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THPERF 102Introduction to Performance

Units
0.50
Faculty
Arts
Subject
Theatre and Performance
Cross-listed
COMMST 102

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

A foundational studio course introducing students to the creative processes of performance across a range of contexts. Students develop core performance skills through embodied practice, collaborative creation, and critical reflection. The course emphasizes physical awareness, vocal expressivity, textual analysis, and ensemble building while exploring the relationship between performance and identity. Through progressive exercises, improvisation, scene work, and performance projects, students cultivate presence, authenticity, and creative risk-taking. This required course serves as the entry point to further specialization, establishing the groundwork for understanding performance as a mode of meaning-making and social engagement.

Prerequisites

None listed.

Antirequisites

None listed.

Notes

  • Prior performance experience is not required.

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
STU 001355619 / 20M 10:30–12:20

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
STU 00134770 / 20M 10:30–12:20
STU 701132632 / 9999Online or by arrangement

Reviewed on UW Flow

62% liked it78% easy41% useful

From 13 ratings and 8 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Workload of this class is pretty light, a monologue analysis, monologue presentation and then a final 10 minute group scene. 25% is based on participation and attendance, which is fair because after reading week its pretty much all just group work. The final project is weighted about 45%, split between a pitch, presentation and post-mortum paper. The options for selection are a little uninteresting in my opinion.

    Nov 2022 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This course was alright, but there was not a lot of room for creative freedom. It makes sense seeing as its a 100-level course (i.e. for kids starting their THPERF experience, maybe it's good to have so much structure), but for someone like me who was taking it as a random elective, I wish there was more space for me to make the assignments my own.

    Sep 2022 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Fun and deeply enjoyable course, easy (I'm fairly heavily involved in drama so take the ease with a grain of salt). Great course for socializing!

    May 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • If you have done theatre throughout your life, this course is entirely useless, and I often wondered why they taught it the way they did. Maybe it was just my class, but I remember assigning character traits to the lines in a monologue, which did not make much sense. If it were an emotion that we were assigning, I think it would have made more sense, but the word subtext was never brought up or explained in the class. We also never learned about focal points, different parts of the stage, staging, etc. In defence of the class, I took it during COVID, so it was all online, and we sent in recordings of our performance. Nonetheless, it was still confusing to me why some of the more basic…

    May 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I never have done theatre, and it's not a future career for me, but I was surprised to totally enjoy this class! It was nerve racking to begin, but once I learned the basics and connected with the class, it was SO FUN! You do feel a bit silly doing warmups, practicing impulses, laying on the ground, pretending to be a tree, etc but you just gotta embrace it. The environment was really chill and Alix is an amazing prof. Only complaint is we never got to see our marks as we progressed, so it was a surprise at the end of the term. It is attendance and performance based, so you have to come to every class if you want to succeed. There were only 3 written reflections, and a final monologue…

    Nov 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

5 posts and comments in 5 threads mention THPERF 102, August 2021 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Spring 2023

Spring 2022

Anyone know what that guy was chanting about between DP and Physics? 5 points, 4 comments

“Something about wanting peace but his sign said "I own guns, I want peace". Campus police showed up but nothing happened from what I saw”

u/cool_cucumber01: “It's for THPERF102 class. Super fun with a super chill prof. I know at first glance it may seem like a scary situation, but the class does ask you to step beyond your comfort zone and carry out performances that make an impact. …”

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Thoughts on courses - help 3 points, 2 comments

u/nana_batman_nana: “… Some courses I was thinking of taking this semester; Languages: SPAN 150 ASL 101 Arts: THPERF 102 MUSIC 140 I'll only be doing just one of these courses this semester, and the next necessary one will prob be for spring semester after my work term (so if i do an arts one rn, ill …”

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Spring 2021

THPERF 149? 1 point, 0 comments

u/_donewiththis: “Title. Has anyone taken this course before? I got rejected from THPERF 102 and 100 (class full/time conflict) and the only available class left is THPERF 149.... but I cant find any reviews about it anywhere, not on uwflow or on reddit!!!”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar