Download MA Applied Theatre [3]

UNIVERSITY OF KENT
Programme Specification
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the
programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to
achieve and demonstrate if he/she passes the programme. More detailed information on the
learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each module can
be found in the programme handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this
specification is reviewed by the University and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency
for Higher Education.
MA Applied Theatre
1. Awarding Institution/Body
University of Kent
2. Teaching Institution
University of Kent
3. School responsible for management of
the programme
School of Arts
Drama and Theatre Studies
4. Teaching Site
Canterbury
5. Mode of Delivery
Full-time
Part-time
6. Programme accredited by
N/A
7. Final Award
MA, fallback award: PG Dip, PG Cert.
8. Programme
Applied Theatre
9. UCAS Code (or other code)
N/A
10. Credits/ECTS value
180 credits (90 ECTS) for MA, 120 credits (60
ECTS) for PG Diploma
11. Study Level
7
12. Relevant QAA subject benchmarking
group(s)
None
13. Date of creation/revision
Revised May 2015/Nov 2015
14. Intended Start Date of Delivery of this
Programme
Ongoing, this revision from September 2016
15. Educational Aims of the Programme
The programme aims to:
1. provide a taught Masters programme that offers the sustained and intensive academic
engagement within the specialised area of applied theatre, as it reflects a distinct
internationally renowned area of research excellence within the Drama and Theatre
department at the University of Kent;
2. attract intellectually able and artistically talented students both from the existing
undergraduate cohort, but also from elsewhere in the UK and from overseas, also offering
an opportunity for continuous professional development for practicing artists and arts
professionals;
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3. develop students’ analytical, critical, conceptual and methodological skills, and to prepare
them for further postgraduate research beyond level 7;
4. develop the creative understanding, technical skills and practical competences necessary for
advanced level performance work as well as an advanced familiarity with historical and
critical contexts of applied theatre;
5. offer a mixed mode programme of studio-based and classroom-based teaching, which
embraces the legacy and ethos of “Practice as Research.”
6. provide high quality specialist teaching in supportive environments delivered by the staff in
Kent Drama and Theatre.
7. provide an excellent quality of higher education;
8. provide learning opportunities that are enjoyable experiences, involve realistic workloads,
based within a research-led framework and offer appropriate support for students from a
diverse range of backgrounds;
9. thereby produce graduates of value to the regional, national and international theatre and
performance profession, who possess the unique knowledge and skills developed on this
programme and thereby further consolidate the School’s global reputation in this area.
16 Programme Outcomes
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and
understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas..
A. Knowledge and Understanding of:
1. histories, contexts, forms and traditions of applied theatre practice and theoretical
explanations of those histories
2. advanced critical, artistic and conceptual paradigms in order to comprehend, interpret and
intelligently engage with the work of applied theatre practitioners and associated creative
practice
3. innovative, sophisticated, informed and professional methods and practices by which
contemporary applied theatre practice is created, realised and managed, such as the
processes of preparing, planning, creating, facilitating and self-reflective evaluation.
4. a range of key components of applied theatre practice as appropriate to client groups –
sensory, storytelling, transportive and transformative
5. research methodologies appropriate to Level 7 work, including practice-as-research
6. the reading, analysis, documenting and/or interpreting of applied theatre practice to an
advanced level
Teaching/learning and assessment methods and strategies used to enable outcomes to
be achieved and demonstrated
This module will be taught through a combination of staff-led practical workshops, supervised
outreach workshop sessions, observed and unsupervised work-in-progress, student-led
seminar/workshop sessions, small group discussions and presentations, and specialist
seminars, including the input of visiting scholars and professionals plus one-to-one tuition,
particularly in the later stages of the programme.
Students will also have the opportunity to attend research lectures, seminars, and workshops in
Drama and Theatre, as well as those offered by other subjects within the School of Arts and the
wider Faculty of Humanities.
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Assessment will be through a variety of coursework tasks, which may take the form of individual
facilitating workshops, outreach project, essays, self-reflective evaluations/reflections, practice
profiles, research portfolios, reports, articles and similar forms, and culminating in a final
dissertation project which may include strands of enquiry approaches to practice.
