Guide in PDF format

Important notice

The course guide is provisional.

The PDF version of the course guide may take a few days to become available in the DDD.

Theory and Practice of Theatre Reception

Code: 44819
Credits: 6

2026/2027

Degree programme	Type	Course
Theatre Studies	OB	1

Contact lecturer

Name :: Núria Santamaria Roig
Email :: nuria.santamaria@uab.cat

Teaching staff

: Francesc Foguet Boreu

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

In addition to having excellent linguistic competence in Catalan and Spanish, knowledge of other languages is extremely useful.

Objectives

From a historical perspective, the subject will approach the analysis of some of the most significant models of contemporary dramaturgy (from the historical avant-garde to the present). Theoretical approaches, critical approaches and reception analysis methods related to contemporary drama will be worked on. Specific dramaturgical paradigms will be contextualised, and some of the most aesthetically relevant texts/plays will be studied, considering contemporary critical reception and subsequent influence on the performing arts.

Learning outcomes

CA08 (Critically evaluate stereotypes and gender roles in theatre texts.) Critically evaluate stereotypes and gender roles in theatre texts.
CA19 (Formulate interesting questions and hypotheses which underline the value of a corpus of dramatic texts as both current and historical heritage.) Formulate interesting questions and hypotheses which underline the value of a corpus of dramatic texts as both current and historical heritage.
KA13 (Identify the elements and phenomena involved in the criticism and reception of contemporary dramatic literature.) Identify the elements and phenomena involved in the criticism and reception of contemporary dramatic literature.
KA14 (Describe contemporary dramatic texts in a contextualised and critical way, applying current methods for theatrical analysis and research.) Describe contemporary dramatic texts in a contextualised and critical way, applying current methods for theatrical analysis and research.
KA15 (Reflect critically on the performing arts in relation to anthropology, philosophy, and sociology.) Reflect critically on the performing arts in relation to anthropology, philosophy, and sociology.
SA12 (Evaluate spectacular phenomena in their synchronic and diachronic dimensions, based on specific theoretical paradigms.) Evaluate spectacular phenomena in their synchronic and diachronic dimensions, based on specific theoretical paradigms.
SA13 (Contrast approaches to and analysis methods for contemporary drama, explicitly recognising the source and acting based on scientific ethics.) Contrast approaches to and analysis methods for contemporary drama, explicitly recognising the source and acting based on scientific ethics.
SA14 (Use the specific terminology and the correct language register for scientific work.) Use the specific terminology and the correct language register for scientific work.

1st. PART (Francesc Foguet)

1. Theoretical approach to critical practice.

2. Literary criticism.

3. Spectacular criticism.

4. Critical trajectories: a case study.

2nd. PART (Núria Santamaria)

1. Theoretical approach to reception studies: definitions and ramifications of a field of study.

2. The dialectics between the past and the present.

3. Receptions and mediations.

4. The study of audiences. Specificities of applied theatre.

5. A case study.

Learning activities and methodology

Title	Hours	ECTS	Learning outcomes
Studying, reading articles and plays, elaborating and presentation of essays	60.5	2.42	CA08, CA19, KA13, KA14, KA15, SA12, SA13, SA14
Lectures and seminars	29	1.16	CA08, KA13, KA15, SA13
Discussions and elaboration of essays	15.5	0.62	CA08, CA19, KA13, KA14, KA15, SA12, SA13, SA14

The course combines:

- Lectures.

- Reading and analysis of various materials and documents on the subject.

- Essays in commenting on theoretical texts or plays and evaluating performances, critics or criticism.

- Individual or group essays.

Additional activities can be incorporated eventually.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title	Weight	Hours	ECTS	Learning outcomes
Attendance and active participation in the classroom	20 %	15	0.6	CA08, CA19, KA13, KA14, KA15, SA12, SA14
Exercises (P1)	40 %	20	0.8	CA08, CA19, KA13, KA14, KA15, SA12, SA13, SA14
Exercises (P2)	40 %	10	0.4	CA08, CA19, KA13, KA14, KA15, SA12, SA13, SA14

GENERAL

Class attendance (20%). Assessment will be based on interest in the subject, relevant participation in discussions and involvement in group dynamics.

