Our Staff
Paul Barrett MA
Paul Barrett has been the course director for BA Hons Design for Performance: Theatre, Film and Live Events since 2001. A practising scenographer, his professional credits include designs for large-scale theatre, small-scale outdoor touring productions, corporate events and festivals. He has many years’ experience as a freelance designer, company director and performer. He holds an MA in Scenography and is currently studying his practice based PhD focussing on found object assemblages as an alternative method to generate performance design. He has led on numerous learning and teaching initiatives and is currently the School Academic Lead.
Dr Lara Furniss
Lara Furniss has 20 years professional experience working internationally across many art and design disciplines, including scenography, exhibitions, events, interiors and installation. She has an undergraduate degree in Three Dimensional Design from Manchester Metropolitan University, a Master of Fine Arts from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and a PhD from Birmingham City University. She is a Senior Lecturer (Design for Performance) and doctorial researcher within the Institute of Creative Arts at Birmingham City University, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
This extensive interdisciplinary professional practice directly informs both Lara’s teaching and research, with a primary interest in developing new pedagogic approaches to non-discipline specific problem solving. Her PhD study explored evolving design practice and design education in the 21st Century.
Dr Joanna Jarvis
Joanna Jarvis is a lecturer in Design for Performance, with more than thirty years of experience in designing and making period costume. Joanna completed a degree in Theatre Design at the City of Birmingham Polytechnic, working first at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and a theatre in education company run by the National Trust, before becoming free-lance. Her most recent collaboration has been with a choreographer who researches and re-creates Renaissance and Baroque dance. This work led to a doctoral thesis focussing on the Opera House in London during the late eighteenth century. Joanna’s specialities are in the areas of character design, costume and puppetry, but she enjoys working with the students across all areas of the course.
Hollie Wright MA
Working in design, construction and production management for over ten years with an interest in sculptural work and spatial design; Hollie’s professional credits span theatre, puppetry, and music festivals. Since graduating with a Masters in Visual Communication Scenography, Hollie has maintained a keen interest in immersive environments and dining experiences. Hollie has been lecturing on BA Hons Design for Performance and BA Hons Stage Management since 2006 and is currently School Lead for marketing and recruitment.
Lee Cadden
Senior Technician
A trained Theatre Designer of over 20 years , with a background in exhibition , installation and Lighting Design.
Lee assists with set build,construction and lighting techniques .
Delivering Studio based scale model making workshops and
technical drawing both digital and analog processes .
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