Arts Menu
Bachelor of Arts, Theatre – Applied Creative Arts Major
Major improvements have been made to our Theatre Major and Minor programs.
Our new alignment within the Department of Languages, Literatures and Performing Arts will allow performance students to engage in more fulsome training. Through creative writing and developing scripts, students broaden and apply their performance skills in either or both disciplines of creative arts and theatre.
Playwriting students collaborate with senior directing students on final projects. Students learn and practice story construction, plot development and character interpretation from the practitioner’s point of view.
New applied creative arts major requirements
- 51 total theatre credits and all other general requirements of the Bachelor of Arts degree (120 credits total), including a minimum of 21 credits (seven courses) in first and second year.
New applied creative arts minor requirements
- 33 total theatre credits and all other general requirements of the degree.
Admitted major or minor students can focus on either theatre or creative writing. Prospective students are encouraged to plan their studies with Arts Advising and program coordinators to satisfy the major and minor parameters.
| Lower-level specific required courses |
THTR 1200 Introduction to Theatre 2 (3,0,0) THTR 1200 Introduction to Theatre 2 (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Through this lecture and discussion-oriented course, students explore the various aspects of theatrical processes such as acting, playwrighting, directing and designing. Students participate in in-depth discussions of theatre history, theory and criticism with a focus on significant theatrical movements around the world. Students explore the connection of these movements with local culture and historical events, comparing and contrasting western theatrical movements with those from a range of diverse cultures. |
CRWR 1150 Introduction to Creative Writing (3,0,0) CRWR 1150 Introduction to Creative Writing (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students explore the field of creative writing by composing original creative works in three of the four following literary genres: poetry, fiction, drama, and creative non-fiction. Students develop skills in close critical and creative reading comprehension and the application of literary techniques by analyzing classic and contemporary literary works. Through developmental exercises on creative writing techniques, writing workshops, and peer review, students practice discerning the elements of writing craft and developing skills for creating image, voice, character, setting, and structure. Students also learn how to employ grammatical, linguistic, and stylistic conventions appropriate for compositions in each genre.
Prerequisites: English Studies 12 or First Peoples 12 with a minimum of 73% or equivalent
|
| Lower level – six courses from the following list |
THTR 1210 Introduction to Acting (4,0,0) THTR 1210 Introduction to Acting (4,0,0)Credits: 3 credits In this course, students focus on the analysis and development of character portrayal. Students work with a script from the school of Realism and study the actor's role in the performance situation. Students engage in partnered work as an essential component of the course.
|
THTR 2110 Acting and Character Portrayal 1 (3,1,0) THTR 2110 Acting and Character Portrayal 1 (3,1,0)Credits: 3 credits In this intermediate performance course, committed acting students will further develop and polish the skills associated with the onstage presentation of fully drawn characters. Students analyze and practice the necessary techniques to effectively communicate a character's intentions, obstacles, and relationships to a theatrical audience. Students will also explore a given character's communication with other characters, evaluating specific obstacles to effectiveness.
|
THTR 2210 Acting and Character Portrayal 2 (3,1,0) THTR 2210 Acting and Character Portrayal 2 (3,1,0)Credits: 3 credits In this intermediate performance course, a continuation from THTR 2110, committed acting students further develop and polish the skills associated with the onstage presentation of completely drawn characters. Students analyze and practice the necessary techniques to effectively present character portrayals from the contemporary theatre. Exploration includes character and scene analysis, drama, comedy, and monologues.
|
THTR 2120 Introduction to Theatre Production 1 (2,0,5) THTR 2120 Introduction to Theatre Production 1 (2,0,5)Credits: 3 credits In this hands-on practical course, students learn and practice elementary principles of scenery and properties construction, stagecraft, lighting, electrical and audio operations, and costume construction. Students complete a practicum assignment working on an Actors Workshop Theatre production |
THTR 2220 Introduction to Theatre Production 2 (2,0,5) THTR 2220 Introduction to Theatre Production 2 (2,0,5)Credits: 3 credits In this continuation of THTR 2120, students learn and practice intermediate aspects of scenery and properties construction, stagecraft, lighting, electrical and audio operations, and costume construction. Students also learn the fundamentals of stage management. Students complete a practical assignment working on an Actors Workshop Theatre production.
