Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Production)

Overview

• Prepares you to work as a production manager, lighting and sound designer, or theatre technician for ballet, dance, opera, concerts, conferences and large public events.
• Study lighting, sound, stage and production management.
• Opportunities to work on theatre productions, fashion parades, music and dance performances and film shoots as part of your course.
• Gain experience through internships and industry placements at music festivals, state and local theatre, opera and dance companies, entertainment venues and touring shows.

Details

House lights to half, LX 2 and fly cue 1 – GO.

The house lights fade as the overture starts. A red velvet curtain rises as hundreds of lights start to brighten the stage. In the corner a stage manager calls cues in quick succession. Assistant stage managers are checking their props inventories as a radio mic technician is doing final signal checks. Behind the scenes up to 20 technicians are operating lighting consoles, followspots, sound equipment and undertaking complex scene changes hidden only by the darkness.

Weeks of training and rehearsal have prepared the cast and crew for this show. Tonight, as the house lights fade and the overture finishes, for the next three hours over a thousand audience members enjoy the final performance. The trucks line up in the back lane behind the theatre in preparation for the massive transfer to the next city.

Expertise in technical production is sought after in a range of industries. This course will provide you with skills in lighting, sound, stage management, and production management, with exposure to multimedia and film shoots, as well as the opportunity to specialise in a particular field of live production.

Why choose this course?

This intensive, highly practical course provides the opportunity to work on a range of events, including theatre productions, music and dance performances and fashion parades featuring students in other creative industries courses.

Our teaching staff consult to industry in their areas of expertise, and provide opportunities for students to enter working environments through internships and industry placements. Students have undertaken placements at music festivals, state and local theatre, opera and dance companies, performing arts complexes, entertainment venues and touring stage shows.

Industry professionals also work with students as production mentors and designers, and as directors and choreographers.

Career outcomes

Graduates work as stage managers, production managers, lighting and sound designers, operators and technicians for theatre, ballet, contemporary dance, opera, pop concerts, large public events, conferences, international galas and corporate events. Pathways exist to prepare you for further study including honours.

Units

Your course

Year 1

You will attend classes in stage management, lighting, sound, and the workshop areas of props, sets and costume, developing basic skills and knowledge in all areas of technical production. You will apply your knowledge on productions as bump in/out crew and production assistants. As you progress you will undertake the roles of stage managers and lighting, sound and AV operators.

Year 2

Your classes cover advanced lighting and sound technologies (including elements of design), set and costume design, stage management for dance, opera and musicals, and festival management. Classes will be aligned with production seasons within the areas of dance, acting, music and fashion. You will work on a minimum of four productions as a lighting, sound or AV operator, head electrician, fly operator, mechanist, followspot operator, assistant stage manager and/or stage and event manager. You will work with professional directors, choreographers and designers, and students from a variety of creative disciplines at QUT. You will also study electives in areas other than technical production.

Year 3

You will work on several QUT productions in more senior roles such as stage manager, head electrician, event/festival coordinator, sound coordinator and lighting designer. You may choose to focus on applying and developing your skills in one of these areas of live production. You will work alongside industry professionals (directors and designers) at QUT, with first- and second-year students as your crew. You will also have the opportunity of industry secondment placements with appropriate professional companies or personnel in your area of expertise.

Entry requirements

Minimum academic requirements

Course fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. All fees are based on current fixed fee prices. We review fees annually.

Scholarships and financial support

You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.

These scholarships are available for this course:

View all scholarships