degree
BA (HONS)
BA TECHNICAL THEATRE ARTS
A fast track to work in the production arts industry, based at Tobacco Factory Theatres.
BRISTOL
Duration: 2 years full time*
Start date: September 2024
Location: Tobacco Factory Theatres
- Capped at 12 students so you work as a real production team in a working theatre.
- Intensive training in stage management, lighting design, sound design and theatre technology.
- Collaborate with teams of designers, performers, technicians and artists.
- Career preparation for work in theatre, with extensive transferable skills for the live events industry.
ALL OUR AUDITIONS ARE FREE.
To keep our process inclusive and accessible, we believe that money shouldn’t prevent anyone from auditioning.
Please note you can do your first round audition with us prior to submitting your UCAS via the button below.
This new fast track degree, taught by industry professionals, gives you a two year route into the theatre production industry whether in stage management, lighting, sound or AV; in theatre, festivals or events. Based at Tobacco Factory Theatres in Bristol, you are at the heart of a working theatre, experiencing life as a technical theatre artist from day one.
It is limited to just 12 students so as to re-create a professional working environment and culture from day 1. There is a national shortage of skilled technical staff in the theatre and live events industries. Technical Theatre Arts Graduates are in high demand and BSA’s strong industry networks can help open doors to a rewarding career.
BA Technical Theatre Arts is an intensive, accelerated degree taught over two years, with 40 weeks of teaching per year. You receive the same number of teaching weeks as you would on a three-year course, but save at least £10,000 in tuition fees and a year of living costs.
*course subject to validation
OVERVIEW
The course offers a comprehensive training in technical theatre arts and the opportunity to work with professional teams on BSA shows to put that training into practice. The practical elements of the course range from lighting, sound and stage management, to more recent and emerging technologies such as Augmented Reality, projection design and immersive technologies that are increasingly incorporated into live performance. You develop stage and production management skills to give you an understanding of the entire production process and your place in one of Bristol’s professional theatres gives you access to networks and contacts with which to build your career.
STRUCTURE
YEAR ONE.
You are introduced to technical and production skills in a range of disciplines, including lighting, sound and stage management techniques whilst exploring the context of current theatre practice, how it could develop in the future and the part that technical theatre arts could play in that development.
You develop your practical and design skills, including: use of professional control systems, including 3D CAD and lighting visualisation software; sound effect production and digital mixing; contemporary stage rigging and construction techniques. You also work with projection, digital audio and video editing as well as post-production techniques.
You take supporting production roles on BSA productions and at the end of the year take a placement module in a theatre or events space in or around Bristol.
YEAR TWO.
You explore design conceptualisation and innovation in lighting, sound and projection, developing creative design briefs to professional standards. Alongside this, you nurture advanced skills in design tools such as 3D CAD modelling and multimedia manipulation.
Engaging with other creative disciplines, you’ll collaborate to make a piece of performance work, exploring new perspectives and techniques and undertake a research project that identifies potential opportunities and new directions for technical theatre innovation.
A major part of the year is spent in production roles on BA Acting for Stage and Screen productions working with professional set, lighting sound and AV designers.
APPLICATION
You can apply for September 2024 through UCAS here www.ucas.com/apply
All applicants are invited to an interview.
We consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential. We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you’ve specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities.
TYPICAL OFFER
Applicants are considered on an individual basis, taking into account any skills and experience that may not be reflected in A-Level scores. The most important consideration is for applicants to have the qualities and potential to succeed.
We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed below:
- A-Levels – overall grades CCC-CDD
- BTEC Extended Diploma – at least Merit, Merit, Pass (MMP) accepted in a related subject
- GCSE English at grade 4 or above
COURSE ASSESSMENT METHODS
Continuous assessment, practical skills assessment, written assessment and self-assessment.
COURSE COSTS
£11,100 tuition fee per year (subject to annual inflationary increases). For more information, click here.
TERM DATES 2023/2024
Year 1
- 18 Sept – 15 Dec (half-term 23-27 Oct)
- 8 Jan – 22 Mar (half-term 12-16 Feb)
- 15 April – 5 July (half-term 27-31 May)
Year 2*
- 4 Sept – 8 Dec, 2023
- 3 Jan – 22 March 2024
- 15 April – 19 July 2024
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?
If you’d like to talk to us or ask any questions about the course you can email us at hello@bristolschoolofacting.com