Course Catalogue

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The years between 1837 and 1910 - covering the reigns of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII - were defining years for Britain in general and the performing arts in particular. Technical advances and ease of transport, rising audiences, a theatre industry confidently operating in a commercial market place amidst lively discussions about alternative forms of production, access, and funding, revolutionised theatre in Britain and resulted in an incredibly wide range of performance practices. "Issues in Victorian and Edwardian Theatre" will discuss and evaluate these practices under a range of themes and in relation to a number of critical approaches and within the wider context of imperial Britain.

10 x 3-hour seminars as scheduled on MyCampus

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

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40% - 10 minute presentation supported by a detailed handout (to be agreed with the tutor) and Q&A
60% - 3,500 word essay

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ Introduce students to histories of various aspects of performance practice in Victorian and Edwardian Britain as well as to the related fields in history, politics, and sociology;

■ Encourage critical exploration of concepts and practices of culture and discourses around the performing arts with specific regard to the historical moments in which these theories and practices were formulated;

■ Develop interdisciplinary analytic and research skills for students to examine the performing arts in Victorian and Edwardian Britain.

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

■ Critically analyse key issues of the theatre in Victorian and Edwardian Britain and apply theories and models of cultural practices;

■ Analyse how the performing arts in Victorian and Edwardian Britain might relate to and inform wider discourses around culture, politics, and economics;

■ Present ideas critically, clearly and coherently in an academic essay, developing well-structured arguments, and observing the disciplines of referencing, footnoting and bibliography;

■ Produce and deliver a presentation on a chosen subject within the parameters of the course that stimulates group discussion and facilitates and encourages further study

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.