Theatre and Drama Pedagogy in an Intercultural Context (MGL0083)

Theatre and Drama in International Contexts

About the study

The course in Theatre and Drama in Intercultural Context at the University of Stavanger provides a broad introduction to forms of theatrical and drama-related expression and communication. The study prepares students for work within the performing arts field, drama pedagogy in educational contexts and institutions, as well as applied theatre in a range of social and cultural contexts.

Students gain insight into national and international theatre and drama traditions and explore the role these traditions play in culture, education and society.

Through practical and theoretical approaches, students examine how theatre and drama create and communicate meaning, and how these art forms are continuously renewed and challenged in response to social development. Students are given opportunities to develop their own artistic language through collective creative processes and to make informed, reflective choices when engaging with both artistic and pedagogical challenges.

The intercultural perspective in the course will reflect today’s society as it truly is, with its constantly shifting and most pressing needs. The programme emphasises themes that promote active citizenship within a democratic framework, where identity is central to understanding and participating in society through dialogue and engagement/participation.

The course is open to both domestic students and incoming exchange students, and teaching is conducted in Norwegian and English. Teaching and practical training take place in close collaboration with arts, cultural and educational institutions, with contributions from both national and international practitioners. Students also have the opportunity to take part in study trips to international theatre festivals and to undertake professional placements with children’s and youth theatres, as well as with cultural and educational institutions.

The examination is practical and oral.

A police certificate of conduct is required for participation.

Content

The course is divided into two equally weighted thematic areas:

1. Acting and theatre production

The course is grounded in postdramatic traditions from contemporary theatre and emphasises the actor’s creative work within collective processes. Through improvisation, play, text development and ensemble work, students gain experience with a range of methods, techniques and artistic approaches in theatre.

Theatre production is used as a learning model, with acting, directing, dramaturgy, concept development and theatrical devices from contemporary theatre at its core. The students develop a practical understanding of the actor’s role in a production process and gain experience in planning, creating and realising their own projects. The work combines practical exploration with theoretical reflection, with particular emphasis on the relationship between form and content.

The students take part in a three-week creative process focused on collective creation, culminating in a public performance. The aim of the theatre project is to establish collaboration with external organisations, and the work is grounded in methods of devising and collective development of performances. The project builds on the practical and theoretical knowledge the students acquire through the modules in acting, theatre production and applied theatre.

2. Drama pedagogy and applied theatre

The course provides an introduction to drama pedagogical methods and arts-based pedagogical principles, with a focus on performative approaches to teaching and learning. The students explore how drama pedagogy can be used in creative, exploratory learning processes that strengthen critical reflection, collaboration and intercultural competence in the multicultural classroom.

Applied theatre is emphasised as a method for exploring socially relevant issues, promoting social development, and strengthening intercultural communication and relationship-building. Students gain experience in using drama pedagogy and applied theatre, both within the field of education and in wider societal contexts.

All teaching, project work and placements are carried out in close collaboration with partners from the arts and cultural sector, schools, and community institutions.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

A candidate who has successfully completed the course will:

• have knowledge of creative acting work, methods, techniques and working practices from the postdramatic theatre
• have knowledge of different forms of theatre, aesthetic devices, and key theories in the field of theatre studies
• have knowledge of directing and various dramaturgical approaches to theatre
• have knowledge of different devising processes in theatre
• have knowledge of drama pedagogical and applied theatre traditions in intercultural contexts, nationally, and internationally
• have an understanding of drama pedagogy as a performative approach to practical and creative teaching across school subjects and themes
• have an understanding of how drama and applied theatre are used in different educational contexts to promote democratic values, intercultural competence, and inclusion
• have familiarity with intercultural work in the arts and cultural sector, in schools, and in society
• have knowledge of artistic communication, collaboration, and innovation

Skills

A candidate who has completed and passed the course will be able to:

• apply fundamental skills in acting technique, directing, and dramaturgy from postdramatic theatre
• plan, develop, and carry out their own theatre productions based on various devising processes
• describe, interpret, and evaluate artistic processes and provide constructive feedback in collectively created work
• use drama pedagogical methods in teaching and interdisciplinary projects
• apply drama pedagogy in various educational contexts to promote democratic values, intercultural competence, and inclusion
• use applied theatre to explore socially relevant issues and promote social development and intercultural competence
• critically reflect on ethical dilemmas in applied theatre
• use digital tools in theatre and drama work

General competence

A candidate who has completed and passed the course:

• plan and lead theatre and drama projects in national and international contexts
• develop independent artistic expressions in response to current societal challenges
• initiate and lead drama-pedagogical work in schools and education that promotes engagement, creativity, and curiosity among pupils in an intercultural context
• use applied theatre as a tool to promote democratic values, active citizenship, and intercultural competence
• contribute actively to processes of change and development within the arts, culture, and education sectors

Theatre and Drama in Intercultural Context is a practical and theoretical course where all teaching and supervision are mandatory. Students are required to have 80% attendance in the course, though extensions can be requested in connection with chronic illness, which must be documented by a doctor.

1. Theatre Production: Students will, in groups, complete a theatre project that culminates in public performances, presented a total of six times.
2. Study Trip: Students are encouraged to participate in a study trip to see at least five professional performances for children/youth. These will be analysed and discussed through oral group reflections during the trip. The study trip usually takes place early in the semester and lasts 3-4 days. As an alternative to this requirement, students may attend five children’s or youth theatre performances and submit an individual performance analysis of one of the shows.
3. Experiencing Theatre Performances: Students must have seen at least five professional theatre performances for adults outside the study trip. This is organised in collaboration with Rogaland Theatre, where free tickets are provided for rehearsed performances.
4. Drama Pedagogy and Applied Theatre: Students, in groups, will plan and carry out a project in drama pedagogy and applied theatre. It is optional whether this takes place in a primary/secondary school or in a community and cultural organisation, such as a children’s and youth theatre or Stavanger Museum. The project must be implemented at least four times with supervision. After the practical work, a written report on the project must be submitted. This will be assessed as a pass/fail assignment.
5. Portfolio Assignment: Students must submit an approved individual written assignment on a self-chosen topic within either Acting - Theatre Production or Drama Pedagogy - Applied Theatre. This can be individual (2000 words, +/- 10%) or group (3000 words, +/- 10%).

All course requirements must be approved to be eligible to sit the exam. Failure to meet a requirement will result in denied access to the exam, according to the Regulations on Studies and Examinations at the University of Stavanger.

Students who receive a "not approved" for one or more course requirements on the first submission are given the opportunity to resubmit the assignment(s) in a revised form.

References and AI• All submitted assignments must be the result of the student’s own independent work. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the rules for source referencing.• Information on source referencing is available on the University Library’s website: https://www.uis.no/en/library/citations• Guidance on the use of AI tools in relation to exams can be found on the University of Stavanger’s exam pages: https://www.uis.no/en/student-pages/use-of-artificial-intelligence-ai-in-assignment-writing-and-exams

Competence in acting, theatre production, drama pedagogy, and applied theatre can only be developed through exploratory and creative interaction with other people.

The teaching is organised into themes/modules, and practical and theoretical work are mutually integrated. Instruction consists of various forms, including workshops, lectures, project work, seminars, colloquia, independent study, supervision, and practical work.