Through in-house productions, industry based placements and hands-on training, you’ll learn all relevant skills relating to the work of the production technician in theatre, events, and other areas of the entertainment industry.

Course overview

With technology at its core, this course offers practical, hands-on training in a variety of high-end lighting, sound, and video systems – skills that are in high demand for the theatre, events, film and television industries in Wales and across the rest of the UK.

You’ll have classes given by leading professionals operating at the top of their field, alongside several production placements, both based at the College and with our industry partners here in Wales.

With your placements, developing your expertise for a technical career in the creative industries is only one part of it. These experiences will also help you to build communication and team working skills that are essential to thriving in collaborative environments.

After graduation, you could take on roles such as a production electrician, lighting technician or programmer, sound and system engineer, video operator or programmer, among many more.

Why study this course?

  • All but two of the modules are designed to replicate the experience of work-based learning. You’ll work with state-of-the-art entertainment industry technology such as, but not limited to, automated lighting and consoles, digital sound systems, video projection and production electrics.
  • You’ll train with a team of staff who are highly skilled industry professionals. They offer you not only first-rate teaching in current best practices, but mentorship and networking opportunities as well.
  • For your placements within the second year at the College, you’ll have a lead production role, under the supervision and guidance of a senior technician, working with the various technical teams (video, lighting, sound) during the fit up of Richard Burton Theatre Company productions.
  • Throughout your training, you’ll work alongside staff from the design and stage-management departments and interact with students from across the College’s performing arts courses. These collaborations will help you to develop an understanding of and empathy of the other fields of practice within the creative arts.
  • Your external placement will take place with one of our leading industry partners, such as the Welsh National Opera, Stage Sound Services, Figure of Eight Events or Sherman Theatre. This opportunity not only gives you practical, real-world experience, but it also allows you to meet and create a network of contacts within the industry.
  • For up to three years after you complete your course, you have the option to ‘top up’ your qualification. You can do this by completing an additional year of study to gain a level 6 qualification as part of our BA (Hons) Stage Management and Technical Theatre.
  • You’ll have talks from, and get to meet, industry professionals from a range of different disciplines, who are regularly invited to speak here at the College – giving you a chance to widen your professional network in readiness for your life after graduation.
  • You’ll take part in visits to local theatre companies, giving you a feel for what the industry is really like. On occasion, when major productions visit Cardiff, we’ll try to arrange visits to the production and organise a tour or talk for your cohort.

Through work experience and hands-on training, you’ll learn how to plan, draught, construct and install sets to a professional standard whilst working on our numerous public productions.

Course overview

Work placements and hands-on training in our workshops are at the centre of this specialist course that focuses on building sets for theatrical productions.

From day one in our state-of-the-art workshops at Llanishen Studios, you’ll learn fundamental construction techniques in carpentry, metalwork and welding. But you’ll also delve into using digital tools that are essential in set construction, such as SketchUp and Auto Cad, and computer numerical control (CNC) equipment.

Following your workshop training, you’ll then become more familiar with the theatre environment, learning basic skills in access equipment, rigging and flying systems. You’ll also gain greater insight into the roles and duties of relevant team members and become involved in the load-in and fit-up of productions here at the College.

The bulk of this course, which is the only one of its kind in the UK, consists of work placements – some of which will be held at the College. The others will take place externally with our professional partners, which are some of the largest and most prestigious companies from the TV, film and theatrical industries in Wales and the UK.

In our welcoming creative environment, you’ll build all the professional, practical and technical skills you need to secure a construction technician role after graduation – a position that’s highly in demand.

Why study this course?

