Communications, Drama and Film – Practice Blog

Communications, Drama and Film – Practice Blog

Celebrating the breadth and variety of practical work in the department

Drama

  • A Christmas Carol
    Drama academic Tony Lidington is giving his candle-lit reading of ‘A Christmas Carol’ as Charles Dickens again this year. The readings are in Teignmouth at St Michael’s Church on Saturday 21st December and Dawlish at The Strand Centre on Monday 23rd December.Both are free, atmospheric, Yuletide events for all the family – all donations are distributed… Read more: A Christmas Carol
  • Intermedial Performance Practice
    Intermedial Performance Practice is a seminar module, which explores the close interrelationship of live performance with other forms of media – from film projections on stage to the use of motion capture, from experimentations with sound to the influence of video games on immersive theatre, from NT Live broadcasts to Zoom shows. In addition to… Read more: Intermedial Performance Practice
  • Eco-Theatre: Outdoor and Immersive Performance
    On this practical 2nd level module, students are set an assignment to create an outdoor performance which enhances environmental awareness and facilitates human-nature connectedness.
  • MA Theatre Practice Alumni News
    It is always wonderful to hear from our MA Theatre Practice alumni who are arts practitioners, educators and researchers around the globe.In the last weeks, we received some brilliant messages and information about their recent activities: Millie Sale (MATP 2023-2024) performed in Kelvin Wong’s cross-cultural, intermedial and environmentally sustainable piece Unsilent Mode in September 2024. Details: https://www.unsilentmode.com/In November 2024, Millie also assisted… Read more: MA Theatre Practice Alumni News
  • Physical Performance
    Level 3, Physical Performance, Micro Performance (assessment) sharing, Roborough Studios Tech designed and composed by the students. With thanks to the tech team and Francis Parker for supporting this student led learning.  In this practice-led module,  Every. Body. Is welcome. Through practical experimentation students research the many uses of the word ‘physical’, they play and… Read more: Physical Performance
  • Ensemble Acting Showings
    On 26, 27 and 28 November, the students of DRA2109 Ensemble Acting Co-Creation shared their final performances to invited audiences. The work was diverse and varied, ranging from highly physicalised dance theatre (Chains of Silence) through to a farcical murder mystery romp (Relatively Dead) through to a thoughtful naturalistic piece about isolation and friendship, captured… Read more: Ensemble Acting Showings
  • The Luminous
    Prof Rebecca Loukes’ Practice Research project exploring women’s bodies as sites of resistance completed its 10-venue run this Autumn with three nights at Theatre Royal Plymouth.  The Luminous was created by RedCape Theatre written by Catherine Dyson.  Funded by Arts Council England, commissioned by Corn Exchange Newbury and supported by University of Exeter and South Street Arts,… Read more: The Luminous
  • Presessional with Punch
    There’s no better way to finish the first day of the Comms/Drama/Film presessional research event than with a new Punch and Judy performance – part of The Judy Project looking at gender in this historical artform. As always, the glorious campus and Roborough Studios provides the perfect backdrop.
  • MA Theatre Practice Residency at the Shakespeare’s Globe
    In early May 2024, the students of the MA Theatre Practice (Training & Performance Pathway) took up a week-long residency at The Globe. Their course consisted of acting, voice and movement classes, alongside tours of the buildings, lectures, performances and a Q&A with Associate Artistic Director Sean Holmes. The MA Theatre Practice has a longstanding… Read more: MA Theatre Practice Residency at the Shakespeare’s Globe
  • What is there left for art to do?
    Thank you so much to T.Sasitharan from Intercultural Theatre Institute Singapore for an inspiring workshop with our MAs, PhDs and undergrads on interculturalism and theatre followed by a thought-provoking Research Seminar titled ‘What is there left for art to do?’
  • Theatre is Dead! Long Live Theatre!
    The Term 3 Festival launched with a world premiere of a new dark comedy written by Peter Oswald and performed by Peter and Howard Gayton, as part of his PhD Drama practice. The performance took place in Roborough Studio 1 on 2nd & 3rd May 2024.
  • The Judy Project premiere in London
    Sunday 12 May 2024 – Shows throughout the day 12:30 – 17:30Come to see a Punch & Judy like none you have seen before! Spike “Bones” Lidington will premiere his show at the 49th annual Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival. Watch Ms Judy take centre stage as she navigates Mr Punch’s shenanigans, police harassment and questions their 360-year relationship.… Read more: The Judy Project premiere in London
  • Popular Performance Practices
    2nd year students performing with their ‘Royal Box’ peepshow outside the Roborough Building, inspired by working with the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum collection and Dr Tony Lidington on the ‘Popular Performance Practices’ module.
  • Punch in May
    Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Alissa Mello, is collaborating on a new Punch and Judy show with the fabulous Spike “Bones” Lidington, Tony “Uncle Tacko!” Lidington, and Promenade Promotions (http://www.prom-prom.com/) in consultation with Naomi Paxton (http://www.naomipaxton.co.uk/) . The show is being developed as part of The Judy Project (https://thejudyproject.exeter.ac.uk/), a three-year trans-historical study of women practitioners, and (re)presentation(s) of gender and… Read more: Punch in May
  • Devising Discovery Day
    Our second year Applied Drama students, facilitated by Erin Walcon and her team at Doorstep Arts, have run a weekend Devising Discovery Platform event for students from local schools. The students took part in a series of workshops led by the students and created a performance shown at the Exeter Northcott Theatre in the evening.… Read more: Devising Discovery Day
  • MA Theatre Practice
    Course leader Konstantinos Thomaidis ended the term with these words: 145 hours of training later… Term 1 of studio work for the MA Theatre Practice 2023 wraps up! A polaroid that couldn’t fit us all — I find this quite appropriate, accurate even:how does one capture in a single frame the careful listening or collective… Read more: MA Theatre Practice
  • Physical Performances
    The 3rd year Drama module ‘Physical Performance’ held a series of showings with minimal (but carefully curated) technical and practical elements. Led by tutor Emily Kreider, the groups created some powerful images, soundtracks and thoughtful performances. Photos and technical support by Lewis Mcguire
  • Experimental Showings Bauhaus Inspired
    For the 2nd year optional Drama module ‘Theatres of Space, Form and Colour’, students explore histories, concepts, contexts and techniques relevant to European modernist experimentation with performance, with an emphasis the influence of the visual arts. Their final showing in Studio TS3 used media elements along with vibrant LED lighting colours to great effect. Photos… Read more: Experimental Showings Bauhaus Inspired
  • Comedy Approaching
    Second-year Drama optional module Approaches to Comedy introduced a range of performance styles and techniques and culminated in a showing in Roborough Studios.
  • Ensemble Acting: Co-Creation
    This new Drama module involved the students working in small companies to co-create new pieces of performance, led by tutors Erin Walcon and Caleb Lee. The performances shown in the photo gallery below took place in our studios in the Alexander Building and at Roborough Studios. Photos courtesy of Erin Walcon