Course Catalogue

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This course will provide a snapshot of significant 21st century playwriting trends and developments in Britain, studying the work of a range of emerging playwrights, established names that continue to produce innovative theatre, and lesser-known voices. We will examine how new writing across Britain has thematically, formally and methodologically responded to urgent issues in our historical moment.

10x3hr seminars over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation

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The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Group Presentation (20 mins) - 30%

■ Essay (3500 words) - 70%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ Recorded presentation or written script of equivalent length for the presentation as an alternative to the group presentation.

■ There is no alternative to the essay, but a flexible deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor. 

This course aims to:

■ Introduce students to key texts and figures in 21st century playwriting across Britain.

■ Enhance students' understanding of the relationship between contemporary playwriting in Britain and the historical, cultural and artistic context in which the plays studied were written and staged.

■ Provide students with knowledge of key concepts and debates in theatre, cultural and political theory associated with the works studied.

■ Develop students' skills of dramaturgical analysis and engagement with theory.

■ Develop students' critical reflection on the politics of canon formation.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Recognise, describe and critique new trends and developments in 21st century playwriting in Britain, with clear awareness of the historical and artistic contexts in which these emerged.

■ Identify, explain and assess current critical theories and debates appropriate to the study of 21st century playwriting in Britain, and to mobilise these theoretical frameworks rigorously in their assessments.

■ Construct detailed dramaturgical analyses of case studies in 21st century playwriting in Britain in oral/written assessments.

■ Present their ideas clearly, coherently and persuasively in oral and written form, following scholarly conventions as appropriate.