Theatre: Design for Performance

Content

The course unites learning, development and practice of set, costume and lighting design through traditional and new media. Throughout the course you will be encouraged to take total command of all visual and other sensory aspects of a live production, with the possibility of applying these to other performance forms. The course blends an appreciation of new technologies and theory with established grounding practices, such as objective and applied drawing, storyboarding, model making and technical drafting.

Course Highlights

• Projects are realised in the College's excellent performance spaces.
• The course concentrates on the processes, skills and disciplines of design in performance contexts; the handling of construction, texture and colour in real, fictional and metaphorical spaces.

Structure

Year 1: You will be introduced to all technical areas connected with live events including lighting, sound, woodwork, metalwork, costume cutting, construction and photography. This work will be supported by computer aided image making, drafting, scenic art and photography. Alongside studio practice you will undertake a Contextual Studies programme coordinated across the School of Theatre.

Year 2: You will test your ideas in ambitious and challenging ways on a variety of performance contexts. This work is often speculative and realised in scale model form but there are also opportunities to work collaboratively or on one of the many work placements that punctuate the year's programme of events. The Contextual Studies programme prepares you for your dissertation. You will take an elective unit, selected from a broad range of options to enhance your core subject of study.

Year 3: You will pursue your own interests and enthusiasms through self directed study. There are also several opportunities offered for collaboration in areas such as Design for Dance, an annual collaboration with young choreographers at the London Contemporary Dance School. The final year of your Contextual Studies programme will culminate in your dissertation.