Course coordinator
Dr Emma Cole
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
This course uses a series of important "posts" (including post-modern, post-colonial, post-dramatic, post-human, post-feminist, and post-capitalist modules) as a framework to explore contemporary performance texts and forms. Students will study some of the most interesting plays and performance texts of the last two decades in order to begin thinking about the question: if we really are post-everything, then what exactly is the state of current national and international theatre?
Welcome to DRAM2040 Contemporary Theatre and Performance!
This semester you are going to be introduced to some of the most exciting contemporary performance texts from Australia and around the globe. You are also going to be introduced to important critical theory that provides substance to the series of "posts" we are using to frame your study of contemporary theatre. The onus is going to be upon you to maintain a rigorous reading load alongside your enjoyment of these plays and performances. You will be expected to arrive at class each week having read the articles AND the plays, and to be ready to immerse yourself in an informed exploration of all of this learning during tutorials. Lectures will provide the context for the theory and the performance texts and help you make sense of the former and connect it to the latter.
It sounds like a lot of work - and it will be. But it will also be an exhilarating ride through the pre- and post-millennial theatre scene. Our aim is to provide you with all the tools you need to become the most astute appreciator - or even maker! - of contemporary performance you can be.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students are expected to have completed the prerequisite course DRAM1010. Introductory material covered in that course will be assumed as background knowledge.
Incoming Exchange Studies students are exempt from the requirement to have successfully completed DRAM1010 or DRAM1100.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
DRAM1010 or DRAM1100
Restrictions
Course offering may be cancelled unless a minimum of 20 students enrol.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Emma Cole
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Whilst every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you require assistance, please ensure that you email timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au from your UQ student email with:
- Your name
- Your student ID
- The course code
- A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference)
- Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP
Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team.
Aims and outcomes
- To introduce you to significant texts, key practitioners and key theoretical developments in the fields of an important series of "posts"ﾠas they apply to contemporary theatre studies. These mayﾠinclude postmodern, postcolonial, postdramatic, posthuman,ﾠ postfeminist and postcapitalistﾠtheories.
- To expand your capacity to analyse dramatic scripts and to support the practical tasks of creating and analysing performance.
- To make connections between theatre and the cultural and political world within which it is being created.
- To develop your oral and written communication skills.
- To develop your skills in working in groups to achieve a common goal.
- To encourage creativity, critical thinking and diligence in your research work.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Identify major concepts and practitioners in Australian and international contemporary performance.
LO2.
Understand the differences between analysing dramatic scripts and contemporary performances (that are often multidisciplinary).
LO3.
Understand the critical principles of postmodernism, postcolonialism, postdramatic theory, posthuman theory, and postfeminist and postcapitalist discourse; and be able to apply them to the creation and analysis of contemporary performance.
LO4.
Understand the role of performance as an expression of and response to contemporary social and political contexts.
LO5.
Employ appropriate research tools and critical reasoning to analyse texts, performances and performative processes in both theatre and non-theatre environments.
LO6.
Work collaboratively to create a unique performance project.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection, Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Participation
|
30% |
3/03/2025 - 12/05/2025
This is an in-person assessment completed during normal tutorial hours, with an accompanying blackboard post. |
| Essay/ Critique | Essay | 40% 2000 words |
17/04/2025 4:00 pm
Submit via TurnItIn through Blackboard |
| Performance |
Group Performance
|
30% 10 minutes |
19/05/2025
Performances due in tutorial |
Assessment details
Participation
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Oral, Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection, Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
3/03/2025 - 12/05/2025
This is an in-person assessment completed during normal tutorial hours, with an accompanying blackboard post.
Task description
This task assesses your engagement with the course across the Semester. Each week, your engagement with your course content and the tutorial activity (weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) is worth 3%.
For the first 2% of your participation mark, you will be assessed on the basis of three components: preparation for class; engagement with the learning activities in class; and respectful peer collaboration. You must bring a copy of the relevant text (e-copies are acceptable) and any additional material to every tutorial, and you must have read them at least once. Attendance itself is not sufficient to constitute 'participation'. Participation means wiling involvement, active engagement with the text and the tasks at hand, asking questions, working well in groups, and demonstrating evidence of having listened to the lectures. To receive full marks, your tutor will need to see evidence of you having engaged with this full spectrum of activity.
For the final 1% of your weekly participation mark, you will complete one blackboard post of 100 words, responding to a specific prompt. Some Blackboard Entries will require responses to visual and/or audio-visual material. Blackboard submissions are due by the commencement of your seminar each week.
Acting ability is not assessed. It is your responsibility to ensure that your attendance has been recorded.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Late submission is not possible for this piece of assessment.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. Students are NOT able to apply for an extension via the Unitask portal for this assessment item. Please contact your tutor/course coordinator directly to see if alternative arrangements are available.
Essay
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40% 2000 words
- Due date
17/04/2025 4:00 pm
Submit via TurnItIn through Blackboard
Task description
This essay is designed to enable you to demonstrate your acquired knowledge and research skills by writing on a specific aspect of contemporary drama in relation to postcolonial theatre. This task will assess your ability to:
- answer (or produce) a relevant and compelling research question
- provide an analytic approach to the topic and its relevant issues
- construct a strong argument
- provide evidence from the text (where appropriate) and/or secondary material to support this argument.
The referencing style used for Drama assignments is MLA, 9th edition.
A detailed assignment brief will be provided via Blackboard at the beginning of Semester.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Group Performance
- Identity Verified
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Performance
- Weight
- 30% 10 minutes
- Due date
19/05/2025
Performances due in tutorial
- Other conditions
- Peer assessment factor.
