XII. Course Descriptions

Theatre Studies

School of English and Theatre Studies

NOTES: Admission to the following courses is not guaranteed, and is by audition, submission of a portfolio and/or interview only:

THST*3110 [0.50] Acting II
THST*3120 [0.50] Acting III
THST*3410 [0.50] Special Studies in Production I
THST*3420 [0.50] Special Studies in Production II
THST*3600 [0.50] Directed Readings and Special Independent Studies
THST*3620 [0.50] Special Studies Seminar
THST*3630 [0.50] Special Studies in Studio Practice
THST*4090 [0.50] Directing
THST*4250 [0.50] Honours Project in Theatrical Production
THST*4650 [0.50] Honours Essay

For times and dates of auditions, interviews, or the deadline for applications, students should consult the School.All students applying for entry to these courses must obtain the signature of the Theatre Studies Program advisor or the Director, who will admit students only after consultation with the instructor.

Iterations of some courses may include field trips for which there are supplemental fees.

The Theatre Studies program has a particular interest in the drama and theatre of Canada. Course offerings will reflect this concentration where appropriate.

THST*1040 Introduction to Theatre Studies F,W (3-0) [0.50]
This course introduces students to the disciplines and subject areas that constitute Theatre Studies at the university level, including the work of playwrights, directors, designers, actors and technicians in creating productions, and the scholarly study of theatrical history, theory and dramatic literature. Attendance at a number of performances is required, since these performances are among the "texts" for the course.
Equate(s): DRMA*1000
THST*1150 Seminar in Theatre Studies W (3-0) [0.50]
A focused study of a selected topic in a small-group learning experience. Students will be introduced to research methodologies and offered opportunities to strengthen their writing and speaking skills. Variable course content. Consult the School's website for current topics.
Restriction(s): Restricted to students who are declared majors in Theatre Studies.
THST*1200 The Languages of Media F (3-2) [0.50]
This introductory course examines film, radio, television, and digital media, focusing on the codes and conventions used by different media to create relationships between structure and content, to make meaning.
THST*2010 Theatre Historical Studies F (3-0) [0.50]
This course will introduce students to the historical study of theatre by surveying developments in Western theatre from the classical period to twentieth-century modernism. Building on the historicity of Western theatre, the course also considers the historical conditions that have produced contemporary theatre practice in Canada.
Prerequisite(s): THST*1040
Equate(s): DRMA*2300, DRMA*3180
THST*2080 Acting I F,W (2-3) [0.50]
A studio course for drama students applying classroom theory to acting problems. The course is required of, but not restricted to, students in a drama specialization.
Prerequisite(s): THST*1040
Equate(s): DRMA*2080
THST*2120 Dramaturgy and Playwriting W (3-0) [0.50]
Students will study how plays are made. The course includes analysis of theatrical texts and exercises in scripting.
Prerequisite(s): THST*1040
Equate(s): DRMA*1050
THST*2230 Intro to Technical Theatre F,W (2-3) [0.50]
An introduction to the theory and practice of theatrical production, including sets, costumes, lighting, sound, props and technical drawing. Students are expected to serve on technical crews on some evenings and weekends during School productions.
Prerequisite(s): DRMA*1000 or THST*1040
Equate(s): DRMA*2220
THST*2240 Introduction to Theatre Design W (2-3) [0.50]
Students will be introduced to theories, techniques and materials in five areas of theatrical design: sets, props, lighting, sound, and costume. The course also considers the history of design for the theatre, attending to the relationship between design and other forms of cultural expression.
Prerequisite(s): DRMA*1000 or THST*1040
Equate(s): DRMA*2220
THST*2450 Approaches to Media Studies W (3-0) [0.50]
This course examines major approaches to the study of communication, including cybernetic, anthropological, semiotic and other perspectives, focusing on how people transmit information and construct meaning. (Offered in even-numbered years.)
Prerequisite(s): THST*1200
THST*2500 Contemporary Cinema W (2-3) [0.50]
The course is designed to give the student knowledge and understanding of contemporary cinematic expression.
Equate(s): DRMA*2500
THST*2650 History of Communication F (3-0) [0.50]
This course is organized around several revolutions in communication and technology: the evolution of human language; the development of writing systems and literacy; the invention and spread of printing and typography; and the beginnings of electronic communication and the digital revolution. (Offered in odd-numbered years.)
Prerequisite(s): THST*1200
THST*3030 Theatre for Young Audiences U (2-2) [0.50]
This is a studio course addressing selected topics dealing with theatrical practice for children and/or adolescents such as: creating theatre for young audiences; theatre as an instructional tool; teaching theatre to children; theatre games and play.
Prerequisite(s): 10 credits
Equate(s): DRMA*2400
Restriction(s): Students must be enrolled as a Major or Minor or area of concentration in Theatre Studies or B.A.Sc. Child, Youth and Family.
THST*3080 Acting Studio F,W (2-3) [0.50]
A studio course in acting that will address particular issues and techniques, and may conclude with a small-scale production.
Prerequisite(s): THST*2080
Equate(s): DRMA*3080
THST*3100 Screenwriting W (3-0) [0.50]
Students will be introduced to and be assessed on the various phases of the process of developing a film script, including developing a one-minute screenplay without dialogue; a five minute screenplay with dialogue; a strategy for “pitching” an idea to a producer; and the final script. Students will also conduct research on film scholarship and film reception, to contextualize their own writing. (Offered in even-numbered years.)
Prerequisite(s): 1.00 credits from THST*1200, THST*2080, THST*2120, THST*2240
Restriction(s): DRMA*3620, THST*3620
THST*3110 Acting II F,W (2-3) [0.50]
A continuation of THST*2080. Students will perform in a public production. Admission is by audition only.
Prerequisite(s): THST*2080
Equate(s): DRMA*3110
Restriction(s): Instructor consent required.
THST*3120 Acting III F,W (2-3) [0.50]
A continuation of THST*3110. Students will perform in a public production. Admission is by audition only.
Prerequisite(s): THST*3110
Equate(s): DRMA*3120
Restriction(s): Instructor consent required.
THST*3220 Technical Production I F,W (2-3) [0.50]
This course offers students advanced engagement with the theory and application of theatrical crafts, and includes work in a technical capacity on a School production.
Prerequisite(s): DRMA*2220 or THST*2230
Equate(s): DRMA*3220
THST*3230 Technical Production II F,W (2-3) [0.50]
A continuation of THST*3220, focusing on the theory and application of theatrical crafts, and including work in a technical capacity on a School production. Students will normally work in different capacities in THST*3220 and THST*3230.
Prerequisite(s): THST*3220
Equate(s): DRMA*3230
THST*3240 Theatrical Organization F (3-0) [0.50]
A study of various models of theatrical organization such as theatrical funding, board and management structures, production management, technical direction, and stage management, together with their implications for theatrical production and interpretation. (Offered in even-numbered years.)
Prerequisite(s): THST*2010, THST*2230
Equate(s): DRMA*3240
THST*3260 Shakespeare: Text & Performance S (3-0) [0.50]
The course offers an analysis of a selection of plays by William Shakespeare. In addition to textual analysis, the students will be introduced to the stage history of the plays being considered, with attention to conditions of production. The course normally will include consideration of plays by Shakespeare which are currently in production at the Stratford Festival; students will have the opportunity to see the plays in performance for which an additional fee may be charged. The course is taught as an intensive seminar in conjunction with the Stratford Festival and is offered in Stratford, Ontario.
Prerequisite(s): 2.50 credits in Theatre Studies including THST*2010 or 1.00 credits in English.
THST*3280 Theatrical Space W (3-0) [0.50]
This course is a study of theatrical space as it shapes performance, reception, social value and cultural meanings. It explores the nature of performance spaces and the relationship between performer and audience, and considers theoretical approaches to the problem of theatrical space, including analyses of cultural location, aesthetic spatiality, public space and kinaesthetic space. The course offers an historical overview of various theatre and non-theatre venues for performance from the perspectives of actors, directors, designers, technicians and audiences. (Offered in even-numbered years.)
Prerequisite(s): THST*2010, THST*2230
THST*3300 Sexuality and The Stage F (3-0) [0.50]
This course focuses on issues relating to the staging of sexuality. The course will theorize and historicize the representation of sexual diversity. Variable content course. Topics may include, for example, the theatrical staging of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people; queer theatre; and the privileging of heterosexuality on the stage. (Offered in even-numbered years.)
Prerequisite(s): THST*2010 or 1.00 credits in English
