Course syllabus

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Course Content:

This course examines English-language plays written since the mid-twentieth century, focusing on the social, political, historical and gender aspects as well as the idea of exile, trauma, myth, memory and emotion. We will explore theatre in the UK, Ireland, the USA and New Zealand, considering the relationship between dramatic form, intellectual debate and cultural conditions, as reflected in the plays. We will also investigate how a set of important cultural discourses in contemporary society has influenced themes in dramatic texts especially in relation to identity and community formation. This course combines lectures, discussions, play-readings, scene works and viewing theatrical videos.

Aims and Outcomes:

By the end of the course you will be expected to have –

  • knowledge of several major trends in contemporary British, Irish, American and New Zealand theatre and of the work of historically significant playwrights
  • ability to analyze dramatic texts both as literature and as texts for performance.
  • ability to develop coherent arguments in essays

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Image Source: http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/9142/1/robert-montgomery-ghost-in-the-machine

Texts:

All of the play-texts are very short.

* in Modern Drama: Plays of the 80s and 90s (Methuen Drama)

^ in Modern and Contemporary Irish Drama, 2nd edition, ed. by John P. Harrington (W.W. Norton & Company, 2008)

Samuel Beckett, All That Fall and Krapp’s Last Tape^

Edward Bond, Saved from Magazine Edition Plays and Players (London: Dec. 1965) - available online

Steven Berkoff, Metamorphosis in The Trial, Metamorphosis, In the Penal Colony (London: Amber Lane Press, 1988)

Caryl Churchill, Top Girls*

Terry Johnson, Hysteria*

Sarah Kane, Blasted*

Conor McPherson, The Weir^

Marina Carr, By the Bog of Cats…^

Tony Kushner, Angels in America I: Millennium Approaches (Nick Hern Books)

Jacob Rajan and Justin Lewis, Indian Ink: The Trilogy (Victoria University Press)

 

LECTURE AND TUTORIAL TIMETABLES:

Please read and think about the material and class topics in advance.

Week 1: Introduction

  • Monday: Introductory Lecture – Online Lecture
  • Thursday: No Class

 

Week 2: Immigration and Community

Jacob Rajan and Justin Lewis, Indian Ink: The Trilogy

Guest Lecturer: James Wenley

  • Monday: Lecture
  • Thursday: Workshop

 

Week 3 – Exile and Memory

Samuel Beckett, All That Fall and Krapp’s Last Tape 

  • Monday: Lecture
  • Thursday: Scene work + Critical discussion

NB: Before this class, you must have listened to Beckett’s radio play All That Fall, the 1957 BBC original production: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY22jmHAS5E

Also, watch Krapp’s Last Tape in Beckett on Film (WAIT DVD-V) which is available at the Library (Short Loan) or/and the one directed by Alan Schneider, available online via Library Catalogue.

 

Week 4 – Violence, Censorship & Relationship between Theatre and Politics

Edward Bond, Saved

  • Monday: Lecture
  • Thursday: Critical discussion

 

Week 5 – Class Test + Rewriting the Classics and the Issue of Genres

Steven Berkoff, Metamorphosis

  • Monday: Class Test
  • Thursday: Lecture + Critical discussion

 

Week 6 – Sexual Politics

Caryl Churchill, Top Girls

  • Monday: Lecture
  • Thursday: Scene work + Critical discussion

You may watch Top Girls (VIDEO LV01-080) which is available at the Library (Short Loan).

NB: From Week 6, each group needs to do a scene presentation on Thursday.  

Group 1 Presentation

  

MID-SEMESTER BREAK from Monday 29 August to Sunday 11 September

 

Week 7 – Psychoanalysis and Drama

Terry Johnson, Hysteria

  • Monday: Lecture
  • Thursday: Scene work + Critical discussion

Group 2 Presentation

 

Week 8 – In-yer-face Theatre

Sarah Kane, Blasted

  • Monday: Lecture
  • Thursday: Scene work + Critical discussion

Group 3 Presentation

 

Week 9 – Ghost and Storytelling/Narrative

Conor McPherson, The Weir

  • Monday: Lecture
  • Thursday: Scene work + Critical discussion

Group 4 Presentation

NB: Essay Deadline – Wednesday 4 October by 2pm

 

Week 10 – Ghost, Space and Landscape

Marina Carr, By the Bog of Cats…

  • Monday: Lecture
  • Thursday: Scene work + Critical discussion

Group 5 Presentation

 

Week 11 – Gender Identity

Tony Kushner, Angels in America I: Millennium Approaches

  • Monday: Lecture
  • Thursday: Scene work + Critical discussion

Angels in America (FTV 10276) is available at the Library (Short Loan).

 

Week 12 – Exam Review

  • Monday: Labour Day
  • Thursday: Exam Review

 

Course summary:

Date Details Due