PART ONE (Francesc Foguet)

1. Completion of an individual written assignment consisting of writing, in class, a review of a performance The following will be assessed: a) the ability to analyse and interpret; b) the linking of the course’s theoretical content with reflection on the proposed performance; and c) the reasoning and clarity of presentation.

2. A group presentation, delivered in class, on the career and work of a contemporary critic. The following will be assessed: a) the ability to apply the theoretical principles learnt; b) the depth of analysis of the case study; c) the analytical and critical interpretation of the bibliography; and d) the use of appropriate specialist terminology and linguistic register.

PART TWO (Núria Santamaria)

Written exercises: The written exercises will take place in class on 7 January 2017 and will consist of: 1) a short questionnaire on the main concepts covered during the course and 2) an open-ended question based on a text analysis. These are in-person assessments that students must complete without notes or any digital aids. The following will be assessed: a) the ability to integrate the theoretical foundations acquired; b) the analytical and critical interpretation of the recommended reading for the module; c) the strength of argumentation and clarity of presentation; d) the use of specific terminology and appropriate linguistic register; e) general proficiency in written language.

Additional Rules

This module does not include a single assessment system.

When each assessment activity takes place, lecturers will inform students via Moodle of the procedure and the date on which marks will be reviewed.

To be eligible for a resit, students must have been assessed on two-thirds of the total assessment tasks.

The following are excluded from the resit:

Part 1: attendance and the individual work

Part 2: attendance and in-class resit, and the second written exercise.

Students will receive a mark of ‘not assessable’ if they have not submitted more than 30 per cent of the assessment tasks.

Should a student commit any irregularity that could lead to a significant variation in the mark for an assessment, that assessment will be marked as 0, regardless of any disciplinary proceedings that may be initiated. Should several irregularities occur in the assessments for the same module, the final mark for that module will be 0.

In this module, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted at any stage. Any work containing AI-generated content will be considered a breach of academic integrity and will result in the assessment being marked as 0 and not eligible for resit, or, in more severe cases, in other sanctions

Bibliography

Provisional sources

Barthes, Roland (1969): Crítica i veritat, versió de Jaume Vidal Alcover, Barcelona: Llibres de Sinera.

(1993) Le plaisir du texte, Paris: Seuil.

Batlle, C.; Gallén, E.; Güell, M. (ed.) (2016) Drama contemporani: renaixença o extinció?, Lleida-Barcelona-París: Punctum / Institut del Teatre/ UPF / Université Paris-Sorbonne.

Bennet, Susan. (1997) Theatre Audiences: A Theory of Production and Reception, London - N. York: Routledge.

Benjamin, Walter. (1987) Dirección única, trad. de Juan J. del Solar i Mercedes Allendesalazar, Madrid: Alfaguara.

Berardinelli, Alfonso. (2016) Leer es un riesgo, trad. de Salvador Cobo, Madrid: Círculo de Tiza.

Berenguer, Ángel (1991). Teoría y crítica del teatro. Estudios sobre teoría teatral, Alcalá de Henares: Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Servicio de Publicaciones.

Bértolo, Constantino (ed.). (1990) El ojo crítico, Barcelona: Ediciones B.

Brenner, Jacques. (1970): Les critiques dramatiques, París: Flammarion.

De Matteis, Tiberia. (2008) La critica teatrale: come si analizza e si recensisce unospettacolo, Roma: Gremese.

Eagleton, Terry. (1999) La función de la crítica, trad. de Fernando Inglés Bonilla, Barcelona: Paidós.

Eco, Umberto. (1987) Lector in fabula: la cooperación interpretativa en el texto narrativo, Barcelona: Lumen.

Eco, Umberto. (1991) Els límits de la interpretació, Barcelon: Destino.

Eliot, T. S. (1967) Criticar al críticoy otros críticos, Madrid: Alianza.

Eliot, T. S. (1999) «Els límits de la crítica» [1956], a Sobre poetes i poesia, Barcelona: Columna, p. 121-138.