Skills and Other Attributes
B. Intellectual Skills:
1. to understand the range of approaches to professional applied theatre practice, and
facilitating techniques
2. to be able to appreciate, critically reflect on and evaluate various practices, theories, contexts
and ideas that shape applied theatre, both past and present, including professional work and
the students’ own practice,
3. to understand the interplay between theory, reflection, academic research and applied
theatre practices, and their mutual enrichment, to identify and interpret the social/political
and cultural frameworks which surround contemporary applied theatre practice and take
these into account in creating and/or interpreting practice and projects
4. to work collaboratively on performance projects within given parameters and the ability to
negotiate the various creative, artistic and administrative aspects of applied theatre practice
5. the ability to communicate ideas, information, critique and analysis in a professional or
scholarly register, as required by a variety of audiences.
6. To describe, analyse and critically interpret contemporary applied theatre practice,
facilitating techniques and workshop events/projects
Teaching/learning and assessment methods and strategies used to enable outcomes to
be achieved and demonstrated
In addition to the learning strategies and assessment methods explained above in Section A,
students will be able to develop their advanced intellectual skills at postgraduate level by shared
programmes directed by the Graduate School, methodological seminars offered by the theatre
department and the School of Arts, and by other sectors of the University. As appropriate for
Level 7 work, these skills will be developed and assessed putting a large emphasis on the
students’ ability to undertake self-directed learning, which will be tutored and tested through the
students’ project work and discussion, through engagement in classes and workshops, and
through the written assignments as stated above in Section A, which combine elements of
practical work at pre-professional level with deep academic analysis, research and critical
reflection.
C. Subject-specific Skills:
1. advanced knowledge of approaches, histories, and practices of applied theatre within
different community environments
2. to engage in facilitation and applied theatre practice based on an acquisition and
understanding of applied theatre vocabularies, skills, structures and working methods
appropriate to applied theatre and performance.
3. the ability to develop, in collaboration with an ensemble, an applied theatre outreach project
working within specific community environments.
4. to develop facilitation skills and apply them effectively to communicate with a range of client
groups.
5. advanced skills in undertaking academic research, including the ability to productively
deploy practice-based methodologies, bibliographical and documentation techniques,
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advanced textual and performance analysis, and the ability to create original primary and
secondary research.
6. the ability to support creative work with rigorous academic research, appropriate
documentation, and efficient conceptual and methodological considerations.
Teaching/learning and assessment methods and strategies used to enable outcomes to
be achieved and demonstrated
In addition to the strategies explained above in Sections A and B, in-depth subject-specific skills
will be acquired and tested through the input and feedback from Kent drama tutors as well as
invited external scholars and theatre artists through guest lectures, masterclasses, workshops
and research seminars. An important inherent component of the programme if study is the
continuous engagement with current applied theatre practice, reflected in the opportunity to
engage with a selected practitioner and/or company in an extended professional practice
placement. The assessment strategies detailed in the above sections will test these subject
specific skills through a variety of both written and other methods, including the assessment of
applied theatre companies and projects as well as their critical evaluation and documentation.
D. Transferable Skills:
1. the confidence to work in collaboration with others in team structures, being able to negotiate
group dynamics and handling and solving interpersonal issues, as well as being able to show
and exercise initiative and leadership and efficient management of project tasks and targets,
2. the ability to source, organise, articulate, critique and disseminate advanced ideas
appropriately and effectively, in a way that advances knowledge and adds value,
3. the ability to exercise initiative and to take personal responsibility to define, set up, support,
manage and realise in a disciplined way a project over a sustained period of time within
specified resource allocations of time, space and/or budget,
4. proficiency in articulating and communicating complex thoughts, ideas, visions, arguments,
and critique in coherent, sophisticated ways, both verbally and in writing, and thereby
developing the student’s competence in engaging, negotiating, communicating, and
discussing with a range of different audiences
5. the ability to work and learn independently and autonomously
6. the ability for continuous self-reflection in order to be able to expand one’s skills- and
knowledge base,
7. an awareness of health and safety issues and risk assessment .