|
CRWR 2060 Creative Writing - Fiction (1,2,0) CRWR 2060 Creative Writing - Fiction (1,2,0)Credits: 3 credits Students explore the genre of literary fiction by composing original works of short fiction. Students develop skills in close critical and creative reading comprehension and the application of literary techniques by analyzing classic and contemporary short fiction. Through developmental exercises on creative writing techniques, writing workshops, and peer review, students practice discerning the elements of writing craft and developing skills for creating image, voice, character, setting, and structure. Students also learn how to employ grammatical, linguistic, and stylistic conventions appropriate for short story compositions.
|
CRWR 2070 Creative Writing - Drama (1,2,0) CRWR 2070 Creative Writing - Drama (1,2,0)Credits: 3 credits Students explore the genre of drama writing by composing original short stage plays. Students develop skills in close critical and creative reading comprehension and the application of literary techniques by analyzing classic and contemporary stage plays. Through developmental exercises on creative writing techniques, writing workshops, and peer review, students practice discerning the elements of writing craft and developing skills for creating image, dialogue, character, stage directions, and structure. Students also learn how to employ grammatical, linguistic, and stylistic conventions appropriate for stage play compositions. |
CRWR 2080 Creative Writing - Poetry (1,2,0) CRWR 2080 Creative Writing - Poetry (1,2,0)Credits: 3 credits Students explore the genre of poetry writing by composing original poems. Students develop skills in close critical and creative reading comprehension and the application of literary techniques by analyzing classic and contemporary poetry. Through developmental exercises on creative writing techniques, writing workshops, and peer review, students practice discerning the elements of writing craft and developing skills for creating image, voice, character, setting, and structure. Students also learn how to employ grammatical, linguistic, and stylistic conventions appropriate for poetry compositions. |
| Upper level – ten of the following courses Students must include choose one capstone course and a minimum of two THTR courses and two CRWR or ENGL courses. |
THTR 3230 Advanced Theatre Production 1 (2,2,0) THTR 3230 Advanced Theatre Production 1 (2,2,0)Credits: 3 credits An advanced, practical course exploring direction and coordination of technical theatre elements such as lighting, sound, costumes, props and set that were introduced in THTR 2120 and THTR 2220. This course will include practicum work associated with all Actor's Workshop Theatre productions.
|
THTR 3240 Advanced Theatre Production 2 (2,2,0) THTR 3240 Advanced Theatre Production 2 (2,2,0)Credits: 3 credits An advanced, practical course building on Advanced Theatre Production 1. This course further explores direction and coordination of technical theatre elements such as lighting, sound, costumes, props and sets. This course will include practicum work associated with all Actors Workshop Theatre productions.
|
THTR 3300 Movement for the Stage(2,2,0) THTR 3300 Movement for the Stage(2,2,0)Credits: 3 credits A performance oriented course designed to develop awareness of physical approaches to stage performance. Areas of study include various movement based approaches to individual character creation, devised theatre, alignment, analysis, impulse, improvisation, isolation, articulation, breath and text.
|
THTR 3410 Design for the Theatre 1 (2,2,0) THTR 3410 Design for the Theatre 1 (2,2,0)Credits: 3 credits This practical course explores the basic principles and techniques of design for the theatre including set, props, lighting and costume. This course includes practicum work associated with all Actors Workshop Theatre Productions. |
THTR 3420 Design for the Theatre 2 (2,2,0) THTR 3420 Design for the Theatre 2 (2,2,0)Credits: 3 credits This practical course explores the basic principles and techniques of design for the theatre including set, props, lighting and costume and includes practicum work associated with all Actors Workshop Theatre Productions. This course is a continuation of THTR 3410.
|
THTR 3500 Play Production 3 (1,0,8P) THTR 3500 Play Production 3 (1,0,8P)Credits: 3 credits Play Production is designed for students who have auditioned and been cast in a TRU Actor's Workshop stage production. Students rehearse and perform for public presentation the play that is staged in the appropriate semester.
|
THTR 3600 Advanced Acting and the Rehearsal Process (2,2,0) THTR 3600 Advanced Acting and the Rehearsal Process (2,2,0)Credits: 3 credits This upper division performance course emphasizes students externalizing the inner character in conjunction with work in textual analysis, and internal techniques with characters from full-length contemporary plays. Students will apply their knowledge of character analysis and creation from prerequisite theatre courses and will work with student directors where they gain knowledge and experience with the role of the actor in a formal rehearsal setting.