Fàbregas, Xavier. (1973) Introducció al llenguatge teatral, Barcelona: Edicions 62.

Fàbregas, Xavier. (1976) El teatre o la vida, Barcelona: Galba.

Fish, S. E. (1980) Is there a text in this class?: The Authority of Interpretative Communities, Cambridge: Mass, Harvard UP.

Fogel, Jean-François. (1986) «Un crítico con antenas», a Críticas ejemplares, Palma: Bitzoc, p. 105-109.

García Barrientos, José-Luis. (2017) Cómo se analiza una obra de teatro. Ensayo de método, Madrid: Síntesis.

Genette, G. (1982) Palimpsestes: la littérature au second dregré, Paris, Seuil.

Hamm, P. (1971) Crítica de la crítica, Barcelona: Barral.

Iser, Wolfgang (1985) L'acte de lecture. Théorie de l'effet esthétique, Bruxelles: Mardaga.

James, Henry (2008) La figura de la alfombra, trad. de Enrique Murillo, Madrid: Impedimenta.

Jauss, H. R. (1991) Teoria de la recepció literària: dos articles, Barcelona: Barcanova.

Kristeva, J. (1969) Semeiotikè. Recherches pour une sémanalyse, Paris: Seuil.

Le Calvez, E.; Canova-Green, M.C. (1997) Texte(s) et intertexte(s), Amsterdam: Rodopi.

Lehmann, H. T. (2006) Postdramatic Theatre, London - N. York: Routledge.

Limat-Lettelier, N.; Miguet-Ollagnier, M. (dir.) L'Intertextualité, Paris: Les Belles Lettres.

Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim.(1987) Dramatúrgia d'Hamburg, trad. deFeliu Formosa, Barcelona: Publicacions de l'Institut del Teatre.

Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim. (2007) Crítica y dramaturgia, trad. de Vicent M. Sanz Esbrí, Castelló: Ellago.

Mamet, David. (2011), Manifiesto, Barcelona: Seix Barral.

Mayoral, J. A. (comp.) (1987) Estética de la recepción, Madrid: Arco-Libros.

Pavis, Patrice. (1985) «Le discours de la critique dramatique», a Vers une théorie de la pratique théâtrale, Villeneuve-d'Ascq (Nord): Presses Universitaires du Septentrion p. 157-166.

Rancière, J. (2008), Le spectateur émancipé, Paris: La Fabrique.

Reich-Ranicki, Marcel. (2004) Los abogados de la literatura, Barcelona: Galaxia Gutenberg, Círculo de Lectores.

Reich-Ranicki, Marcel. (2014) Sobre la crítica literaria, Barcelon: Elba.

Romera Castillo, José (ed.) (2004) Teatro, prensa y nuevas tecnologías (1990-2003), Madrid: Visor.

Sanchis Sinisterra, J. (2002) La escena sin límites, Ciudad Real: Ñaque.

Sarrazac, J. P. (2000) Critique du théâtre: de l'utopie au désenchantement, Paris: Circé.

(2012) Poétique du drame moderne, Paris, Seuil.

Sarrazac, J.P. (dir.) (2005) Lexique du drame moderne et contemporain, Paris: Circé.

Steiner, George. (2017) Presencias reales. ¿Hay algo en lo que decimos?, trad. de Juan Gabriel López Guix, Madrid: Siruela.

Strauss, Botho .(1989) Crítica teatral: las nuevas fronteras, Barcelona: Gedisa.

Szondi, Peter. (1988) Teoria del Drama Modern (1880 - 1950), Barcelona: Institut del Teatre.

Valentini, Valentina. (1991) Després del teatre modern. Barcelona, Institut del Teatre.

Varney, D. et alii. (2025) Climate Theatre: Ecology and Performance in a Climate Emergency, London: Routledge

Wellek, René (1988) Historia de la crítica moderna (1750-1950). Versión española de Fernando Collar Suárez-Inclán. Madrid: Gredos

Software

None in particular

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching	Group	Language	Semester	Shift
(TEm) Theory (master)	1	Catalan	first semester	afternoon