Teaching/learning and assessment methods and strategies used to enable outcomes to
be achieved and demonstrated
Independent learning and self-directed study and research are the pivotal prerequisites to
develop the transferrable skills developed at level 7, and these will be supported through the
teaching and assessment strategies as detailed above in Sections A, B, and C. Mark
components for aspects such as project and resource management, presentation and
communication, and the contribution to the programme specifically assesses these wider
transferable skills.
Beyond the curriculum, students on the programme will also be able to engage with the
additional training and other opportunities to acquire generic skills offered by the University. This
includes the Graduate Skills Programme for Masters Students offered by the Graduate School,
and the opportunity to expand or develop new language skills in foreign languages through the
University’s Centre for English and World Languages (CEWL).
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For more information on the skills developed by individual modules and on the specific learning
outcomes associated with any fallback award relating to this programme of study, see the module
mapping.
17 Programme Structures and Requirements, Levels, Modules, Credits and Awards
This programme is studied over one year full-time or two years part-time. Due to the intense,
group based collaborative nature of this programme, part-time study is only possible by studying
full-time for a term (Autumn term), and then resuming studies 12 months later for another fulltime period of project-based work during the next Spring term.
The programme is divided into two stages. Stage 1 comprises modules to a total of 120 credits
and Stage 2 comprises a 60 credit dissertation module. Students must successfully complete
each module in order to be awarded the specified number of credits for that module. One credit
corresponds to approximately ten hours of 'learning time' (including all classes and all private
study and research). Thus obtaining 180 credits in an academic year requires 1,800 hours of
overall learning time. For further information on modules and credits refer to the Credit
Framework at http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/credit-framework/creditinfo.html
To be eligible for the award of a masters degree students must obtain 180 credits, at least 150
of which must be Level 7. Students who obtain 120 credits, but excluding the dissertation, will be
eligible for the fallback award of a postgraduate diploma.
Due to the specialist nature of this Masters programme, the programme consists of a prescribed
set of compulsory modules that must be taken by all students studying the programme.
Where a student fails a module(s) due to illness or other mitigating circumstances, such failure
may be condoned, subject to the requirements of the Credit Framework and provided that the
student has achieved the programme learning outcomes. For further information refer to the
Credit Framework at http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/credit-framework/creditinfo.html.
Where a student fails a module(s), but has marks for such modules within 10 percentage points
of the pass mark, the Board of Examiners may nevertheless award the credits for the module(s),
subject to the requirements of the Credit Framework and provided that the student has achieved
the programme learning outcomes. For further information refer to the Credit Framework.
Students must successfully complete all Stage 1 modules before proceeding to their dissertation
project, and modules cannot be trailed.
Code
Title
Level
Credits
Term(s)
Stage 1
Compulsory Modules
DR861
Applied Theatre Company Project
7
30 (15
ECTS)
Autumn
DR865
Applied Theatre Outreach Project
7
30 (15
ECTS)
Spring
DR859
Applied Theatre – Strands of Enquiry
7
30 (15
ECTS)
Autumn
Spring
DR878
Placement and Report
7
30 (15
ECTS)
Autumn,
Spring
Stage 2
Compulsory Modules
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DR995
Theatre Dissertation
7
60 (30
ECTS)
Summer
18 Work-Based Learning
Students on this programme spend a period of work placement/practical research with a theatre
company, venue, or festival within an applied theatre context. This includes opportunities
provided by Erasmus exchange funding for work placements. The placement will be selected
and secured by the students themselves, where appropriate with support by the Erasmus Office
and/or the programme convenor. Such work-based learning usually takes place during the selfdirected, project-based Spring Term, and potentially during the vacation period and parts of
Summer Term. The placement provider agrees to due care and is asked to complete a
questionnaire exploring and recording their assessment of the student’s attendance, progress
and achievement.
The student’s assessment of their WBL is part of the module DR878 Placement and Report
its relevant assessment submission is as detailed in the module specification.
