Diploma in Theatre and Performance

Purpose

The primary goal of the Performer's Diploma in Theatre programme is the production stage and musical theatre actors, steeped in the traditions and processes of creating South Africa theatre and performance. The programme emphasises the need to produce diplomats who can adapt to the changing conditions of an industry in flux, diplomats skilled in the ability to generate their own creative work and employment opportunities in the field of traditional theatre, musical theatre, industrial theatre and in related fields.

Rationale

The performer's Diploma in Theatre programme is premised on the view that

1. South African Theatre is key to creating, not only South Africa's artistic identify, 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, tourist and advertising industries of this country.

The Performer's Diploma in Theatre seeks to foster a multi-lingual, multicultural approach in the creation and performance of theatre. The programme aims to recruit the best students 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)

Access may be granted through RPL

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• A National Senior Certificate.

N/A

1. Conceptualise, create and produce original pieces of theatre and/or music theatre in a variety of contexts and languages at a basic professional level.
2. Manage the technical and human resource aspects of theatre production and employ lateral thinking skills to transform/adapt knowledge and skills from the realm of 'pure' drama activity and research to other fields such as human resource development, the media industry, education.
3. Perform a range of classical and contemporary theatre pieces in a variety of contexts and languages at a basic professional level.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Critically understand written texts of descriptive, prescriptive and argumentative characters.
• Produce written texts of limited descriptive, prescriptive and argumentative characters to accepted international standards in his or her specific field of training (as these may exist at the time of his or her graduation).
• Find information of professional relevance efficiently and independently.
• Use and organize such information to conduct systematic research aimed at providing answers to questions whose resolutions are not antecendently known, or to verify answers that are assumed on the basis of 'accepted wisdom'.
• Understand and critically appreciate the contribution of major artistic and cultural activities and performances to community and national life.
• Use information-technology standard in professional offices (at the time of his or her diplomation) efficiently and independently.
• Use the internet to find and access information.
• Understand when and how to acknowledge the limitations of his or her own expertise and elicit the more appropriate expertise of others.
• Understand and internalise as a personal value the importance of conducting professional activity within the scope of national, provincial, municipal and international law.
• Appreciate the importance of life-long learning and the importance of self-initiative in pursuing it.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Analyse and understand a variety of signifying practices that make up the weave of social and cultural life.
• Understand the historical dimensions of cultural and signification.
• Use a limited range of theoretical frameworks to evaluate phenomena critically and in a limited intellectually rigorous way.
• Read and interpret the visual, discursive, linguistic and cultural signs and stimuli in the world around him/her.
• Write and speak with some clarity and fluency, ideally n more than one language, but at least in English.
• Exercise imagination and creativity in a range of expressive activities.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Be conversant with a range of theoretical and performance traditions from different cultural contexts.
• Be conversant with some elements of current performance theory and contemporary performance practice.
• Be conversant with some philosophical, theoretical and methodological aspects of Drama in Education and Theatre for Development.
• Use the voice effectively in a range of theatre/musical theatre contexts.
• Critically analyse performance.
• Construct a theoretical argument at a basic level.
• Inform the student's own theatre and performance practice.

Integrated Assessment

The competencies (as set out in the Learning Outcomes) will be assessed by means of diverse combinations of formative and summative assessment methods. Written assignments will be assessed through class tests, short written reports and reflective performance journals. In written examinations, essays will be favours, both prepared and unprepared, with the occasional use of prepared diagrams and support material. In practical coursework, students 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 process by a tutor, and the performance of these assignments there will be verbal assessment by both staff and students.

In the final year of the PDT students will be assessed through their participation in a system of integrated assessment tasks including:

1. The performance of an audition programme reflecting a series of contrasting performance extracts.
2. The creation and performance of a piece of physical theatre.
3. Participation in written examinations.

The student's performance in the above will be assessed on the basis of his/her ability to integrate the physical, vocal, emotional, intellectual, creative and inter-personal skills acquired through the individual courses of the programme in a coherent manner.