5XÉçÇøÊÓƵ

Staging the Renaissance: Shakespeare (Q3059)

15 credits, Level 5

Spring teaching

We will consider a range of Shakespeare's plays (comedies, tragedies, tragi-comedies and romances) from different stages of his career, analysing the playwright's stagecraft, his use of language and his reworking of traditional forms for the commercial stage. While you'll explore some recent adaptations for stage and screen, you will focus on the plays as produced in their original historical and cultural contexts. 

The module will familiarise you with Renaissance drama's negotiation of contested social and political issues at the turn of the 17th century. You'll investigate the social processes of the theatre – notably the playhouses used by Shakespeare's company (the Theatre, the Globe and Blackfriars) – and focus on the interplay of Shakespearean texts and their performance in the production of meaning.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 22 hours of contact time and about 128 hours of independent study. The 5XÉçÇøÊÓƵ may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.