2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

PECI5504M Performance Design Praxis

60 creditsClass Size: 18

Module manager: Dr Yaron Shyldkrot
Email: y.shyldkrot@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

On this studio-based practical module, you will experiment with a range of scenographic materials and approaches to develop your performance-design skills and advance your creative practice as scenographers and makers of performance. Alongside tutor-led workshops and self-directed work, you will reflect on the development of your practice and evaluate it in relation to contemporary performance practices and wider issues in the field of performance design. As part of this module, you will stage and present design-led work for public audiences.    

Objectives

This module encourages students to experiment with scenographic performance and create new pieces of design-led performance as part of their development as practitioners. They meet these aims through the following objectives:
* Work collaboratively and experimentally with specialist resources
* Create work for public audiences
* Record and critically reflect on practical work

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you will be able to:

1. Create original design-led performance work through inquiry-driven practical experimentation.
2. Demonstrate a contextualised understanding of Performance Design processes and practices and be able to apply them to your own development as a creative practitioner.
3. Develop ways of documentation and reflection to demonstrate a synthesis between theory and practice.
4. Reflect critically on your professional development as a designer and performance maker.

Skills Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, you will have had the opportunity to acquire the following skills:
5. Develop and extend your skills in design and creation of performance as part of continuing professional development
6. Use self-directed learning to plan and make effective decisions in complex and unpredictable situations
7. Work collaboratively and sustainably with peers and technical staff within resource constraints and Health and Safety requirements
8. Communicate your vision as a designer effectively using a range of media

Competence Standards
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following competence standards:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the creative development and current debates in the field through their practical work
2. Take an experimental approach to developing practical work whilst working effectively within constraints of time and available resources
3. Demonstrate ability to use reflection as a means of developing their own capacity in the field of scenography/performance design

Syllabus

Staff-led practical workshops will introduce you to a range of design-led performance-making approaches. In the sessions, you will experiment with various scenographic materials, elements and techniques (e.g. lighting and projection, sound, costume, spatial design) and consider key concerns when presenting performance work (e.g. immersion, sustainability, audience engagement and agency)

Indicative content includes:
* Postdramatic performance and scenographic storytelling Light and sound art Projection
* XR (Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality, Augmented Reality)
* Immersive theatre and installation art
* Participatory performance and socially engaged practices
* Site-specific work
* Ecoscenography

You will also work independently and develop original design-led performative interventions in response to assigned briefs. Following work-in-progress showings, you will devise and present new design-led performance work open to the public.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Supervision	3	0.50	1.50
presentation	10	5.00	50.00
Practicals	2	6.00	12.00
Practicals	7	3.00	21.00
Practicals	11	6.00	66.00
Practical	7	3.00	21.00
Seminar	2	2.00	4.00
Private study hours			424.50
Total Contact hours			175.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			600.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Practicals/workshops:

This will form an important aspect of every tutor-led workshop. Feedback/feed-forward will also be continuously given on the development of performance work (small interventions and work in progress presentations).

In particular, weeks 11 + 17 will consist of interim showing (of festival/group work) with formative feedback (from staff) ahead of further development.

Seminars:

* Seminar 2 (before Easter break): The session will be a debrief following the public sharing. Dedicated to formative feedback (peers, self-assessment and tutors), this seminar is an opportunity to discuss responses and experiences of performance work presented, consolidating reflections ahead of the viva and informing the development of the portfolio.
* The second seminar will offer guidance and preparation for the viva. This session will facilitate group reflections on project development as well as personal progress.

Tutorials

The module also includes three 1:1 tutorials
* The first tutorial (Sem1) offers interim review of documentation collated for portfolio ensuring students are engaged with logging and capturing practical work.
* The second tutorial (Sem2, before Easter) will review and offer more student specific guidance on the practice portfolio
* The third tutorial will be an opportunity for formative feedback on preparation/plans for the viva.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Presentation	Performance presentation of design-led work (normally 30 mins)	40.00
Assignment	20 oral exam	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Re-sit task for the performance element will normally be a presentation of practice (either individual or in a small group of students needing to re-sit) in a theatre studio in August re-sit period. Where this is not possible, an alternative assessment will be a development of the students’ practical log with a proposal for a performance in a theatre studio and evidence of consultation with theatre technical team. Re-sit for the oral exam is the same task, but may be conducted online.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 16/01/2024

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