  • Your skills will be in demand – there’s currently a shortage of suitably qualified entry-level technicians in the stage and screen industries.
  • You’ll be guided by expert practitioners who are currently working in today’s industry. They offer you not only first-rate teaching, but mentorship and networking opportunities as well.
  • Your cohort is small – so you’ll receive a very high level of individual support and attention during your course.
  • We’ve partnered with some of the largest companies in the UK, who offer our students professional work placements, these include Welsh National Opera, Cardiff Theatrical Services, Bay Productions, Wild Creations, and Bad Wolf.
  • You’ll take on increasingly high levels of responsibility for creating and installing stage sets for our in-house productions, including opera and musical theatre. You’ll take on the role of construction leader in at least one of your placements. As part of this work, you’ll follow the design process, work with the designer to produce the required construction drawings, lead the construction and the final fit-up of the set.
  • You’ll be based at our large and superbly equipped workshops at Llanishen Studios, which are the largest and best equipped of any competitive conservatoire.
  • At the end of the two-year course, you'll have the option to ‘top-up’ your qualification and receive a BA (Hons) in Design for Performance by completing an additional year of study specialising in scenic construction.
  • Alongside your placements, you’ll have evening classes at the College to help you develop commercial and financial awareness, as well as project management communications and leadership skills.
  • Collaboration runs through everything we do here. You’ll train alongside other design and stage-management students, as well as those studying our performing arts courses. This kind of work helps you to develop an understanding and empathy of other creative arts disciplines – but it also helps you to build partnerships that can last long after you graduate.

In this work placement centred course, you’ll learn how to create stage sets, backdrops and props for public performances, television and film.

Course overview

Our industry-led course will give you all the skills you need to create stage sets, backdrops and props for public performances and work on major television and film projects.

Guided by a team of staff who are experienced professionals, you’ll learn all the main workshop practices of the stage and screen industries.

These practices include fundamental painting and texturing techniques, prop making, metalwork and how to use tools and other relevant equipment – such as core computer skill training (specialising in fusion360 and Auto Cad), which will allow you to operate laser cutters, 3D printers and computer numerical control (CNC) equipment.

You’ll then put your newfound knowledge into practice, where you’ll have several work placements – both in College productions and with our industry partners, who create sets and props for some of the country’s biggest productions.

The only course of its kind outside London, it provides a welcoming, safe environment where you can experiment and really push your creative boundaries. You’ll emerge as a specialist in your discipline, ready to flourish in this ever-changing, demanding industry.

Why study this course?

  • You’ll gain an understanding of the techniques, crafts, structures and working methods used in today’s industry. This includes both metal fabrication and carpentry.
  • You’ll train with a team of staff who are highly skilled industry professionals. They offer you not only first-rate teaching, but mentorship and networking opportunities as well.
  • Most of this two-year course focuses on using your skills in a variety of different settings – both in College productions and in placements with our industry partners.
  • These industry partners are companies who work with some of the largest and most prestigious theatres in the UK and abroad. Our partners and supporters include Theatr Clwyd, The Bakehouse Factory, Welsh National Opera, Cardiff Theatrical Services, Bay Productions, Wild Creations, and Bad Wolf.
  • You’ll work alongside other students from our design and stage management departments and interact with those from across our performing arts courses.
  • In at least one of your work placements, you’ll take on the role of scenic arts leader for a production performed here at the College. This role will see you following the design process, working with the designer to produce the necessary costings and paint samples, as well as overseeing and guiding BA and MA Design students on their production placements.
  • Our strong ties with industry also means that your training reflects the latest best practice in TV, film and stage. These partnerships also allow you to easily build a network of contacts, which is crucial to laying the groundwork for a successful career in the arts sector.
  • Our workshop facilities are the largest and best equipped of any competitive conservatoire – and you’ll be working on the same equipment as those specialists in the industry.
  • We keep the cohort numbers small so you’ll get lots of individual support throughout your course.
  • You’ll also develop your leadership and management abilities, giving you the confidence to thrive in a professional environment after you graduate.
  • After you complete your course, you'll have the option ‘top up’ your qualification. You can do this by completing an additional year of study to gain a level 6 qualification as part of our BA (Hons) Design for Performance degree.

16-30?

Get a FREE Barclays Dance Pass and unlock £10 tickets to spectacular entertainment across all Sadler’s Wells venues. The catch? There’s no catch – you just need to be between the ages of 16 and 30!