Disability Statement: Where disabled students are due to undertake a work placement as part of
this programme of study, a representative of the University will meet with the work placement
provider in advance to ensure the provision of anticipatory and reasonable adjustments in line
with legal requirements.
19 Support for Students and their Learning
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School and University induction programme
Programme/module handbooks
Student Support http://www.kent.ac.uk/studentsupport/
Student Wellbeing www.kent.ac.uk/studentwellbeing/
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Student Learning Advisory Service http://www.kent.ac.uk/uelt/about/slas.html
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Graduate School (Provision of (i) skills training (workshops and online courses) (ii)
institutional level induction and (iii) student-led initiatives such as social events,
conferences and workshops) www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/index.html
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Information Services (computing and library services) www.kent.ac.uk/is/
Counselling Service www.kent.ac.uk/counselling/
Kent Union www.kentunion.co.uk/
Graduate Student Association (GSA)
www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/community/woolf.html
Postgraduate student representation at School, Faculty and Institutional levels
Centre for English and World Languages www.kent.ac.uk/cewl/index.html
Careers and Employability Services www.kent.ac.uk/ces/
International Development Office www.kent.ac.uk/international/
Medical Centre www.kent.ac.uk/counselling/menu/Medical-Centre.html
Library services, see http://www.kent.ac.uk/library/
PASS system, see https://www.kent.ac.uk/uelt/quality/code2001/annexg.html
School of Arts Student Support Office
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20 Entry Profile
The minimum age to study a degree programme at the university is normally at least 17 years
old by 20 September in the year the programme begins. There is no upper age limit.
20.1 Entry Route
For fuller information, please refer to the University prospectus
Graduates with a first degree with a classification of II.i or higher, typically though not necessarily
in the subject of Drama, Theatre or Performance Studies, or in related disciplines, such as
Dance, Music, Literature, Film, History, Culture or Media Studies. Applicants should also have
appropriate experience and consider themselves as an emerging or practicing theatre
artist/theatre director, in order to meet the demanding practical learning on this programme.
Although there will be no formal audition, applicants should submit a statement of intent, and if
available, a sample of their academic work, ideally with relevance to theatre direction, and if
available, a portfolio sample of their own artistic theatre practice (this can be submitted via
relevant links to web-based material on their own websites, YouTube, etc.)
Applicants of all physical abilities will be considered for this programme. A demonstrable record
of professional practice may be accepted in lieu of a first degree, where the applicant can
furthermore demonstrate their ability for academic work and writing (usually through the
submission of writing samples, particularly of previously published work)
International applicants from a country where English is not the native language will need to
demonstrate proficiency in English to enter directly onto this programme through a minimal score
of one of the following:
 IELTS Average 6.5, minimum 6.0 in reading and writing,
 Grade B in Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English.
 Grade A in Cambridge Advanced Certificate in English.
 Pass overall in the JMB/NEAB Test in English for Overseas Students, with at least B in
Writing, Reading and Speaking modules.
Applicants who have not yet reached those standards can avail themselves to the University’s
Foundation Programme for international students, which offers a year’s academic and language
training before entry to the programme.
20.2 What does this programme have to offer?
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the unique opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of histories, practices,
traditions, and professional contexts of applied theatre through an academic study of both
practical competencies as well as a thorough critical study of the subject,
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the opportunity to engage directly with the flagship research area within drama and theatre,
represented in the activities of both departmental research centres, the European Theatre
Research Network (ETRN), and the Centre for Cognition, Kinaesthetics and Performance
(CKP),
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access to the School’s own internationally renowned experts, and to their network of
academic and professional contacts who contribute to the programme through artistic
residencies, visiting workshops and guest lectures. In the past, Tim Webb, Avril Hickman,
CandoCo and StopGap Companies have contributed to the programme.