|
THTR 3610 Advanced Acting and Performance(2,2,0) THTR 3610 Advanced Acting and Performance(2,2,0)Credits: 3 credits In this upper division performance course, students create characters and work as actors in a formal rehearsal setting. Acting students work with student directors where they learn and practice the role of the actor in this arena. Students can transfer and adapt these skills to many other teamwork environments and are encouraged to expand their understanding and experience past their degree. In the final assignment for this course, students perform a role in a one-act play for the Senior Showcase, which is the final production of the season for the Actors Workshop Theatre.
|
THTR 3800 Voice for the Stage (2,2,0) THTR 3800 Voice for the Stage (2,2,0)Credits: 3 credits In this performance oriented course, students will develop an approach for the establishment of a personal vocal production technique designed for the demands of stage performance. Students will engage with areas of study including breath, alignment, various vocal elements as well as the basics of speech.
|
THTR 3990 ***Selected Topics in Theatre (2,2,0) THTR 3990 ***Selected Topics in Theatre (2,2,0)Credits: 3 credits This is a variable content course that changes from semester to semester. Generally, the topics in this course complement or lie outside regular program offerings. Students engage in diverse, practice-based approaches to productions. Areas of study may include the business of acting, musical theatre, mask, devised theatre, and stage combat.
|
THTR 4000 Directing for the Stage (3,2,0) THTR 4000 Directing for the Stage (3,2,0)Credits: 3 credits Senior theatre students study the process of stage direction and the development of a method for transferring the script to the stage. Students apply creative and critical thinking to analyze a script and develop a director's vision for the realization of a production. Students work with student actors where they learn and practice the role of the director in a formal rehearsal setting.
|
THTR 4010 Advanced Directing- Theatre Capstone Course (3,2,0) THTR 4010 Advanced Directing- Theatre Capstone Course (3,2,0)Credits: 3 credits This course is the culmination of the theatre major. Students will apply their knowledge of performance, acting, theatre history, theatre technology and directing to their work in this course. Senior theatre students advance their study of the process of stage direction and the development of a method for transferring the script to the stage. Students apply creative and critical thinking to analyze a script and develop a director's vision for the realization of a production. Students work with student actors where they learn and practice the role of the director in a formal rehearsal setting. The final assignment for this course is directing a one-act play for the Directors Festival, which is the final production of the season for the Actors Workshop Theatre
|
THTR 4500 Play Production 4 (1,0,8P) THTR 4500 Play Production 4 (1,0,8P)Credits: 3 credits Play Production is designed for students who have auditioned and been cast in a TRU Actor's Workshop stage production. Students rehearse and perform, for public presentation, the play that is staged in the appropriate semester.
|
THTR 4600 Acting Styles 1 (2,2,0) THTR 4600 Acting Styles 1 (2,2,0)Credits: 3 credits This course examines 2 classic scripts and the eras in which they were written, through performance and dramaturgy, in order to comprehensively study select styles of acting from significant periods in history.
|
THTR 4610 Acting Styles 2 (2,2,0) THTR 4610 Acting Styles 2 (2,2,0)Credits: 3 credits Building on THTR 4600, this course examines 2 classic scripts and the eras in which they are written through performance and dramaturgy in order to comprehensively study select styles of acting from significant periods in history.
|
THTR 4900 Directed Studies - Special Topics in Theatre Arts (3,0,0) THTR 4900 Directed Studies - Special Topics in Theatre Arts (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits This course is designed for theatre majors in their final year of studies. Students are provided an opportunity to work on a special topic in Theatre Arts with an individual Theatre Arts faculty member. Topics may include history, theory, criticism, performance, and technical theatre studies.
|
CRWR 3330 Special Topics in Creative Writing CRWR 3330 Special Topics in Creative WritingCredits: 3 credits Students perform close critical and creative readings of texts related to the chosen special topic, demonstrating fluent comprehension and depth of understanding. Students critically identify and evaluate the use of historical conventions, narrative structures, and literary techniques found in the works of professional writers, peers, and self. Students apply advanced fiction-writing techniques for image, voice, character, setting, structure, and mechanics necessary to compose a significant portfolio of original creative work. Students compose various original works through independent writing practice, and subsequently reflect on, evaluate, and re-evaluate serial revisions. Through developmental exercises, workshops, and peer review, students engage independently and collaboratively in critical and creative processes. Students communicate using cognitive and affective skills to engage specific audiences.