THST*3340 Voice and Text in Performance S (0-6) [0.50]
Within a studio context, students are introduced to techniques of voice, particularly in relation to performing verse. The course is taught as an intensive lab in conjunction with the Stratford Festival and is offered in Stratford, Ontario. The course may involve a lab fee. Admission to the course is by application to the School of English and Theatre Studies. Further information is available from the School.
Prerequisite(s): 2.50 credits in Theatre Studies including THST*3080 or THST*3110
Co-requisite(s): THST*3260
THST*3360 Political Intervention Theatre W (3-0) [0.50]
This course examines major theories, practices and textualities of radical theatre interventions in politics in the twentieth- and twenty-first centuries. It traces the historical development and genealogies of interventionist processes, with particular attention to the transnational circulation of practices and methods. (Offered in even-numbered years.)
Prerequisite(s): THST*2010 or 1.00 credits in English
THST*3410 Special Studies in Production I F,W (2-3) [0.50]
Students will serve in such capacities as stage managers, assistant stage managers, assistant directors, assistant designers, dramaturges, producers, or publicists on School productions, and will study the functions of these roles in theatrical production. Admission is by application to the School.
Prerequisite(s): THST*3220, (1 of THST*2120, THST*3240, THST*3430, THST*3460, THST*3480, THST*3700)
Equate(s): DRMA*3410
Restriction(s): Instructor consent required.
THST*3420 Special Studies in Production II F,W (2-3) [0.50]
A continuation of THST*3410. Students will normally work in different capacities in THST*3410 and THST*3420. Admission is by application to the School.
Prerequisite(s): THST*3410
Equate(s): DRMA*3420
Restriction(s): Instructor consent required.
THST*3430 Theatrical Design: Sets & Props F (2-3) [0.50]
This course provides a study of the history, theory, and practice of theatrical design, with focus on the principles of set and prop design. (Offered in even-numbered years.)
Prerequisite(s): DRMA*2220 or (THST*2230, THST*2240 )
Equate(s): DRMA*3430
THST*3460 Costume W (2-3) [0.50]
This course studies the art of costume design for the theatre, placing the discipline in historical and theoretical contexts while exploring the practice and art of costume design. The course covers the techniques, materials and language necessary to the costume designer's craft and role in the production of a work of theatre. At the instructor's discretion, the course may include the design of mask, makeup, wigs and accessories. (Offered in odd-numbered years.)
Prerequisite(s): THST*2230, THST*2240
Restriction(s): DRMA*3440
THST*3480 Lighting, Sound, Theatre Media F (2-3) [0.50]
The course studies theatrical lighting, sound, and media from the perspective of the designer. Through a combination of class instruction, demonstration and practical lab projects, the student will follow the process for the design of light, sound and media (theory and practice), from the first reading of a script through all of the stages that lead to the creation of a design. Special attention is given to analyzing scripts for visual and aural images. (Offered in odd-numbered years.)
Prerequisite(s): THST*2230, THST*2240
Restriction(s): DRMA*3440
THST*3530 Canadian Film F (2-3) [0.50]
This course is designed to give the student knowledge and understanding of Canadian film and film makers. (Offered in even-numbered years.)
Prerequisite(s): THST*1200 or DRMA*1500
Equate(s): DRMA*3530
THST*3540 World Theatre Cultures U (3-0) [0.50]
This course presents a focused study of theatrical traditions and dramatic practices (largely) outside European traditions. Variable content course. Consult the School's website for current topics.
Prerequisite(s): (THST*2010, THST*2120) or 1.50 credits in English
THST*3550 Theories of Drama and Theatre W (3-0) [0.50]
A study of selected theoretical approaches to the study of drama and theatre.
Prerequisite(s): (THST*2010 or DRMA*2300), THST*2120
Equate(s): DRMA*3550
THST*3600 Directed Readings and Special Independent Studies U (3-0) [0.50]
Independent study based upon bibliographies established in consultation with the instructor. An essay will normally constitute the written requirement for the course. Tutoring and/or consultation will be arranged, depending on the topic or materials for study. Special studies may also be arranged in the practical aspects of the theatre, with appropriate assignments, not leading to a production. Projects for this course are subject to the approval of the School, and must be submitted to the Director, on forms provided by the School, no later than the last day of classes in the semester prior to enrolment in the course.
