Contents

Contemporary Irish Theatre in Context:

An exploration of the theatre practice of contemporary Irish and visiting theatre productions, and the institutional frameworks which shape the production or reception of contemporary Irish theatre. Invited speakers will discuss their work with students, supplemented by sessions focusing on contextual or background information.

Strategies of Analysis:

An exploration of the various methodologies of critical enquiry in theatre and performance. The seminar covers areas of Gender, Race and Identity, Nationalism and Postcolonialism, Performance Analysis, History and Historiography, Globalisation, Psychoanalysis, Poststructuralism, Phenomenology and Postmodernism.

Students will choose one of the following modules (which will be offered according to staff availability):

Applied Theatre:

This course aims to develop the students´ awareness, understanding and experience of Applied Theatre, also known as socially-engaged Theatre.

Orientalism and Performance:

This course seeks to explore how one culture represents another in performance and to determine the specificity of the theories of playing `other´ in 19th and early 20th century European theatre.

Intercultural Performance:

This course examines the intercultural practices of contemporary performances in differing world contexts, with a focus on directing, casting, design and sound.

Playwriting:

Taught by playwright Marina Carr and Dr Melissa Sihra, this course will consider all aspects of playwriting from first to final draft, exploring monologue, two-character, three-character and ensemble scene construction. The course will culminate in a showcase of original work.

Performance and Technology:

The course will examine the philosophical and practical problems of theatre and performance practice in our digital culture with its new computer technologies of interconnectivity, imaging and virtuality.

The Comic Body:

This module intends to supply students with a theoretical grasp of comic practice, complemented and supported by the actuality of workshop experience.

Theatre and Nationalism:

This course considers the relationship between nationalist ideologies and theatre by examining a range of examples from defined historical and georgraphical contexts.

In certain circumstances, students may choose the elective module from a range of courses available on other M.Phil. programmes within the School of Drama, Film and Music, including (depending on the availability of staff and places, and the agreement of course directors): Theatre and Ireland, Irish Music, Cinema and Ireland, Contemporary Irish Cinema, Documentary, World Cinema and Opera.