Timeline: Our Heritage
1948 – 1961
The seeds of Theatre Design training in Birmingham can be traced back to the young designer Finlay James. Looking for an increase in salary whilst working at the Repertory Theatre ‘Jamie’ was given the opportunity to lecture part-time at the College of Art.During this early period formal education and hands on experience were one and the same, with a select number of students learning their craft by working in the Repertory Theatre. Promoted to Head of Design at the Rep, Finlay began to shape a full-time course in Theatre Design.
The 1960’s
Resigning from his post at the Rep in 1962 Finlay became the first Head of Theatre Design in Birmingham College of Art. Located on Broad Street students on the Diploma in Art and Design (Theatre Design) course studied a complete range of design and stage craft skills.
Broad Street – 1970 – The Theatre Design course was located in the blue and white building with the white mini parked in front.
A focus on live opportunities at the Rep and working with a network of regional theatres underpinned the importance of working with industry - a core theme that still defines todays course.
The 1970’s
In 1976 after fifteen years at Broad Street and now part of the Birmingham Polytechnic the course was re-located to the Gosta Green site. A purpose-built building opened in the 1960’s to accommodate an expanding portfolio of arts-based courses in the college.
Gosta Green Campus – View from the Quadrangle
In the mid-seventies the course was changed from a Dip AD to degree status with the launch of BA (Hons) Theatre Design.
The 1980’s
In 1981 Finlay James retired and Christopher Morley, Honorary Associate with the RSC, became Head of School. Continuing to develop the production skills and industry links that had defined the course in the previous decades. Theatre productions remained central with carpentry, costume construction, scenic art and lighting design all part of the experience. Operas were mounted each year with the Conservatoire of Music and graduates also began to break into the complimentary fields of TV and Film.
The 1990’s
The nineties, specifically the end of the decade saw considerable change.In 1991 Christopher Morley retired and long-standing lecturer Michael Clarke took over the reins, with the course becoming part of the newly formed University of Central England in 1992. Liam Doona became Head of School in 1996 and launched an MA in Scenography in 1997. The remit of the BA (Hons) Theatre Design course was altered to provide a second-year pathway into a newly formed BA (Hons) Performance Design and Communication strand, that directly engaged with broader performance and emerging digital possibilities. Work placements with the Repertory Theatre, live projects with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, national and international exhibitions and even the production of music videos saw the work produced by students expand in line with the performance industry.
The 2000’s
After the departure of Liam in 1999, costume designer Anne Curry oversaw the courses for 18 months. In 2001 Paul Barrett was appointed Course Director, actively embracing the continuing expansion of the industry witnessed at the beginning of the millennium.In 2006 the two undergraduate courses were consolidated into BA (Hons) Theatre, Performance and Event Design.This new course explored spatial design, the figure and audience as key elements central to a wide variety of associated performance practice.Annual installations for Download Festival, interactive exhibition designs for Madame Tussauds and collaborative filmmaking projects provided an increasing assortment of opportunities relevant to the ambitions of the students. In 2007 the university changed its name to Birmingham City University.
The 2010’s
In 2013 following the closure of the Gosta Green campus the course was relocated to the newly built Parkside Building.
BCU Parkside and Curzon Buildings
Outputs in both analogue and digital design became of equal importance as digital literacy and the internet became increasingly prevalent during this period. Students continued to define their position within the field, working across a wide variety of entertainment design practice. Individual and collaborative opportunities with the V&A museum, BMAG, Boomtown Festival, 2000 Trees and Casson Mann influenced the course content and ambitions of the students.
In 2020 in support of the ambitious student work; the course was relocated to the School of Art Building at Margaret St and retitled BA (Hons) Design for Performance: Theatre, Film and Live Events.
School of Art Building- ‘Margaret St’ – Opened in 1885