With your Barclays Dance Pass, you can book up to 2 tickets per production for just £10 each! Bring a friend and get ready for a fabulous night out at Sadler’s Wells Theatre and Lilian Baylis Studio in Angel, Peacock Theatre in the West End, or our brand-new Sadler’s Wells East in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.

Sadler’s Wells is known as THE place for dance. We have something for everyone to enjoy – from ballet, contemporary, flamenco, and musical theatre to alternative circus, hip hop, tango, and everything in between. With some of the world’s best performances taking place on our stages, you can be sure of a dazzling five-star experience without breaking the bank.

Sign up now and start your Barclays Dance Pass adventure today!

For more information and to sign up, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Stuck trying to complete your tax return? Is the Self Assessment tax deadline making you lose sleep? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

In our Self Made Online series of bitesize how to’s, we’ll cover everything you need to know about your tax return so you can check it off your to do list.

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN:

ESSENTIAL INFO:

For more information and to sign up, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Join our ticket scheme for audience members aged 30 and under

If you're aged 30 or under, you can access £20 tickets for some of our amazing events. Simply sign up to the mailing list to register your interest and we'll be in touch with a monthly newsletter.

We've previously included events like Cirque du Soleil, Anna Lapwood, David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth, Spider-Man: No Way Home in Concert, Trisha Paytas, Kojey Radical, Barbie: The Movie in Concert, Video Games in Concert, BBC Proms: The Traitors, and The Nutcracker.

The offer will apply to a limited number of tickets on select shows right across our programme – sign up and get ready to snap up your £20 tickets.

For more information and to sign up, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Artsadmin offers free one‑to‑one micro‑mentoring for UK‑based artists, producers and creatives working in contemporary performance, socially engaged and live art practice at any career stage.

Creative Support Sessions are friendly, one-to-one conversations with a member of Artsadmin’s team where you can explore your ideas, develop projects, and talk through any professional questions. They are informal, confidential, and tailored to your needs.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Sessions usually last 45–60 minutes and each artist can access one free session per year. You can use a session to: 

Sessions can be delivered either online via Microsoft Teams or in person at Toynbee Studios in East London, subject to staff availability. We can provide closed captions for online sessions. We aim to make these sessions as accessible as possible. Let us know your access requirements when booking, and we will work with you to support your needs.

WHO IS IT FOR?

Creative Support sessions are for artists, producers, and creatives working across contemporary performance, interdisciplinary arts, and socially engaged practice. We work with people at every stage of their careers, offering practical guidance, space to reflect, and opportunities to develop sustainable creative practices.

For more information and to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Do you have a passion or idea and want to start your own business? Gain the confidence, knowledge, skills, and techniques to start your own business and become self-employed!

Our self employment programme has been developed specifically to cater to the needs of young people with disabilities and autism.

We can arrange individual or small group sessions in any of the following areas:

We can support you to develop bespoke self-employment advice that matches your skillset passions and talent!

Contact Caroline for more information:

For more information and to refer yourself, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Southwark-based artists are able to apply for free use of Canada Water Theatre to support the development of creative ideas through rehearsals and closed R&Ds. 

Bookable spaces for a given month are released via the form below during the first week of the previous month. The deadline to complete this form will be the 15th of each month and we will be in touch in the following week to confirm if we’re able to assign you space.

For more information and to book, click the Opportunity Info link below!

Elevate is a practical, skills-building programme from acta Community Theatre for socially engaged theatre-makers and artists. Selected workshops are also open to artists from other disciplines.

What will participants learn?

This workshop will explore:

The workshop focuses on working as a theatre practitioner, but the skills and tools will benefit artists working across disciplines.

Access

The workshop takes place at acta’s theatre, accessed via five steps, with a lift available. An accessible toilet is also provided.

acta can offer a range of access adjustments, including on-site wheelchairs and walkers, accessible parking, free tickets for carers or companions, sighted guiding and large-print materials.

For access requests, including anything not listed above, please contact rosa@acta-bristol.com.

Booking & pricing

If cost is a barrier, acta may be able to help with attendance. Contact rosa@acta-bristol.com to discuss options.

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