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access to excellent facilities including high quality theatre spaces, flexible teaching and
performance spaces, two studio spaces with semi-sprung floors in the award winning School
of Arts Jarman building, a small black-box studio, rehearsal rooms, a design studio, a sound
editing and recording studio.
a unique chance to explore specific approaches relevant to applied theatre practice, such as
inclusive movement based performance, digital transformative performance, located in an
ideal situation both close to London and the European continent and within a thriving local
performance scene crystallising around the campus-based Gulbenkian Arts Centre, and the
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Marlowe theatre in town. The programme regularly schedules visits not only to London and
regional theatres, but also excursions, for instance to the University’s Paris campus and our
partner universities and theatres on the Continent. Past excursions have included week-long
study trips to Munich, Berlin, Paris, and Ghent, supported by the University’s
internationalisation fund,
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the opportunity to acquire or enhance specialist skills in applied theatre in the context of a
diverse and international cohort of students which bring in a mix of personal, professional
and artistic perspectives, thereby enhancing the creative dynamism of the student cohorts
who collaborate on practical projects. Many of these student groups have continued their
artistic collaboration beyond the programme of study.
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the opportunity to acquire or enhance specialist skills in applied theatre practice in the context
of working with a practice based lecturing staff currently working within an applied theatre
context.
20.3 Personal Profile
The student will have:
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an interest in and curiosity about applied theatre performance, practices and traditions in the
United Kingdom and beyond.
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demonstrable commitment to, and facility for, creating and facilitating applied theatre practice
and performance.
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intellectual curiosity and the desire to debate, critically reflect, and to challenge prevalent
ideas, as well as being challenged by current practices, contexts and approaches.
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very good critical and research skills and the ability to undertake self-directed, independent
study.
21 Methods for Evaluating and Enhancing the Quality and Standards of Teaching and
Learning
21.1 Mechanisms for review and evaluation of teaching, learning, assessment, the
curriculum and outcome standards
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Quality Assurance Framework http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/codes/index.html
Periodic Programme Review http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/codes/taught/annexf.html
External Examiners system http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/codes/taught/annexk.html
Annual programme and module monitoring reports
http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/codes/taught/annexe.html
Student module evaluations
Annual staff appraisal
Peer observation
21.2 Committees with responsibility for monitoring and evaluating quality and standards
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Drama Board
Board of Examiners
School Graduate Studies Committee
Faculty Graduate Studies Committee
Faculty Board
Graduate School Board
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Staff/Student Liaison Committee
21.3 Mechanisms for gaining student feedback on the quality of teaching and their
learning experience
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Staff-Student Liaison Committee
Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES)
Student module evaluations
Postgraduate Student Representation System (School, Faculty and Institutional level)
21.4 Staff Development priorities include:
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Annual Appraisals
Institutional Level Staff Development Programme
Study Leave
Academic Practice Provision (PGCHE, ATAP and other development opportunities)
PGCHE requirements
ILT membership
HEA (associate) fellowship membership
Professional body membership and requirements
Programme team meetings
Research seminars
Conferences
22 Indicators of Quality and Standards
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Annual External Examiner reports
Results of periodic programme review 2014
Annual programme and module monitoring reports
Graduate Destinations Survey
Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) results
QAA Higher Education Review 2015
result of REF 2014 with the School of Arts ranked 1st in the UK for Research Power, and
39% of our submitted research activity achieving the highest possible REF classification of
4*, defined as world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour, and a further 44%
classified as 3*, defined as internationally excellent.
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Staff contributing to the programme are professional practitioners who regularly engage in a
variety of roles with some of the leading contemporary applied theatre practitioners. They are
some of the leading academic researchers in the field of applied theatre.
22.1 The following reference points were used in creating these specifications:
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QAA UK Quality Code for Higher Education
QAA Benchmarking statement for Dance, Drama and Performance as stated above
School and Faculty plan
University Plan/Learning and Teaching Strategy
Staff research activities
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Programme Title: MA Applied Theatre
DR995
DR878
Stage 2
DR859
DR865
DR861
Stage 1
Programme Learning outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding:
A1
A2
A3
A4
Intellectual Skills:
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
Subject-specific Skills:
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
Transferable Skills:
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
D6
D7
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