Task description
The group performance project is designed to enable you to demonstrate your familiarity with one of the final three ‘posts’ that we studied in class this semester, and to apply that thinking to the understanding of postdramatic theatre that we have focused on throughout the course. In groups of four to six, you are required to devise a performance based on one set of the paired texts studied from weeks 5 to 11, using postdramatic techniques to explore your chosen texts, and their associated 'post' identifier.
All group performance projects will be presented in lieu of week 12 tutorials.
A detailed assignment brief is available via Blackboard.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of Generative AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Recording of Oral and Practical Assessment
- All presentations will be recorded for marking purposes via recording facilities available where the assessment takes place (eg. ECHO360, Zoom, camera device)
- Recordings will be retained by the School of Communication and Arts for at least 12 months from the release of the final grade for the course.
- Recordings will be stored in a secure manner and will only be accessed by authorised school staff for the purposes of:
- Moderation of marking;
- Provision of feedback to the student(s) recorded; and/or
- Re-marking following a successful re-mark application.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. Students are NOT able to apply for an extension via the Unitask portal for this assessment item. Please contact your tutor/course coordinator directly to see if alternative arrangements are available.
Late submission
Late submission is not possible for this piece of assessment.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
- Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.
- Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is not available for some items in this course.
Additional assessment information
- Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator.
- Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request.
- Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
- Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Please see the online reading list for further reading suggestions, and in Learning Resources on UQ Learn there are additional readings available for each module.ﾠ
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Lecture |
Week 1: Introduction to Course This introductory lecture will contextualise the 'posts' framework we use throughout DRAM2040, starting with an introduction to postmodernism. |
Tutorial |
Week 1: No Class |
|
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Lecture |
Week 2: Postdramatic Theatre 1 This lecture will provide an introduction to postdramatic theatre. |
Tutorial |
Week 2: Postdramatic Theatre 1 This tutorial will explore scenes and concepts related to postdramatic theatre, with reference to Martin Crimp's Attempts on her Life. |
|
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Lecture |
Week 3: Postdramatic Theatre 2 An introduction to postdramatic theatre in an Australian setting. |
Tutorial |
Week 3: Postdramatic Theatre 2 This tutorial will explore scenes and concepts related to postdramatic theatre, with reference to Mary Anne Butler's Broken. |
|
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Lecture |
Week 4: Postcolonial Theatre 1 Introduction to postcolonial theory as it applies to Australian theatre. |
Tutorial |
Week 4: Postcolonial Theatre 1 This tutorial will explore scenes and concepts related to postcolonial theatre, with reference to Wesley Enoch's Black Medea. |
|
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Lecture |
Week 5: Postcolonial theatre 2 Introduction to contemporary Black British drama |
Tutorial |
Week 5: Postcolonial Theatre 2 This tutorial will explore scenes and concepts related to postcolonial theatre, with reference to Jasmine Lee-Jones' seven methods of killing kylie jenner. |
|
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Lecture |
Week 6: Returning to the postdramatic / essay bootcamp This week will return to our postdramatic theatre module, covering essential content missed in Week 3 due to Cyclone Alfred. We will also run an essay bootcamp in preparation for the major assessment. |
Tutorial |
Week 6: Returning to the postdramatic / essay bootcamp This week will return to our postdramatic theatre module, covering essential content missed in Week 3 due to Cyclone Alfred. We will also run an essay bootcamp in preparation for the major assessment. |
|
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Lecture |
Week 7: Postfeminist Theatre 1 Grrrrl Power. Introduction to the legacy of the in-yer-face movement and the dramaturgy of postfeminist playwriting. |
Tutorial |
Week 7: Postfeminist Theatre 1 This tutorial will explore scenes and concepts related to postfeminist theatre, with reference to Alice Birch's Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. |
|
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Lecture |
Week 8: Postfeminist Theatre 2 Development of post-feminist critical thinking as it applies to theatre, with reference to Ella Hickson's The Writer. |
Tutorial |
Week 8: Postfeminist Theatre 2 This tutorial will explore scenes and concepts related to postfeminist theatre, with reference to Ella Hickson's The Writer. |
|
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
Lecture |
Mid-Semester Break - No Class No lecture |
Tutorial |
Mid-Semester Break - No Class No tutorial |
|
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Lecture |
Week 9: Posthuman Theatre 1 Cyborgs, multi-media, and technology - what does it mean to be post-human? |
Tutorial |
Week 9: Posthuman theatre 1 Explore scenes and concepts. Work on Group Performance Project. |
|
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Lecture |
Week 10: Reading Week No tutorial due to public holiday |
Tutorial |
Week 10: Reading Week No tutorial due to public holiday |
|
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Lecture |
Week 11: Posthuman Theatre What happens when the post-human comes to term with ethics? |
Tutorial |
Week 11: Posthuman Theatre 2 Explore scenes and concepts. Work on Group Performance Project. |
|
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Lecture |
Week 12: Rehearsal and tech time The lecture slot in Week 12 will be devoted to technical/dress rehearsals for the group performance assessment. |
Tutorial |
Week 12: Assessment of performances In-class performance assessment |
|
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Lecture |
Week 13. Conclusion Reflection upon the course content and discussion as to the future directions of contemporary theatre and performance. |
Tutorial |
Week 13: No Class |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
Course guidelines
Communication Expectations
While you are a student at UQ, all communication must be conducted according to the UQ Student Code of Conduct. The UQ Library has a helpful Communicate and collaborate online module.
- Email is the primary way for you to send messages to, and receive information from, the School and our staff.
- You must use your UQ email address (not a private address) to communicate with staff.
- You should add a clear subject line, including course code, and a 2-3 word statement.
- You can send email at any time, however please do not expect responses outside normal working hours (Monday to Friday from ~8am to ~5pm).
- Emails that constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination against staff contravene the Student Code of Conduct. Emails like this will be reported to the University, and the matter will be pursued as misconduct.