Reading Drama

This course serves both as a survey of drama from its origin in Eastern and Western theatre up to the twenty-first Century, and as an introduction to the analysis of drama, theatre, and performance, taking examples from various national theatres to illustrate analytical models. In order to emphasise the performance element, film adaptations of the dramatic text or recordings of the plays, if available, will form part of the course material, as well as the written versions. Depending on the schedules of local theatres, it is hoped that some actual performances may be included as course material. Ultimately, students will gain an understanding of the dramatic works in their theatrical, social and historical contexts as well as develop a vocabulary of key dramatic terms that will facilitate discussion of the dramatic genre.