Technical Theatre and Stage Management

This course leads to the award of a Foundation Degree in Technical Theatre and Stage Management.

Overview

This two year Foundation Degree incorporates a broad practical foundation training in all the areas that contribute to a theatre production, and culminates in the student specialising in the area within which their future career lies – whether it be Stage Management, Lighting, Construction, Sound, Prop Making or Costume. Rich and diverse in its scope and the course combines in-depth technical instruction with a clear insight into the necessary organisational, managerial and collective skills which also form the core of successful dramatic work.

The course creates clear cross reference to other related fields within the entertainment industry – film, television, conferences, events, and other commercial ventures.

From the very outset, the training involves work on RADA productions, as crew and/or operator. Whilst, by the second year, students will be ready to take on such senior roles as Stage Manager, Production Electrician and Prop Maker on the Academy’s public productions, where you will work alongside professional directors and designers.

Clear career guidance is given throughout the course. In the second year this is combined with the opportunity to choose roles which are of most interest and allows students to form a clear and robust ‘career pathway’ towards their chosen vocation.

Subject to suitability, some students may wish to progress on to a third year BA in Technical Theatre and Stage Management (completion award). This is subject to gaining a high award on completion of the Foundation Degree, a successful interview and passing of specific criteria.

The training covers:

• Stage management
• Stage electrics and lighting design
• Sound
• Scenic art
• Scenic construction
• Property provision and making
• Costume
• Set design
• Production management
• Stagecraft
• A four to six week professional secondment to a theatre company, organisation or practitioner

• First Aid (students receive a First Aid Certificate)
• Health and safety in the workplace
• Technical Drawing
• Music score reading
• History of theatre
• Company management
• Television and film
• Career development

Candidates will need to demonstrate an intellectual, creative and practical ability to undertake foundation degree level training – this involves a real passion for the subject of technical theatre, with some evidence of their understanding of the nature of the work – e.g. the longs hours involved and the rewards to be found within it.

The vocational nature of a career in theatre – as Stage Manager or technical area specialist – is such that it is to be expected that the candidate will already have had some practical experience at school, college, amateur or professional level and be able to talk enthusiastically to this in interview.

The minimum age for admission is 18.

Candidates must have complete fluency in the English language.