., & Deeney, J. F. (Eds.). (2010). The Routledge drama anthology and sourcebook: From modernism to contemporary performance (2nd ed.). London and New York: Routledge.
Nagler, A. M. (1952). A source Book in theatrical history. Dover Publications.
Nicol, A. (1976). World drama. Barnes & Noble.
Rudlin, J. (1994). Commedia dell'arte: An actor's handbook. Routledge
Extra readings:
Beard, M., & Henderson, J. (1995). The Classics. Sterling.
Forbes, B. (1980). That despicable race: A history of the British acting tradition. Elm Tree Books.
Garfein H., & Gordon, M. (1978). The Adriani lazzi of the commedia dell'arte. The Drama Review: Italian Theatre Issue, 22(1), 3-12.
Mudrooroo. (1997). The indigenous literature of Australia: Milli milli wangka. Hyland House.
Pascoe, J. (2014). The Sarah Siddons audio files: Romanticism and the lost voice. The University of Michigan Press.
Tatsumi Hijikata. (2002). Man, once dead, crawl back! In M. Huxley & N. Witts (Eds). The Twentieth-Century performance reader (2nd ed., pp. 225-228). Routledge.
Vineberg, S. (1991). Method actors: Three generations of an American acting style. Schirmer Books.
Submission of assessment items
Extensions & Late submissions
Artificial intelligence
Students are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in assessments for this unit.
GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:
the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.
Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.
The GenAI for Students Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.
Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.
Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.
UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).
UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.
Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.
Participation requirements
Attendece at all classes is essential as in-class videos and discussions will not be available online.
Required IT skills
Students must be familiar with the LMS Cavas as they will be required to download all lecture notes and readings and submit assessment tasks.
Work placement, internships or practicums
N/A
- Semester 2, 2025, On-campus, UC - TAFE Queensland, South Bank (226722)
- Semester 2, 2024, On-campus, UC - TAFE Queensland, South Bank (220011)
- Semester 2, 2023, On-campus, UC - TAFE Queensland, South Bank (214583)
- Semester 2, 2022, On-campus, UC - TAFE Queensland, South Bank (207983)
- Semester 2, 2021, On-campus, UC - TAFE Queensland, South Bank (204236)
- Semester 1, 2020, On-campus, UC - TAFE Queensland, South Bank (198884)
