KTB219 Directing

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This intermediate praxis unit investigates notions and functions of direction and creative leadership in the fields of theatre, drama, mediated and live performance. Through engaging with models of directorial best-practice and examining influential practitioners you will unpack the process of leading creativity from both a collaborative and personal perspective, with the aim of achieving a unified creative vision in consideration of emerging ideas in sustainability, diversity and technology and how these things may shape considerations of leadership. Whether within conventional hierarchical structures or collaborative models, delivering creative outcomes requires not only knowledge of the personal, logistical, curatorial, and sustainable artistic processes of creation, but also an understanding of the processes to safely navigate from concept to fullest expression.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Communicate a creative vision.
2. Apply theoretical and practical understanding of directing to create a resolved vision.
3. Analyse and evaluate creative leadership in action.
4. Demonstrate problem solving skills and responsiveness to achieve a creative idea/outcome.

Content

Learning Approaches

Through a combination of lectures, tutorials and workshops, this unit will expose you to different viewpoints and opinions regarding approaches to creative leadership; and you will be given the opportunity to pursue a personal line of inquiry according to your specific career aspiration or interest. As such, this unit offers a practical engagement with creative leadership. Wherever diverse teaching and learning materials are utilised, the unit follows the First Peoples First principle. The unit also refers to the Australia Council's Protocols for producing Indigenous Australian performing arts where appropriate.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways: 

• a range of formative tasks and roles will be offered to facilitate progressive feedback to assist you in your learning 
• feedback on summative assessment work in addition to criteria sheets, both for group work and individual endeavour 
• criteria sheet grading.

Assessment

Overview

There are two assessments for this unit. Assessment Item 1 is a practical examination, where you will direct a short scene from a play. Assessment Item 2 is a professional plan - conceptual, where you will present your own individual creative vision for a creative work.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Practical Examination

You will rehearse and direct a short scene from a dramatic text, which will be presented under live, pre-determined performance conditions. 

Assessment: Professional Plan - Conceptual

You will research and analyse a dramatic text from the point of view of a director. You will then prepare a professional plan detailing your conceptual vision for that work if you were to direct it as a live production, pitched to an appropriate company, venue or festival of your choice.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

All students are requested to visit and review the Health and Safety information on the HiQ web pages (CIESJ Tier 1 HSE requirement) 

For some students, this unit also may also require a Tier 2 CIESJ Health and Safety Induction which is provided by the technician on site in the theatre, workshop or studio. 

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

For risks associated with using campus buildings or QUT facilities, refer to the HiQ Health and Safety information. For CIESJ Tiers 2 and 3 Health and Safety requirements, you will be instructed on safe procedures and the required safety gear for all studio and workshop processes that are demonstrated.

As all performance-makers understand, creating a performance potentially carries with it certain physical and/or emotional risks, both in the rehearsal room and in the theatre. Indeed taking risks is an integral component of the art form’s processes. Some rehearsal warm ups and exercises, and some performance events may include physically or emotionally strenuous activities. Managing this risk to ensure working conditions are safe, is always a high priority in the production process. It is therefore extremely important that if you are aware of personal physical or emotional vulnerabilities that make you feel unsafe or at risk in any way, you should immediately inform your tutor or director or stage manager, so that your situation can be evaluated and appropriate rectifying action can be taken.

Theatres and other performance spaces are also potentially dangerous places, particularly backstage during performances when low light conditions prevail. You will be warned by the stage manager, the production manager or the director of any specific risks that you will need to be aware of, when your project team first moves into the theatre. Whenever moving into a new performance space, you should always conduct your own risk assessment, and notify your team or director of any hazards you have personally identified. 

Every effort is made by Drama staff at QUT to ensure that you work in a safe environment. Conversely you are absolutely expected to follow all safety rules, procedures and directions, and to ensure that you do not put at risk the safety of others, or yourself, or of the highest artistic fulfilment of the project in any way.

Course Learning Outcomes

CA01 Bachelor of Creative Arts

1. Cite and discuss a broad and coherent knowledge of historical and contemporary cultural contexts for creative practice, including the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges.
   Relates to: ULO2, Practical Examination, Professional Plan - Conceptual
2. Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the techniques and concepts underpinning your field of creative practice.
   Relates to: ULO3, Practical Examination
3. Demonstrate complex problem solving through iterative experimentation and the creative and critical development of ideas and outcomes.
   Relates to: ULO4, Practical Examination, Professional Plan - Conceptual
4. Communicate, represent, and promote your work in ways relevant to your creative field.
   Relates to: ULO1, Practical Examination, Professional Plan - Conceptual
5. Discern, critically analyse, and synthesise knowledge in complex creative and critical settings.
   Relates to: ULO3, Practical Examination
6. Work productively as a leader and collaborator in disciplinary and interdisciplinary practices.
   Relates to: ULO4, Practical Examination, Professional Plan - Conceptual
7. Formulate and apply an independent perspective through contextual research, reflection, and by acting on the informed critique of others.
   Relates to: ULO1, Practical Examination, Professional Plan - Conceptual
8. Operate with initiative, ethical judgement and professionalism, both alone and in groups.
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Practical Examination, Professional Plan - Conceptual