The AusMat Drama Studies course aims to enable students to develop a high level of knowledge and skill within the mediums of Theatre and Drama. As opposed to straight Drama subjects it teaches from a holistic viewpoint, demonstrating the importance of an historical and theoretical knowledge of theatre practices, as well as practical experience.

Students will be studying texts from around the world, including their three main plays: The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams (USA); The Bottomless Well by Arifin C. Noer (Indonesia); and Summer of the Aliens by Louis Nowra (Australia). Their studies will enable them to critically assess the plays’ structure, dialogue and characters whilst simultaneously appreciating the variety of manners in which they may be staged.

Performing is, of course, central to the students understanding of theatre. Opportunities to act out segments of the three plays will augment their learning process, allowing them to experience the play ‘on the stage’ as opposed to ‘on the page’. Students will also be motivated to utilise improvisation in an effort to strengthen their understanding of characterisation and their ability to create theatre, as individuals and as a group. In order to facilitate this aspect of the course they will also be instructed on basic physical and vocal warm-up techniques.

Finally students will be encouraged to learn about the central figures that have shaped theatre as we perceive it today. These often conflicting viewpoints will not be presented as hard and fast rules but as suggestions, allowing each individual to develop their own ideas and theories about putting theatre into practice. By the end of the two years they will be in a position to demonstrate their personal findings by translating them into building a performance.