This unit is taught through seminar based sessions. It will develop in students a shared critical vocabulary and the ability to master and apply a range of analytical strategies and procedures. Students will undertake an analysis of the visual, spatio-temporal and actional bases of theatre being introduced to theatre semiology and semiotics, and to the critique of these approaches. There will be an exploration of the links between contemporary practices and theoretical material, both modernist and postmodern and students will be expected to initiate and engage constructively in debates with regard to issues, agendas and interpretation. The unit will explore the culture bases for judgements of taste and value, with specific reference to the subjective/objective, phenomenological/ontological debates. This is an essential area of study enabling the student to pursue the development of a critical/analytical and documentation based archive which will allow them to engage appropriately, in semester four, with the task of researching and writing the Dissertation or critical report.