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Theatre Design & Production (BCI 3) - TFT00073H

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  • Department: Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Katherine Graham
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

This module is designed to introduce you to a range of disciplines in the design and production aspects of taking a play from script to performance. You will have the opportunity to undertake training and initial explorations in these areas, which may be further developed in the subsequent Verbatim and production modules. The module will cover a range of disciplines, e.g. Lighting Design, Marketing and Producing, Set and Costume Design, Production Management, and Stage Management. You will be taught by a team of department academic and technical staff, and professional practitioners.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23

Module aims

  • To develop students’ understanding of and basic proficiency in a wide range of processes involved in theatre design and production, including: set, costume, lighting and sound design; planning, scheduling and budgeting; marketing and event management.
  • To develop students’ capacity to reflect critically upon their practical experience and contextualise it against the work of professional practitioners and existing literature on the subject and related areas of practice.
  • To enable students to undertake a small-scale independent project in an area of specialism of their choice.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of this module you will have

  • demonstrated an understanding of a range of design and production processes.
  • demonstrated proficiency in at least one area of practical specialism within the range of disciplines offered by the module
  • developed some of the necessary skills and aptitudes to generate, effectively communicate and deliver to a deadline an effective and original design or marketing campaign for a given production.
  • begun to develop an individual and distinctive approach to their chosen area of specialism and an aesthetic language which reflects their concerns and interests.
  • explored and demonstrated an understanding of the key relationships of marketing to markets and audiences and/ or of design options for different budgets or performance spaces.
  •  

Module content

This module is designed to introduce a range of disciplines in the design and production aspects of taking a play from script to performance. Students will have the opportunity to undertake training and initial explorations in these areas, which may be further developed in the subsequent Political Theatre Project and third year production modules. The module will cover a range of disciplines, e.g. Lighting Design, Marketing and Producing, Set and Costume Design, Production Management and Stage Management. The module will be taught by a team of department academic and technical staff, and professional practitioners.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Design/Production Portfolio		 N/A 60
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Presentation/viva		 N/A 40

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Design/Production Portfolio		 N/A 60
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Presentation/viva		 N/A 40

Module feedback

Students will receive written feedback on all assessments and reassessments within the 20 working day window specified by the university.

Indicative reading

Arts Admin, Producing and Marketing
Byrnes, William James (2015) Management and the Arts. Abingdon: Focal Press.

O’Reilly, Daragh and Kerrigan, Finola (eds) (2010) Marketing the Arts: a Fresh Approach. Abingdon: Routledge.

Seabright, James (2010) So you want to be a theatre producer? London: Nick Hern Books.

Stage and Production Management
Carver, Rita (ed.) (2012) Stagecraft Fundamentals (2nd Ed): A Guide and Reference for Theatrical Production. London: Focal Press.

Dean, Peter (2002). Production Management: Making Shows Happen, A Practical Guide. Ramsbury: The Crowood Press.

Pallin, Gail (2010) Stage Management: The Essential Handbook. London: Nick Hern Books.

Scenography and design
Babek, Ebrahimian (2006). Theatre Design: behind the scenes with top set, lighting and costume designers. Hove: RotoVision.

Di Benedetto, S. (2012) An Introduction to Theatre Design. Routledge: London.

Collins, Jane and Andrew Nisbet (2010) Theatre and Performance Design: A Reader in Scenography. Abingdon: Routledge.

McKinney, J and Butterworth, P. (eds) (2009) The Cambridge introduction to scenography. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.

Rowe, Clare P (2007) Drawing and Rendering for Theatre: A Practical Course for Scenic, Costume and Lighting Designers. London: Focal Press.

Roznowski, R and Domer, K (2009). Collaboration in Theatre: A practical guide for designers and directors. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Pavelka, M. (2015) So You Want To Be A Theatre Designer? Nick Hern Books: London.

Thorne, Gary (2010) Technical Drawing for Stage Design. Marlborough: The Crowood Press.

Scenery and props
Troubridge, Emma and Blaikie, Tim (2002) Scenic Art and Construction: A Practical Guide. Marlborough. Crowood Press.

Wilson, Andy (2003) Making Stage Props: A Practical Guide. Marlborough: The Crowood Press.

Winslow, Colin (2008) The Handbook of Model-Making for Set. Marlborough: The Crowood Press.

 

 


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.