Prerequisites: 6 credits of first-year English (with the exception of ENGL 1150) and completion of 45 credits or permission of the instructor or department chair
|
CRWR 3340 Writing Speculative Fiction (3,0,0) CRWR 3340 Writing Speculative Fiction (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students perform close critical and creative readings of science fiction, post-apocalyptic, and prehistoric fiction, demonstrating fluent comprehension and depth of understanding. Students identify and evaluate the use of historical conventions, narrative structures, and literary techniques common to these genres, found in the works of professional writers, peers, and self. Students creatively apply advanced fiction-writing techniques for image, voice, character, setting, structure, and mechanics necessary for a portfolio of original creative work. Students engage in independent writing practice, and subsequently reflect on, evaluate, and re-evaluate serial revisions. Through developmental exercises, workshops, and peer review, students practice independent and collaborative critical and creative processes. Students communicate using cognitive and affective skills to engage specific audiences with the discerning use of abstract and concrete language.
Prerequisites: 6 credits of first-year ENGL (with the exception of ENGL 1150) or equivalent and completion of 45 credits or permission of the instructor or department chair.
|
CRWR 3360 Advanced Short Fiction Writing CRWR 3360 Advanced Short Fiction WritingCredits: 3 credits Students perform close critical and creative readings of short fiction, demonstrating fluent comprehension and depth of understanding. Students identify and evaluate the use of historical conventions, narrative structures, and literary techniques common to short fiction, as found in the works of professional writers, peers, and self. Students apply advanced fiction-writing techniques for image, voice, character, setting, structure, and mechanics necessary to compose a portfolio of original creative work. Students compose works of short fiction ranging up to 10,000 words in length through independent writing practice, and subsequently reflect on, evaluate, and re-evaluate serial revisions. Through developmental exercises, workshops, and peer review, students engage independently and collaboratively in critical and creative processes. Students communicate using cognitive and affective skills to engage specific audiences with the discerning use of abstract and concrete language.
Prerequisites: 6 credits of first-year English (with the exception of ENGL 1150) and completion of 45 credits or permission of instructor or department chair.
|
CRWR 3370 Novel Writing (3,0,0) CRWR 3370 Novel Writing (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students perform close critical and creative readings of novels, demonstrating fluent comprehension and depth of understanding of course texts. Students critically identify and evaluate the use of historical conventions, narrative structures, and literary techniques common to the craft of novel writing, as found in the works of professional writers, peers, and self. Students creatively explore and apply advanced fiction-writing techniques for image, voice, character, setting, structure, and mechanics necessary to compose a significant portfolio of original creative work. Students compose novel scenes and the first 20 pages of a novel through independent writing practice, and subsequently reflect on, evaluate, and re-evaluate serial revisions. Through developmental exercises, workshops, and peer review, students engage independently and collaboratively in critical and creative processes. Students communicate using cognitive and affective skills to engage specific audiences.
Prerequisites: 6 credits of first-year English (with the exception of ENGL 1150) and completion of 45 credits or permission of the instructor or department chair.
|
CRWR 3380 Advanced Poetry Writing (3,0,0) CRWR 3380 Advanced Poetry Writing (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students perform close critical and creative readings of poetry, demonstrating fluent comprehension and depth of understanding. Students critically identify and evaluate the use of historical conventions, poetic structures, and literary techniques common to the craft of poetry, as found in the works of professional writers, peers, and self. Students apply advanced poetic techniques for image, voice, character, setting, structure, and mechanics necessary to compose a significant portfolio of original creative work. Students compose various original poems through independent writing practice, and subsequently reflect on, evaluate, and re-evaluate serial revisions. Through developmental exercises, workshops, and peer review, students engage independently and collaboratively in critical and creative processes. Students communicate using cognitive and affective skills to engage specific audiences with the discerning use of abstract and concrete language.
Prerequisites: 6 credits of first-year English (with the exception of ENGL 1150) and completion of 45 credits or permission of instructor or department chair.
|
CRWR 3390 Advanced Drama Writing (3,0,0) CRWR 3390 Advanced Drama Writing (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students perform close critical and creative readings of stage plays, demonstrating fluent comprehension and depth of understanding of course texts. Students critically identify and evaluate the use of historical conventions, structures, and literary techniques common to the craft of play writing, as found in the works of professional writers, peers, and self. Students creatively explore and apply advanced techniques for image, voice, character, setting, structure, and mechanics necessary to compose a significant portfolio of original creative work. Students compose various original dramatic scenes and a one-act play through independent writing practice, and subsequently reflect on, evaluate, and re-evaluate serial revisions. Through developmental exercises, workshops, and peer review, students engage independently and collaboratively in critical and creative processes. Students communicate using cognitive and affective skills to engage specific audiences.
