Drama reading list

Hi! I want to study drama at uni in 2007 and was wondering whether i should read any specific books, or just plays?

Thanks! :smile:

Reply 1

Acaila

What sorta drama course are you looking at (or where do you want to study might be easier to answer)?

Reading plays always helps though :smile:

Reply 2

mazvaz

Acaila

What sorta drama course are you looking at (or where do you want to study might be easier to answer)?

Reading plays always helps though :smile:

This is the sort of question i'm always getting thrown at and i really don't know! :redface:

I've looked at warwick, royal holloway, really interested in kent, bristol, lancaster, exeter and the courses are quite varied. I'm fascinated by all aspects of drama and i'm really started to be appealed by the theory side of drama. Since i've done lots of performing and practical stuff, perhaps books on theory?

Reply 3

Cressie

It is always good to read books from Stanislavski, Brecht, Meyerhold, Cohen, Bogart and so on... :smile:

Reply 4

Ginger-Ice

I wouldn't of thought studying before hand much a big issue, most of the stuff you need will be explained when you first get there. Drama theory i've found is basically just common sence stuff, nothing challenging, it's just knowing how to explain WHY you did something. There is no plays you could really look at because you don't know what you'll be studying until you get there. I'd say just put your feet up and relax, I'm going to do performing arts in Sept and i'm just waiting to see what happens. xx

Reply 5

Acaila

Saying that you have read books/plays can help your application though.
e.g. when on the phone to a tutor from my course re. my application I mentioned reading plays by Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Moliere, etc. which seemed to impress.

If there are any playwrights/periods you are particularly interested in, you could read some books about those

Kristin Linklater I think the name is has got some good stuff on more performance theory type stuff I believe - recommended by a practical tutor of mine. Oh, and Uta Hagen's book that I've forgotten the name of....anyway look for stuff by Uta Hagen :smile:

Reply 6

koolgal01

Instead of just reading plays, try and go to the theatre as much as pos. That way you will have a wide knowledge of plays but also learn about acting from the good and bad points of the performances.

Reply 7

hippychick2101

Read as many plays as possible. Read anything by Peter Brook, especially The Empty Space. Theres so much you should read but for good reads before u go i'd advise these. Plus anything by Patsy Rodenburg x

Reply 8

Acaila

Both of the above are good recommendations :smile:

Reply 9

happydinosaur

Seeing as I still have no reading list and can't find one online I might have a look at the books suggested in this thread. Just been trying to read lots of plays really..Currently reading 'six characters in search of an author' which is a curious play.

Reply 10

Acaila

happydinosaur - I don't have a reading list either. Managed to find stuff for one module on the library website (but I only read for that module last year when I needed to for an essay :biggrin:

). There's a book you might be interested in - The Wadsworth Anthology of Drama - gigantic book with about 52 plays from ancient greek to contemporary (you mentioning six chars reminded me because that's in it). It's got a lot of stuff any drama student would probably read because it covers so many periods, plus it has critical intros and lots of additional info. It was a recommendation on our initial reading list last year because so many plays from our reading list are on it!

I think I'll go read a book on ATHENS about Stan, Brecht et al :biggrin:

Reply 11

music__lover

my reading list is as follows:
Devising theatre - Alison Oddey
Beginning theory, an introduction to literary and cultural theory - Peter Barry
Learning through theatre - Tony Jackson
Impro - Keith Johnstone
Attempts on her life - Martin Crimp
Three sisters - Chekhov
4.48 Psychosis - Sarah Kane

This is for drama, applied theatre and eduction, so there will probably be variations depending on the course. These are all excellent though if you're interested in any of the thoery, no matter what the course.

Reply 12

Acaila

I used Keith Jonstone's impro last year.
Wouldn't have used any of the plays though - we barely did anything post Shakespeare last year because our big theory classes start at the beginning and go chronologically :smile:

Reply 13

teletom

i've got my readinbg list and im findg it very fustrating...devising performance has alwasy been something we've been taught to just do...now i have to read books that explain and make seem like science. i know it ahs to be done its just a bit annoying.
the basic theories every student should know is brecht and stanivlaski. obv theres others but they're the two everyone shuyd know.
T

Reply 14

Acaila

Good book called Systems of Rehearsal is on our reading list atm. IIRC it has Brecht, Stan, Grotowski and Brook in it and all the upper years on my course are telling us to buy it.

Reply 15

judi_lover

koolgal01

Instead of just reading plays, try and go to the theatre as much as pos. That way you will have a wide knowledge of plays but also learn about acting from the good and bad points of the performances.

i agree!

less of the reading...and more of the watching!

Reply 16

happydinosaur

koolgal01

Instead of just reading plays, try and go to the theatre as much as pos. That way you will have a wide knowledge of plays but also learn about acting from the good and bad points of the performances.

I never have any money because I go to the theatre far too often. I do need to get into the habit of reading plays more though..Bought a copy of The History Boys yesterday, such a great read. After seeing it last week I just had to go out and get a copy because it is fantastic.