Theatre and Performance Design

Career prospects

You will possess an extensive range of skills and experience in performance design and an in depth knowledge of the arts and entertainment economy that will equip you for a fulfilling and successful career in this exciting and challenging field of work.

Many graduates are enjoying careers in fields such as theatre design, architectural lighting, art direction for film and TV, VJing, prop making, museum design, concert lighting and costume design.
The Graduates

Theatre and Performance Design and Technology graduates are forging their careers across the industry in such roles as Stage and Costume Designer at the Q-Theatre in Finland, Chief Technician at the Everyman and Playhouse in Liverpool, Inhouse Lighting Designer for the National Theatre of Cyprus, Prop Maker for the world’s largest producer of pantomime, Chief LX and Lighting Designer at the National Touring Theatre in Norway.

Many work on a freelance basis : some of their credits include Set and Costume Designer for the West End production of Fame, Wardrobe Mistress on West End production of 39 Steps, Stage Manager for international touring show of Kneehigh’s Rapunzel, set decoration for the American TV programme: Project Runway and set design for 106 and Park. Others are working in art direction for film and TV in the UK, Germany and America.

Programme Content

Year 1

You acquire a wide-range of creative, technical and research skills and apply them through design and performance projects, including our public performance programme.

You learn about the broader context of the live arts, so that you gain an understanding of both historical and contemporary practice.

Integration with the Theatre and Performance Technology degree means that you also acquire enough technical knowledge to support your creative work.

You choose a complementary elective module in the first and second years, examples include dance, puppetry, acting, directing, video or theatre in education .

Year 2:

This year offers you more of an opportunity to expand your knowledge in your preferred areas of work, or to examine new areas of expertise. Specialist choices such as costume, props, live art practice, video in live performance, stage technology, lighting design & technology and production management cover current developments in these areas.

Design and presentation and CAD and computer visualisation focuses on applying design to specific theatre and non-theatre spaces through hypothetical design projects.

You work as part of a creative team on a Practical Performance Project and spend time away from us working on a placement with a professional company or organisation of your choice ial.

Year 3:

You work as a designer on a range of public shows and events.

You are encouraged to develop, produce and manage your own performance design projects. You are introduced to other areas of work such as film, TV and AV media in the module Film and Video In Context.

You also produce a research paper to support research into contemporary arts.

Advanced visual presentation runs throughout the year, which equips you with a professional portfolio to promote you in your future career.

Professional development arms you with the appropriate industry knowledge and business skills to prepare for a confident departure into the creative industries.
Teaching and Assessment

We start with lectures, seminars and practical workshops to teach a range of basic design skills in the first year and increase your visual vocabulary. Learning is also integrated practically with crew work on the major performances. You take more responsibilities as your time here progresses, starting up your own projects where you wish to try new techniques or taking up more senior creative roles on the main shows. Most of your work involves developing sets, costumes and props for performance and writing evaluations of your own practical work. Throughout the programme, your practical contribution is continually appraised for both the working process and presentation of your realised design.