My area of focus within teaching has been to design and deliver modules and courses around Contextual Studies for professional performers/creatives training on Degree courses/ in higher education- typically in UK drama schools, from foundation to MA/MFA. This also included more senior roles as Head of Studies, with a greater emphasis on pastoral and academic support throughout students' overall learning journeys.

 

Contextual studies can encompass a broad range of areas of study, and so the content I work with can include sessions and courses from cultural histories that contextualise the emergence of theatre/performance in the UK, to providing sessions that illuminate and demystify the practical and professional contemporary contexts which graduates will have to negotiate.

 

Within this range also sits the imperative for emerging performers/creatives to be reflective, autonomous and forward thinking artists, who can generate and shape their own content and ideas, not just intepret the work of others. So within the scope of my teaching are also courses and sessions intended to enable students to develop their own work, build critical thinking, research and reflective strategies and to encourage them to build sustainable careers.

 

CURRENT CONTEXTUAL STUDIES COURSES / CLASS PORTFOLIO

 

• Histories of theatre, literature & culture (primarily Western/UK)

• Practical Research approaches for creation of performance

• Writing and Creating performance

• Practical Criticism and text analysis

• Introduction to reading film (for the actor)

• Reflective practice for the actor

• Personal development and wellbeing

• Research Ethics for actors/makers

• Cultures and Contexts of Realism/naturalism

• Cultures and Contexts of Non-naturalism

• Professional Preparation

• Preparing for Drama School

• Playing with Space, place, objects and time

• Theatre and Society