Technical Theatre

Without a theatre or a technical team there would be no performance.  A backstage team is vital to any show, gig, festival or event. This course equips you with the skills and knowledge needed to be part of this essential team within the performing arts industry. Whatever technical aspect you are interested in - lighting, sound, stage management or front of house - this course gives you the opportunity to experience them all.

Course overview

In Year 1, you develop your technical theatre skills, this includes lighting, sound, stage management and front of house. You have the opportunity to put these skills into practice by taking on a range of practical roles in a live setting and becoming part of a production team.

You also develop and create your own installation that showcases your technical skills, creativity and teamwork.

In Year 2, you continue to develop your technical skills and knowledge, specialising in an area of your choice. You work on a range of projects and live performances, concluding with a final major project. You are given more responsibility and take on more senior roles within the production team.

Upon completing this course, you can apply for university or drama school, or an apprenticeship within a production company or theatre.

Throughout both years, you work with students from other disciplines to put on a range of performances - some in our own theatre space and others at venues across Liverpool. You also benefit from workshops delivered by industry professionals.

Course highlights

• Provide regular technical support for performances in our 100-seat Willy Russell Studio
• Experience working with industry-standard technical theatre equipment
• Collaborate with the Design for Performance students to create a live installation showcasing your work 
• Experience trips to regional and national arts venues, theatres and galleries
• Work alongside students from other disciplines to put on a range of performances throughout the year
• Experience working in a live theatre environment that replicates the professional industry
• Benefit from industry-experienced tutors who have a wealth of technical knowledge and performance experience and are still active in the industry

Skills to be developed

Front of House

• Venue Management
• Marketing

Lighting & Sound

• Design
• Programming
• Operating

Research & Context

• Production design from text
• Presentation & portfolio building

Stage Management

• Scheduling, Logistics & Budgeting of a production
• Show Calling & Management of the rehearsal room
• Prop Sourcing/Making

 

What our students go on to do

Students who have recently graduated from our Technical Theatre course have gone on to study at:

• Guildhall School of Acting: GSA
• Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
• Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
• Rose Bruford College
• Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

 

Enrichment activities

We offer a range of enrichment activities alongside your studies, which vary from year to year depending on our students' interests. Previous enrichment activities have included directing, scriptwriting, our weekly lunchtime gigs the Soundcheck Sessions, knitting club, theatre special effects makeup, LGBTQ club, choir and football.

Did you know?

Some of our alumni have recently worked on theatre productions, such as ‘Sunset Boulevard’, ‘Bat Out of Hell: The Musical’, and ‘Tina, The Musical’.

Not all Technical Theatre alumni go into theatre; some go on to work on festivals and events - such as ‘Creamfields’, The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, and the Paralympics. We also have some alumni who are currently working on Carnival Cruises and Disney Cruise Line as part of their in-house production team.

How do I apply?

The details of what applicants are asked to do can be found below, to help you prepare in advance of your presentation and interview. 

Presentations and interviews are held in February and March, and decision emails  are sent out shortly afterward.