Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Performance

The primary goal of the Theatre and Performance qualification is the production of professional stage and camera actors, theatre-makers and theatre educators, steeped in the traditions and processes of creating South African theatre and performance. The qualification emphasises the need to produce learners who can adapt to the changing conditions of an industry in flux; learners skilled in the ability to generate their own creative work and employment opportunities in the fields of traditional theatre, musical theatre, industrial theatre, film and television and in related fields.

The Theatre and Performance qualification is premised on the view that

1. South African theatre is key to creating, not only South Africa's artistic identity but also its understanding of itself and its comprehension abroad;
2. South African theatre contributes to the country's cultural profile and provides an artistic prototype which infuses the film, television, music, radio, tourism and advertising industries of this country.

The Theatre and Performance qualification seeks to foster a multi-lingual, multicultural approach to the creation and performance of theatre. The qualification aims to recruit the best learners from around the country but remains conscious of its location in the Western Cape and deems it strategic to serve the traditions, cultures and languages most commonly found in this region.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution conducts RPL in terms of the policy and guidelines of the institution to recognise other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. In cases where learners do not comply with the formal admission requirements, the institution applies its RPL policy.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, granting access to Bachelor studies.

1. Understand and manipulate quantitative information provided in tables, graphs and sets of equations;
2. Critically understand written texts of descriptive and argumentative characters;
3. Produce written texts of descriptive, prescriptive and argumentative characters to accepted international standards in his or her specific fields of training (as these may exist at the time of his or her graduation);
4. Find information of professional relevance efficiently and independently and
5. Use and organise such information to conduct systematic research aimed at providing answers to questions whose resolutions are not antecedent known, or to verifying answers that are assumed on the basis of accepted wisdom':
6. Understand and critically appreciate the contribution of major artistic and cultural activities and performances to community and national life;
7. Use information-technology standard in professional offices (at the time of his or her graduation) efficiently and independently;
8. Use the internet to find access information;
9. Understand when and how to acknowledge the limitations of his or her own expertise and elicit the more;
10. Appropriate expertise of others;
11. Appreciate the importance of life-long learning and the importance of self-initiative in pursuing it;
12. Understand and internalise as a personal value the importance of conducting professional activity within the scope of national, provincial, municipal and international law.

Specific Outcomes, including professional outcomes, contextually demonstrated.

The BA (T&P) learner will be competent to

• Perform a range of classical and contemporary theatre and/or musical theatre pieces in a variety of contexts and languages at a basic professional level;
• Perform in the film and television media according t basic acting for camera principles;
• Use the voice effectively in a range of audio-visual media;
• Conceptualise, create and produce original pieces of theatre and/or music theatre, individually and in groups, in a variety of contexts and languages at a basic professional level;
• Organise, plan and undertake drama and theatre education sessions, workshops or projects with a targeted group, school class or community;
• Manage the technical and human resource aspects of theatre production;
• Employ lateral thinking skills to transform/adapt knowledge and skills acquired for theatre work from the symbolic realm of 'pure' drama activity and research to other fields such as human resource development, the media industry, marketing, education and management;
• Appreciate the workings and conventions of the theatre industry and the accepted standards of professional ethical practice operating in the industry.

In addition the BA (T&P) learner will be conversant with

• A range of theatrical and performance traditions from different cultural contexts;
• The major elements of current performance theory and examples of contemporary performance practice;
• The philosophical, theoretical and methodological aspects of Drama in Education and Theatre for Development;

and will be competent to apply the above to

• Critically analyse performance;
• Engage in current debates pertaining to contemporary theatre practice in South Africa and internationally;
• Construct a theoretical argument in a systematic manner;
• Inform the learner's own theatre and performance practice.

Learners' achievement of the critical cross-field, general and specific learning outcomes will be assessed through a range of assessment methods in the final year (exit level) of the qualification.

For the purposes of stipulating the criteria by which learner performance will be assessed, this interim submission focuses on the key sites of integrative assessment which are located in the final year core courses (see integrated assessment).

In relation to learning outcomes, learners' performance on the final year integrative assessment will be assessed according to the following criteria:

• Ability to research and analyse a dramatic text towards performance;
• Ability to plan and carry-out a rehearsal process;
• Ability to transform him/herself for a performance and from performance to performance;
• Ability to develop an appropriate style of performance;
• Ability to construct appropriate presence in time and space;
• Ability to solve performance problems through the application of improvisational or formalised acting techniques;
• Ability to engage creatively with other performers in an ensemble;
• Ability to communicate a stage performance to an audience in line with a directorial concept;
• Ability to interpret and communicate a film or television performance to camera;
• Ability to plan, develop and sustain a vocal characterisation specific to a range of theatre texts and contexts demonstrating an understanding and use of:
• Breath control
• Phrasing
• Pitch range;
• Resonance;
• Articulation;

(b) Ability to sing in a range of musical styles appropriate to current musical theatre practice;

• Ability to score a texts for vocal performance;
• Ability to isolate and develop aspects of vocal work in response to performance needs;
• Ability to create theatre using voice as material;
• Ability to design, develop and sustain a physical performance specific to a range of theatre texts and contexts, demonstrating an understanding and use of:
• Physical transformation;
• Physical extension;
• The isolation and control of body parts;
• The orientation and movement of the body in space;
• The movement of the body in time;
• Ability to perform a variety of dance styles appropriate to current musical theatre practice;

(c) - Ability to conduct research appropriate to the creation of original theatre

• Ability to generate textual material in a variety of creative methodologies;
• Ability to select and structure textual material generated into an appropriate form demonstrating and understanding and use of:
• Style;
• Structure;
• Rhythm;
• Space;
• Line;
• Musicality;
• Performance energy;
• Ability to express a personal vision in terms of style and content;
• Ability to direct a small-scale theatre production;
• Ability to produce original small-scale theatre productions including the:
• Planning
• Fundraising;
• Administration of the run of the production in a theatre;
• Ability to organise, plan and lead a workshop or lesson in a variety of South African educational contexts;
• Ability to facilitate work in groups and the dynamics of groups;
• Ability to evaluate his/her own teaching and the teaching of other teachers/facilitators;
• Ability to document educational processes;
• Ability to develop educational policy and curricula.

Integrated Assessment

The competencies (as set out in Learning Outcomes) will be assessed across all qualification courses, using diverse combinations of formative and summative assessment methods. Written assignments will be assessed through class tests, research essays, short written reports and theatre reviews, reflective performance journals and research portfolios. In written examinations, essays answers will be favoured, both prepared and unprepared, with the occasional use of ready diagrams and support material. In practical coursework, learners will be set a variety of tutorial assignments on an ongoing basis. During the preparation of these assignments, there will be a continuous evaluation of the process by a tutor, and the performance of these assignments there will be verbal assessment by both staff and students.