Theatre & Event Technology

Course Overview

Theatre & Events Technology at Kendal College is well-known for the quality and excellence of its teaching, facilities and success of its students. Our students are at the heart of everything that we do and the opportunities that we offer. The qualification is through the leading Arts Provider, The University of The Arts, London (UAL) offering a tailor- made qualification for students wishing to immerse themselves in a professional and highly practical approach to studying Theatre & Events but still achieving a 3 A' Level equivalent qualification.

The Level 3 course will provide you with more advanced skills for Technical Theatre and you will be working on more complex and challenging performances. This course is suitbale for anyone who is wanting to progress onto university, apprenticeships within the industry or employment.

By completing this course, you will achieve a University of Arts London (UAL) Level 3 Diploma in Performing & Production Arts (Theatre & Event Technology).

This is 2-year course and is equivalent to 3 A-Levels and is worth up to 168 UCAS points (Distinction) or 144 UCAS points (High Merit).

During the course you will cover key elements of the industry:
- Production and Stage Management: Learn the intricate skills required to organise performances and events.
- Working behind the scenes to run a theatrical production or event.
- Lighting: for Dance, Plays and Musical Theatre performances.
- Intimate music gigs.
- Set Design: Create, design and build scenery and staging for a variety of productions.
- Props: design, create and source props for a variety of productions.
- Explore skills in mixing a live band and create sound effects for a variety of performances.

During the course, you will be experience a variety of practical performance projects that vary year on year, reflecting the ever-changing nature of our industry. These include but not limited to, Halloween events, theatrical showcases, lighting and set design projects, local festivals, scripted plays in our in-house theatre 'The Box', culminating in a full-scale Musical production at the end of the year, which is fully managed and run by the Theatre & Events Students.

The course is led by industry professionals and is tailored to each individual's interests and skills, in an environment in which every project challenges and stretches your creative abilities. You will be immersed in the responsibilities of a Technician from day one, being treated as training professionals.

This is a very practical and hands-on course using a wide range of industry standard equipment; ETC Element & Avolite Quartz lighting Desks, Midas Pro1 & Yamaha M7 sound desks, Qlab, Laser cutter and a variety of woodwork machinery. This will equip you with the skills and knowledge preparing you for a career within the Theatre & Events industry.

Each year, the Theatre Arts students take part in an optional residential to London visiting shows, exhibitions and taking part in backstage theatre tours. Previously we have watched 'Hadestown', 'Come from Away' and 'Everybody's Talking about Jamie' and been backstage at 'Hamilton', 'Aladdin' and 'Sadler's Wells', where we have met the professionals running the show. This experience is invaluable for our students, as it shows them the inner workings of how a professional production is run and gain invaluable career advice.

Our world as Theatre & Events Technicians at the Arts & Media Campus is non-stop, creative and inspiring. Students work together in an environment, which even in challenging moments, with practical deadlines and late night get outs from a show, never fails to bring a smile, a laugh, and a sense of real pride and achievement from another completed project.

You may also have work experience opportunities, where some students will engage with external clients and companies, developing your experience in the world of work.

Your assessments are formed through individual projects and collating evidence throughout your creative process.
There are no formal exams, unless you are resitting your GCSE Maths and/or English. All of our learners will be given support with their English and Maths skills where relevant to their main programme. Those students who have not yet achieved a 'C' or 4 grade (or higher) at GCSE in these subjects will continue to work towards these important qualifications at a level suited to them.