course-details-portlet

DRA1001

Themes in Theatre History

Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.

Credits 15
Level Foundation courses, level I
Course start Spring 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Portfolio

About

About the course

Course content

This course gives a practical-theoretical introduction to the history and development of theatre in a global perspective. Different theatre forms and traditions are approached from historical, aesthetic and social perspectives, through theoretical and practical teaching methods and archival research on historical sources.

The course looks for example at the development of European/Western theatre, its forms and functions; and further on Norwegian theatre history from the Renaissance until today, with an emphasis on the development of Norwegian theatre institutions. The course also looks at a selection of non-Western theatre traditions and offers critical perspectives through readings of decolonial and feminist historiography.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have knowledge:

  • about forms of drama and theatre in western and non-western contexts.
  • about the historical development and function of theatre.
  • about typical theatrical genres and ways of communicating in different epochs.
  • of basic academic terminology and historiographical research methods.

Skills

Upon successful completion of this course, students will know how to:

  • Present an overview of the diversity of the field of drama and theatre.
  • Use academic terminology to describe and analyse phenomena in the field of theatre.
  • Find, apply and critically assess different sources of historical information.

Learning methods and activities

The instruction in this course consists of lectures, seminars, group work, oral presentations and practice sessions/workshops.

Students are required to keep updated on messages from the department or the lecturer at Blackboard.

Compulsory assignments

  • Approved attendance and participation of at least 80% of instruction
  • Group work with submission of powerpoint slides in blackboard and oral presentation
  • Oral presentation of a self-chosen topic

Further on evaluation

The portfolio assessment in the subject Themes in theater history is based on the following submissions:

  • 2 brief papers discussing assigned topics from the curriculum
  • Project description with poster.
  • Written submission with further development of self-selected theater history project
  • The assignements in the portfolio should be uploaded to Inspera

There is a 3-day home exam as the form of assessment for a re-sit exam.

Specific conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required:
Drama and Theatre (BDRAMA)
Drama and Theatre (ÅDRAMA)

Required previous knowledge

None.

Course materials

Approx. 1200 pages of set texts, included plays and individually chosen literature.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
HFDT101 15 sp
This course has academic overlap with the course in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Drama and Theatre Studies

Contact information

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Art and Media Studies

Examination

Examination

Grade: Letter grades

Examination arrangement: Home examination

Re-sit examination - Autumn 2025

Home examination
Weighting 100/100 Date Release 2025-10-07
Submission 2025-10-10
Time Release 10:00
Submission 10:00
Duration 3 days Exam system Inspera Assessment

Examination arrangement: Portfolio

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

Portfolio
Weighting 100/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment