Module Directory

Term One – History of Fights on Film

In this unit you will study the history of combat in theatre and film. As you view and document performances from the past century, you will continue to develop your research skills. These skills will be combined with your growing knowledge of stage combat, as you will also be asked to analyse choreographic logic, film techniques, commitment to character, text and movement, and an actor’s ability to ‘sell a fight’.  The unit will develop alternative research methods, as you will be called upon to resource films, film scripts, interviews and, when possible, notes from a director and/or a fight director

Term Two and Three – 20^th Century Performance

This course will introduce you to some of the major theories and practitioners of the 20th century.  It is designed to take you past the theories of Stanislavski and explore other contemporary forms of theatre and staging.  The guiding aims are to widen your knowledge of a range of theatre styles and further develop your analytical skills.  By studying various theatrical movements, you will be more prepared to analyse any number of forms of contemporary performances.  This will involve creative thinking, decision-making and clearly expressing self-formulated views.  You will come away from the ability to apply a wide range of theories to performance practices.

The aims of this module are:

History of Fights on Film

• To widen knowledge of the history of combat performance


• To encourage students to explore different periods, styles and methods of presenting combat performance


• To give the students a sense of the social, philosophical and cultural background to conflicts and their presentation in performance media


• To develop skills so that they can express themselves objectively, either in oral or written form

20th Century Performance

• To widen students knowledge about contemporary developments in theatre


• To examine key theoretical and contextual issues and debates


• To develop critical analysis and reflection


• To develop an understanding between performance and cultural theory

By the end of this module, students will be expected to have the ability to:

History of Fights on Film

1. Produce a range of research materials collected for use in presenting written and verbal analysis


2. Understand different theories, methods and styles of presenting acted combat for the screen


3. Analyse and present a detailed analysis of a filmed scene

20th Century Performance

1. Demonstrate competence and confidence in presenting information and academic conventions


2. Demonstrate understanding of contemporary theatre practice


3. Demonstrate skills in critical analysis and reflection


4. Identify the key theoretical movements of twentieth century theatre practice