Teaching Responsibility

LJMU Schools involved in Delivery:

LJMU Partner Taught

Learning Methods

Practical
Tutorial
Workshop

Module Offerings

6500ATCD-SEP-PAR

Aims

This module aims to provide a solid theoretical and practical foundation in the use of theatre and drama as a means of advocacy and/or consultation in a local democracy context. Central to the module is the practical application of workshop techniques designed to aid a community group in the identification, reflection and articulation of issues of concern with a view to developing dramatic material and participatory strategies to present these issues to appropriate decision makers.

Module Content

Outline Syllabus:Phase 1 (2-3 weeks) The introductory phase of module will be characterised by an exploration of traditional and contemporary perspectives on democracy followed by an in depth consideration of the notion of the Citizen Artist and the use of theatre in an advocacy/democratic context. Research tasks specific to a host organisation (usually a Local Authority) will be undertaken culminating in a series of formative presentations and a short political knowledge test. In parallel students will undertake a short taught course in the use of rhetoric and persuasive oratory to serve as a foundation the performance and presentations at the end of the project. Phase 2 (10 weeks) The host organisation will facilitate introduction to Community groups that wish to take part in the project. Students will split into small teams and work with each group on a weekly basis to create a piece of participatory Theatre for Democracy that will represent the participant’s concerns to an audience of local politicians and other decision makers. Weekly taught sessions will continue introducing and exploring practical skills to support each sub-phase of the project (Group building/ Identifications of Issues/Devising/Rehearsing). Each team will also be allocated a supervising tutor and host organisation contact. Towards the end of the phase each team will submit a short Project Brief outlining the issues their group will be exploring, the techniques used and the likely technical and budgetary requirements for their performance. Phase 3 (1 week) Each group will present their work at a People’s Parliament event that will take place within the host organisation. After input from the project team the host organisation contacts will lead on inviting councillors and decision makers to attend. All other aspects of the performance will be managed by the project team. Phase 4 After the performance each team will collate and develop an evaluation before giving a formal presentation to a Local Area Partnership (or similar) about the project. Following this each project team will take part in a staff facilitated Self and Peer Assessment and Accreditation process. In this session marks will be negotiated to recognise each individual team member’s contribution to the group process.
Additional Information:Brendon Burns is the Module Leader. (b.burns@lipa.ac.uk)

Assessments

Practice
Presentation
Presentation
Portfolio