Prospectus 2012 - National School of Drama

Syllabus Syllabus
second year
third semester
Work in this semester focuses on classical traditions, both
Indian and non-Indian. Students select from two streams
of specialisation: Acting OR Theatre Techniques & Design.
Theatre History, Literature & Aesthetics, and Production
are subjects common to both.
ACTING
(Specialisation)
• Acting in classical Indian drama: study of the religious
roots of the form, stylized gestures, movement, dance
and purvarang (live music played before a performance).
• Acting in classical Greek drama: study of animal and
human masks, chorus, story-telling and verse-speaking.
• Scene-work on Parsi/Sanskrit/Greek theatre.
THEATRE TECHNIQUES & DESIGN
(Specialisation)
• Designing a classical text.
• History of theatre design, period costume, lighting,
poster designing, graphics and model-making.
THEATRE HISTORY, LITERATURE & AESTHETICS
(Common to students of both specialisations)
• Theatre history: oral myths, epics, Natyashastra, Poetics,
Greek and Sanskrit texts.
• Aesthetics: principles of Indian aesthetics, architecture
and painting.
PRODUCTION
(Common to students of both specialisations)
• Methodologies of production and direction.
• Productions will be opened to the public from this
semester onwards. They will include a Sanskrit/verse
play and a play based on a traditional form.
• There will be extensive field work in the regional roots of
the form. Actors will demonstrate and hone their acting
skills through these productions.
• Design students will participate in production work as
stage managers and apprentices in the fields of lighting,
set design and costume design.
second year
fourth semester
ACTING / THEATRE TECHNIQUES & DESIGN
(Specialisations)
• Acting for Shakespearean texts will include training for
a performance on an open stage, and verse and prose
speech.
• Acting for farce will include clowning routines, maskwork
and work on commedia del’arte (methods of
improvisation in comedy and farce).
• Scene-work will be performed on a Shakespearean text
or farce. Related work on speech, movement and music
will continue.
THEATRE HISTORY, LITERATURE & AESTHETICS
(Common to students of both specialisations)
• History of Indian and non-Indian theatres will continue
with additional inputs on Indian folk texts and
adaptations.
PRODUCTION
(Common to students of both specialisations)
• A public performance, either a farce or a Shakespearean
play, will be prepared and staged.
12 13