Prerequisite(s): 3.00 credits in Theatre Studies including (DRMA*1050 or THST*2120), (DRMA*2300 or THST*2010)
Equate(s): DRMA*3600
Restriction(s): Instructor consent required.
THST*3620 Special Studies Seminar U (3-0) [0.50]
This seminar course provides for intensive study of a specific aspect of drama and/or theatre.
Prerequisite(s): 3.00 credits in Theatre Studies.
Equate(s): DRMA*3620
Restriction(s): Instructor consent required.
THST*3630 Special Studies in Studio Practice U (3-0) [0.50]
The course provides an intensive exploration of one aspect of studio practice: playwriting, acting, design or technical theatre.
Prerequisite(s): 3.00 credits in Theatre Studies including one of the following, as appropriate to the topic of the course: THST*2080, THST*2120, THST*2230, THST*2240.
Equate(s): DRMA*3630
Restriction(s): Instructor consent required.
THST*3650 Theatre Historical Studies Seminar F (3-0) [0.50]
This seminar course investigates a topic in theatre history. The course will further develop students' research skills and expertise in writing and speaking about scholarly materials in the discipline. Variable content course. Consult the School's website for current topics.
Prerequisite(s): (THST*2010, THST*2120) or DRMA*2300
Equate(s): DRMA*4300
THST*3660 Dramatic Literature and Theory Seminar W (3-0) [0.50]
This seminar course investigates an area of dramatic literature. The course will develop students' research skills and writing and speaking about scholarly materials in the discipline. Variable course content. Consult the School's website for current topics.
Prerequisite(s): THST*2010 or DRMA*2300
THST*3700 Fundamentals of Directing W (2-3) [0.50]
This course is a study of the basic theories of directing, complemented by practical in-class directing exercises.
Prerequisite(s): (DRMA*1050 or THST*2120), THST*2080
Equate(s): DRMA*3700
THST*3850 Canadian Drama and Theatre F (3-0) [0.50]
This course is a study of Canadian plays in their historical, cultural, and theatrical contexts.
Prerequisite(s): (DRMA*2300 or THST*2010) or 1.00 credits in English.
Equate(s): DRMA*3850
Restriction(s): DRMA*3331/2
THST*3950 Drama in London U (2-4) [0.50]
A course designed for students taking the London Semester consisting of a study of theatre events in London, through attending performances, reading texts and meeting for weekly seminars.
Equate(s): DRMA*3950
Restriction(s): Permission of the Co-ordinator of the London Semester.
THST*4090 Directing F (3-2) [0.50]
The application of the fundamentals of directing through a specific directorial assignment. Admission is by application to the School.
Prerequisite(s): THST*3700
Equate(s): DRMA*4090
Restriction(s): Instructor consent required.
THST*4250 Honours Project in Theatrical Production F,W (0-6) [0.50]
The completion, under direction, of a project in acting, directing, dramaturgy, design or technical theatre.
Prerequisite(s): THST*2010, THST*2120, (1 of THST*3110, THST*3220, THST*3430, DRMA*3440, THST*3480, THST*3700). Admission is by application to the School; see the Policy on the course posted on the School's website.
Equate(s): DRMA*4250
Restriction(s): Consent of both the instructor and the School are required.
THST*4280 Ensemble Project W (6-9) [1.50]
Students will engage throughout the semester with the processes of forming a theatre company, theorizing its organizational structure, and the particular project being undertaken, exploring fundraising and publicity exercises, casting, designing, dramaturging, directing, and mounting a production, and engaging in post-production analysis that assesses the social and theatrical impact of the decisions taken and procedures employed.
Prerequisite(s): (DRMA*1000 or THST*1040), (THST*2080 or THST*2240), (DRMA*2220 or THST*2230), THST*3550, THST*3850, (THST*3650 or THST*3660)
Restriction(s): Restricted to majors in the Theatre Studies Program who have completed a minimum of 14.00 credits.
THST*4320 Seminar in Dramatic Literature and Theory F (3-0) [0.50]
An in depth study of one aspect of dramatic literature written before 1900.
Prerequisite(s): (THST*3650 or THST*3660), THST*3850
Equate(s): DRMA*4320
THST*4330 Seminar in Canadian Drama and Theatre W (3-0) [0.50]
An in depth study of one aspect of Canadian drama and theatre.
Prerequisite(s): (THST*3650 or THST*3660), THST*3550, THST*3850
Equate(s): DRMA*4330
THST*4340 Playwriting F (3-0) [0.50]
This course is a study of the theory and practice of playwriting.
Prerequisite(s): (THST*3650 or THST*3660), THST*3850
Equate(s): DRMA*4340
THST*4650 Honours Essay U (3-0) [0.50]
The completion, under direction, of a scholarly essay in the study of drama and/or theatre. Admission is by application to the instructor.
Prerequisite(s): (THST*3650 or THST*3660), THST*3550, THST*3850
Equate(s): DRMA*4650
Restriction(s): Instructor consent required.
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