Course Description Develop your potential for artistic leadership and knowledge of your practice as a director, artist, performance-maker, collaborator and researcher. TAKE ON ONE OF THREE SPECIALISATIONS The course enables your individual pathways to be forged through three major streams of contemporary performance practice: directing and performance making; practice-led research; and applied performance in intercultural and community engagement contexts. COLLABORATIVE LEARNING Experience a wide range of collaborative opportunities and leadership roles with designers, actors, production teams, writers, dramaturgs and choreographers - both nationally and internationally. THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL LEARNING The program is delivered through lab-based workshops, seminars, lectures, self-directed exercises, tutorials, practical master classes, and national and international internships. The course offers a balance of theory and practice across the four semesters, organised to allow for a progression from the intensively-taught, skills-based, first year to a more independent, project-orientated second year which culminates in an independent, practice-led research performance project or written dissertation. Subjects studied PERFORMING ARTS RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES Learn about the relationship between research and practice within the context of practice led research. And develop research methodologies appropriate to their practice. DIRECTING METHODOLOGIES Through skills classes and seminars the subject explores the role of the director as part of a creative team, defining the skills, qualities and processes that are essential to the practising professional director. Areas of skill development include poetic research, creative exploration from text, journaling, text selection and analysis. DRAMATURGY, TEXT AND PERFORMANCE Focus on high level close reading and analysis of existing plays and scenarios drawn from a range of texts, including: Greek, Shakespearean, and nineteenth century through to realist and anti-realist movements and contemporary developments. CROSS DISCIPLINARY LABORATORY This subject focuses upon the potential for interplay and dynamic dialogue between various disciplines and the building blocks of performance creation. Practical/ studio based classes provide interaction with other discipline streams to develop communication and collaborative skills. DRAMATURGY AND LIVE PERFORMANCE The subject aims to use the practical and theoretical exploration of the concept of performance dramaturgy to develop students’ potential to make theatre and become reflective theatre practitioners, aware of the relationship between theatre and society. This subject introduces students to the concept of dramaturgy as a critical tool in devising live performance. PERFORMANCE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Examine the social, cultural, artistic, philosophical and ethical content and context of the interface of performance with Community and Cultural Development (CCD) practice in Australia and internationally. Study will be conducted through lectures, readings, group discussions, workshops and visiting talks from leading practitioners. APPLIED PRACTISE: COMMUNITY FACILITATION Explore the practical skills involved in designing and implementing performance workshops in a Community Cultural Development (CCD) context. Produce a detailed journal, reflexive essay and lead a 20-minute creative arts workshop.