Prerequisites: 6 credits first- year English (with the exception of ENGL 1150) and completion of 45 credits or permission of instructor or department chair.
|
CRWR 3410 Screenwriting (3,0,0) CRWR 3410 Screenwriting (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students perform close critical and creative readings of screenplays, demonstrating fluent comprehension and depth of understanding. Students critically identify and evaluate the use of historical conventions, structures, and literary techniques common to screenplay writing, as found in the works of professional writers, peers, and self. Students apply advanced writing techniques for image, voice, character, setting, structure, and mechanics necessary to compose a portfolio of original creative work. Students compose various original scenes and a short screenplay through independent writing practice, and subsequently reflect on, evaluate, and re-evaluate serial revisions. Through developmental exercises, workshops, and peer review, students engage independently and collaboratively in critical and creative processes. Students communicate using cognitive and affective skills to engage specific audiences with the discerning use of abstract and concrete language.
Prerequisites: 6 credits of first-year English (with the exception of ENGL 1150) or equivalent and completion of 45 credits or permission of the instructor or department chair
ENGL 1150 is recommended.
|
ENGL 3120 Indigenous Dramas (3,0,0) ENGL 3120 Indigenous Dramas (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students examine plays by Indigenous peoples with a focus on understanding the connections between traditional storytelling and staged works. Issues of ethnicity, appropriation, hybridity, historical revisionism, canon formation, and cultural stereotyping may be discussed. Students study plays in their historical and cultural contexts and examine the development of First Nations theatre.
|
ENGL 3650 Shakespeare (3,0,0)(3,0,0) ENGL 3650 Shakespeare (3,0,0)(3,0,0)Credits: 6 credits This course consists of lectures on various aspects of Shakespeare's art, and includes a detailed study of twelve plays.
|
ENGL 3660 Studies in Shakespeare (3,0,0) ENGL 3660 Studies in Shakespeare (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students demonstrate critical understanding of a chosen topic of focus in Shakespeare studies through close investigation, written composition, and argumentation. Through exploration and evaluation of the chosen topic, students show an advanced ability to critically and creatively analyze and articulate the complexities of various perspectives, techniques, rhetorical strategies, and assumptions employed by Shakespeare, and a mastery of independent research and application of existing knowledge. Students illustrate proficiency in scholarly writing with clear, persuasive, grammatically-correct style and appropriate documentation skills
|
ENGL 4130 Contemporary British Drama (3,0,0) ENGL 4130 Contemporary British Drama (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits This course surveys British drama from the 1950s, with Beckett's absurdist work and John Osbourne's hyper-realism, to the 1980s and 1990s' feminist cultural critiques by Caryl Churchill and Pam Gems.
|
ENGL 4220 Modern Canadian Drama on the Page, Stage, and Screen (3,0,0) ENGL 4220 Modern Canadian Drama on the Page, Stage, and Screen (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students can expect to become familiar with the themes and approaches of Canadian drama from 1967 to the present. Taking a survey approach, students study plays from different regions of Canada that represent a spectrum of approaches that may include postmodern, feminist, postcolonial, collective creations, and intercultural. Films or excerpts of some of these plays will be included, and students may be engaged with current local productions and with theatre professionals.
|
ENGL 4760 Editing and Publishing (3,0,0) ENGL 4760 Editing and Publishing (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits In this Capstone course for the English Major program, students will have an opportunity to hear invited speakers, for example Indigenous and non-Indigenous creative non-fiction writers. Students will develop practical skills in editing and publishing, with a focus on publishing peer authors' work, both academic and creative. They will gain hands-on experience editing and communicating with authors who have submitted their work to the Proceedings of the TRU Undergraduate Research and Innovation Conference, and they will also compose, revise, and edit their own creative non-fiction piece, as well as critique and copy-edit their peers' creative non-fiction. Students will learn about the publication process by working together to produce an online student creative writing publication. The course will be useful for literature students, creative writing students, and anyone else contemplating a career in publishing or teaching.
|
Focus in theatre major
Major focus in creative writing
