Independent Directing Project

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

680 hours

Directing theatre- practical and theoretical.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

The Independent Project is a major practice and research subject, drawing on and applying the knowledge and skills of directing gained throughout the course. Through discussions in advance of the subject, each student will identify a performance project they will direct. This could be a solo performance they devise and perform themselves, the direction of a single-authored text, or anything in-between. The performance outcome can take place on campus with undergraduate actors, for a season of graduate work at La Mama, for a company that engages you to direct for them, or for an independent production..The practice – direction of a piece of performance – forms a major part of a critical research project with a written dissertation and the two parts will be supervised by a member of Theatre staff.

It is possible that the entire project could be written (rather than practice-led).

It is possible that the production might take place outside of Melbourne, provided that appropriate supervision and assessment can be ensured.

The student is asked to set up a research question to investigate and analyse through creative practice and through the identification and application of appropriate critical and theoretical frameworks. Supervision will take place throughout the project. The assessment structure is devised to allow students to create their research proposal, pursue that research in the relevant practical context and then present their findings in the following assessments on campus at the end of the project: individual documentation (journal and/or multimedia), a class presentation and critical analysis in a final essay.

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

• utilise research and practice skills in an industry setting;
• create a performance work for a public audience;
• understand the way venues, festivals, events, etc. are run and how to function as an artist within them;
• reflect on and critically analyse own artistic practice;
• demonstrate imaginative and creative communication and presentation skills in the delivery of a research proposal and research presentations;
• identify a research methodology appropriate to their discipline and project;
• demonstrate an advanced understanding of the critical issues in the field of research methodologies in researching performance;

• Class presentation 20 minutes (equivalent to 2000 words). Week 11-12 (10%)
• Thesis, comprised of written dissertation and practice (including performance outcome if applicable) equivalent to 15,000 words. Written work/final thesis: assessment period.Performance assessed as it happens throughout semester. (75%)
• Thesis proposal (1000 words), annotated bibliography and literature/performance review (2000 words). Week 3 (15%)

This will depend on individual research project.

suggested reading may include:

Nelson, R. (2013) Practice as Research in the Arts: Principles, Protocols, Pedagogies, Resistances. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan.

Barrett, E and Bolt, B (2007) Practice as Research: Approaches to Creative Arts Enquiry, London: I.B. Tauris.

Riley, S. R. and Hunter, L. (2009) Mapping landscapes for performance as research: scholarly acts and creative cartographies, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Freeman, J. (2010) Blood, sweat & theory, London: Libri Publications.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Upon completion of this subject students should be able to:

• Create and organise aesthetic material
• Use a range of research tools and methodologies
• Solve problems
• Interpret and analyse
• Develop the capacity for critical thinking
• Work independently
• Communicate effectively
• Organise and mange manage time
• understand the relationship with and responsibility to the cultural environment;
• work with respect for intellectual integrity, intellectual property and for the ethics of research and scholarship.