THS2005 Australian Theatre and Drama

Contents

• Staffing
• Requisites
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Assessment notes
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

REQUISITES

SYNOPSIS

This course is structured to survey the multi-faceted nature and the development of Australian drama and theatre since the beginning of white settlement. Historically, the course will focus on the drama and theatre of the mid to the late 20th century, but will refer to earlier times in tracing the development of a recurring theme in Australian drama, that of identity. The course commences with an overview of Australian theatre at the beginning of the 21st century and an exploration of a contemporary play. In subsequent modules, students will be introduced to some of the earlier social, political, economic and artistic elements and key writers who have shaped Australian drama and its theatre. The course attempts to represent a diversity of "voices" in Australian drama, and will draw upon plays, reviews and other secondary materials to explore various relevant socio-political and economic issues as they relate to identification. Within this exploration, the performative possibilities of the plays will be emphasised.

OBJECTIVES

On successful completion of this course students will have:

1. a basic understanding of the history of theatre in Australia since 1788 with a particular emphasis on the period post-1955 (Assessment items 1-6 refer);
2. a sound knowledge of particular plays, theatre practitioners and periods in Australian theatre (Assessment items 1-6 refer).

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Brisbane, K (ed) Plays of the 1960's, Currency Press, Sydney.

Buzo, A 1976, Norm and Ahmed, Currency, Sydney.

Ellis, B 2004, These people, Currency, Sydney.

Esson, L (Ed. Rees, L) 1951, Modern short plays, Angus and Robertson, Sydney.

Gilbert, K 1988, The cherry pickers, Burrambinga Books, Canberra.

Lawler, R 1981, Summer of the seventeenth doll, Currency, Sydney.

Purcell, L and Rankin, S 1999, Box the pony, Sceptre, Sydney.

Roland, B 1988, The touch of silk: granite peak, Currency, Sydney.
(Revised edition)

Sewell, S 2003, Myth, propaganda and disaster in Nazi Germany and contemporary America, Currency, Sydney.

Seymour, A 1977, The one day of the year, Angus and Robertson, Sydney.

Tait, P and Schafer, E (eds.) 1997, Australian women's drama: texts and feminisms, Currency, Sydney.

Williamson, D 2002, The Jack Manning trilogy, Currency, Sydney.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Education resources, "Currency Press", http://www.currency.com.au.

Archer, R 2005, The myth of the mainstream: politics and the performing arts in Australia today, Currency House, Sydney.

Capelin, S (ed) 1995, Challenging the Centre: two decades of political theatre, Playlab Press, Brisbane.

Carroll, D 1995, Australian Contemporary Drama, Currency Press, Sydney.

Fitzpatrick, P 1979, After 'The Doll': Australian drama since 1955, Edward Arnold Australia, Melbourne.

Gilbert, H & Tompkins, J 1996, Post-Colonial Drama: theory, practice, politics, Routledge, London.

Hibberd, J (ed) 1984, Performing Arts in Australia, Meanjin,

Holloway, P (ed) 1987, Contemporary Australian Drama, Currency Press, Sydney.

Irvin, E 1971, Theatre Comes to Australia, University of Queensland Press, Brisbane.

Jordan, R 2002, The convict theatres of early Australia, 1788-1840, Currency House, Sydney.

Love, H (ed) 1984, The Australian Stage: a documentary history, New South Wales University Press, Sydney.

Pfisterer, S (ed) 1999, Tremendous Worlds: Australian women's drama 1850-1960, Currency Press, Sydney.

Pfisterer, S & Pickett, C 1999, Playing with Ideas: Australian women playwrights from the suffragettes to the sixties, Currency Press, Sydney.

Porter, H 1965, Stars of Australian Stage and Screen, Rigby Press, Adelaide.

Rees, L 1987, Australian Drama in the 1970s, Angus & Robertson, Sydney.
(revised enlarged edition)

Tait, P 1994, Converging Realities: feminism in Australian theatre, Currency Press, Sydney.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

Students will be advised of the examination date when the timetable has been finalised.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   There are no attendance requirements for this external course. However, it is the student's responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To successfully complete an individual assessment item, a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. This statement must be read in conjunction with Statement 4 below.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without extenuating circumstances and without prior approval, then a penalty of a maximum of 5% of the assigned mark may apply for each working day late, up to a maximum of 10 working days, at which time a mark of zero can be recorded for that assignment.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade, a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   The exam for this course is a CLOSED EXAMINATION, and candidates are allowed to bring only writing and drawing instruments into the examination.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Any deferred or supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6 Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm

ASSESSMENT NOTES

This version produced 25 Sep 2008.