FT1ITAI: Introduction to Acting 2: Text & Performance

Module code: FT1ITAI

Module provider: Film, Theatre and TV; School of Arts and Comm Design

Credits: 20

ECTS credits: 10

Level: 4

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor:

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 25 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This is a studio-based practical module which builds on the work of FT1ACT to continue the foundational skills in acting. You will explore acting methods, with a particular focus on text interpretation and characterisation. You will study and critically reflect on a range of contemporary and/or historical acting practices, directors, theorists and practitioners related to text in performance.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the performance possibilities of a theatre text, script or score and realise them in staged scenes.
2. Develop a creative and critically informed approach to characterisation and text, including an understanding of relevant theory.
3. Research and analyse relevant texts and theories related to performance, including the historical, social and political context.
4. Demonstrate professional and ethical behaviours relevant to the performance industry.

Module content

The workshops will lay the groundwork and cultivate the skills needed to create expressive and nuanced characterizations. They will also offer an opportunity to enhance critical and professional awareness of key issues and practices in theatre, actor training and performance. By utilising the text, students will learn to blend the styles, techniques, and skills developed in the workshops with their own distinct talents and abilities.

As well introductory practices and techniques, students will learn about key theories of acting and their relevant historical and social context. This may include practitioners and theorists such as Stanislavsky, Meisner, Hagen, Anne Bogart, Brecht and Katie Mitchell as an indicative selection. Students will do their own independent research after being introduced to key theories in class and analyse them in relation to their own practice.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module involves practical skills development and independent work in a studio environment. Workshops will be the primary teaching method. These workshops will have a practical focus but will also include introduction to key theories of acting, performance and actor training. Students will work in small groups to develop practical exercises in independent rehearsal time. Individual research will also be required as well as combining theory and practice in both the practical and written assessment.

Students should be prepared to memorise scripts and perform short scenes in a relatively short space of time in a collaborative environment. Professional and ethical behaviour, in line with industry expectations, will be in the rehearsal room. Accessible considerations will be provided in the form of reasonable adjustments.

A theatre trip may be included to draw inspiration and analyse the acting techniques.

Study hours

At least 40 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Formative feedback will be built into the workshops and will be given in class time.

Reassessment

Additional costs