About the course

Venn diagram square.png — The contemporary performance industry is a vibrant world of ever evolving and often inter-related practices. It’s against this intersection that we have developed the BA Hons Design for Performance: Theatre, Film and Live Events course to offer a unique programme of study.
We’re interested in what is Performance? Where does Performance occur? And how do we creatively design for it?
The variety of design practice undertaken by students includes: theatre, events, dance, puppetry, museums, concerts, exhibitions, festivals, themed environments, installations, nightclubs, music videos, film, TV and live arts.

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Levels

The course is taught full-time over three years. Learning is demonstrated (and assessed) through an accumulation of individual, collaborative, realised, speculative and live projects.

Level 4 (year 1)

Our approach is to offer a first year experience that educates and supports students to develop skills and understanding in the fundamental principles of performance design. These include spatial and figurative design practice, craft and digital applications along with an accumulation of analytical, written and presentation skills.

Level 5 (year 2)

During the second year, students engage with a suite of high profile industry opportunities, responding to live project briefs and selecting from options including work experience and the study abroad programme. The second half of the year sees students begin to tailor the course to areas of performance design that are of particular interest to them.

Level 6 (year 3)

The final year of study consists of two large projects that are developed entirely by the individual student. The third year is a showcase of the students abilities and allows them to define their area of practice and their position within the industry in advance of graduation.

Because flexibility is built into our course design, students are able to study the same modules together regardless of their specific areas of interest - this fosters a ‘studio culture’ rich in diversity and collaboration.

Students are supported in their work by an experienced team who assist them with their exploration of the traditions, theories and practices that are pertinent to their individual student journeys. This ensures that the course remains relevant and able to respond to the needs of the contemporary and future workplace and indeed to the discipline as a whole.

What Our Alumni Say

“I set up the social enterprise WE ARE in 2014, WE ARE is a social enterprise which faciliates projects, exhibitions and events to help other young graduates like myself find more opportunities in our area. I design projects such as film nights and curate exhibitions. I use the skills I learnt during my degree all the time and it’s been invaluable to me. The best thing to me about the course is that it’s so varied, I explored a vast array of projects and ideas whilst studying and being able to test and push boundaries has definitely helped me in my career.”

— Lucy Norton

Project Coordinator & Co Founder of WE ARE Graduated in 2013

“The course allowed me to follow my passion for themed entertainment and pursue it in my final year, along with giving me a huge foot in the door via the Madame Tussauds project, which set me up to be able to work in the field from day one after graduating. I'm a freelance themed entertainment designer with various large clients such as Merlin Entertainment and Compagnie Des Alpes. I've been able to work on projects for Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland parks, Madame Tussauds and Sea Life locations across the world.”

— Edd Musgrove

Themed Entertainment Designer
Graduated in 2012