The Role of the Theatre Designer
Sophie Jump on working with the National Theatre and Google Arts to make the Jocelyn Herbert archive more accessible.
MA Theatre Design
College
WIMBLEDON
Start date
October 2019
Course length
1 year (full time)
Course summary
MA Theatre Design at Wimbledon College of Arts supports and furthers theatre design practice-based research.
You will develop the skills and attitude to become a designer within the theatre and other performance based disciplines.
MA Theatre Design Stories
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Sophia Pardon - MA Theatre Design
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Course details
What you can expect
- To look at historical, current and developing forms of practice in the fields of stage and costume design. From a practical point of view this will mostly be through design projects. The theory side will be via essays and a final dissertation. This will help you form a distinctive view of your own position as a theatre designer.
- A series of classes introducing you to a basic understanding of the developing role of digital technology in the field of theatre design
- To have visiting tutors and professional theatre makers help you look at your own practices
- To develop model making, technical and costume drawing skills as a way of presenting and communicating your ideas and designs
- To collaborate with at least one other postgraduate student to practice and test your abilities to negotiate and communicate throughout the production process
- Throughout the course you will be required to maintain notebooks, sketchbooks and any digital evidence illustrating your research and design processes
- To have access to Wimbledon's shared workshops. View the Wimbledon facilities
Course units
Learning and teaching will take place through independent and studio-based practice, written work, group seminars and critiques.
The course runs over a total of 45 weeks.
Staff
- Michael Vale - Course Leader
Visiting staff have included:
- Jon Bausor - Theatre Designer
- Professor Jane Collins - Theatre Director
- William Dudley - Theatre Designer
- Mauricio Elorriga - Theatre Designer
- Sophie Jump - Theatre Designer
- Aideen Malone - Lighting Designer
- Anastasios Maragiannis - Digital Designer
- David Neat - Model maker
- Dick Straker - Digital Designer
How to apply
Opportunities for all
We are committed to making university education an achievable option for a wider range of people and to supporting all of our students in achieving their potential both during and after their courses.
We welcome applications from people with disabilities. If you have a disability (e.g. mobility difficulties, sensory impairments, medical or mental health conditions or Asperger’s syndrome) we strongly encourage you to contact us on disability@arts.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7514 6156 so that we can plan the right support for you. All enquiries are treated confidentially. To find out more, visit our Disability & Dyslexia webpages.
Entry requirements
The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:
- BA (Hons) degree in either art and design or drawing-related disciplines, including social and other sciences or engineering
- Alternative qualifications and experience will also be taken into consideration
- Personal statement
- Portfolio of work
Entry to this course will also be determined by the quality of your application, looking primarily at your portfolio of work, personal statement and reference.
APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning
Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:
- Related academic or work experience
- The quality of the personal statement
- A strong academic or other professional reference
- A combination of these factors
Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.
English language requirements
All classes are taught in English. If English isn't your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:
- IELTS level 6.5 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking (please check our English language requirements)
Personal statement
This should be about 500 words long and include:
- Your reasons for choosing the course
- Your current creative practice and how this will help with your future plans
- If you do not have any formal academic qualifications please describe your relevant education and experience
Selection criteria
We look for:
- Commitment and motivation for studying theatre design
- Understanding of contemporary theatre design and its context
- Evidence a visual interest in theatre through design practice or other, directly related activities
- Be able to articulate though writing and if appropriate, illustration, a potential, considered, theatrical project idea that is feasible and achievable
- An ability to work imaginatively and creatively in 2D and 3D visual media, materials and processes
- A desire to learn and an ability to investigate ideas critically and independently
- Evidence of critical awareness and self-direction, openness and the ability to learn
- Potential for creative problem solving appropriate to theatre design
Making your application
You should apply by making a direct application.
Application deadline
We recommend you apply by 31 July for equal consideration.
However, this course will consider applications after that date, subject to places being available.
This course will give consideration to deferred entry application. If you are interested in requesting a deferral, you can only request this if you are successful at application.
What happens next
Communicating with you
After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.
Initial application check
We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. If you do, you’ll be invited to submit a mini portfolio through UAL’s online portfolio review system.
Mini portfolio
The portfolio should show the following:
- A maximum of 30 images or other files such as animation, film or video
- A range of visual work which demonstrates experimentation and idea generation
- Design development showing how problems are solved
- An interest in collaboration and making performances
- Awareness of character in the context of a dramatic situation
- Any previous experience of theatre work
- Sketchbooks and notebooks
Following the review of the mini portfolio we select applicants to move on to the next stage of the process. These applicants will be invited to an interview selection event.
Interview Selection Event
You will be expected to bring your portfolio, which will be reviewed by the academics conducting the event. Please be prepared to talk about your work, what inspires you and your influences. We may not discuss all of these topics at the event.
More details about your interview selection event will be emailed to you once you have chosen or been allocated your date.
Selection for Home/EU applicants happens in a variety of different ways:
- In person at Wimbledon College of Arts
- By phone or Skype
If you choose phone or Skype your mini portfolio that you uploaded via UAL’s online portfolio review system will be used during the interview.
How we notify you of the outcome of your application
You will receive the final outcome of your application through the UAL portal.
Please note that applications made to this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.
There are 2 ways international students can apply to a postgraduate course at Wimbledon College of Arts:
- Through one of our official representatives in your country
- By direct application
Read our immigration and visa information to find out if you need a visa to study at UAL.
Application deadline
There is no deadline for international applications, but students are advised to apply as early as possible.
This course will give consideration to deferred entry application. If you are interested in requesting a deferral, you can only request this if you are successful at application.
What happens next
Communicating with you
After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.
Initial application check
We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. If you do, you’ll be invited to submit a mini portfolio through UAL’s online portfolio review system.
Mini portfolio
The portfolio should show the following:
- A maximum of 30 images or other files such as animation, film or video
- A range of visual work which demonstrates experimentation and idea generation
- Design development showing how problems are solved
- An interest in collaboration and making performances
- Awareness of character in the context of a dramatic situation
- Any previous experience of theatre work
- Sketchbooks and notebooks
Following the review of the mini portfolio we select applicants to move on to the next stage of the process. These applicants will be invited to an interview selection event.
Interview Selection Event
You will be expected to bring your portfolio, which will be reviewed by the academic conducting the event. Please be prepared to talk about your work, what inspires you and your influences. We may not discuss all of these topics at the event.
More details about your interview selection event will be emailed to you once you have chosen or been allocated your date.
Selection for international applications are available in a variety of different ways:
- By phone or Skype
- In your country, if your application was made through one of our official representatives
- In person at Wimbledon College of Arts
If you choose phone or Skype your mini portfolio that you uploaded via UAL’s online portfolio review system will be used during the interview.
How we notify you of the outcome of your application
You will receive the final outcome of your application through the UAL portal.
Please note that applications made to this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.
Fees & Funding
Home / EU fee
£10,890 (2019/20).
International fee
£19,930 (2019/20).
Course fees may be paid in instalments.
Additional costs
In addition to tuition fees you are very likely to incur additional costs such as travel expenses and the cost of materials. Please read the information on our additional costs page.
Accommodation
Find out about the accommodation options available and how much they will cost.
Scholarships and awards
Use our search tool to find out more about the scholarships and awards available to students.
Careers and alumni
Our graduates develop and define their individual practices to progress within theatre design. This often leads them in different directions within the industry.
Recent graduates have continued as professionals or become leading creative innovators within theatre. Others have continued their studies with research degrees.
MA Theatre Design alumni are equipped to enter various industry competitions and schemes. For example the Linbury Prize for Stage Design or the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) trainee scheme. Their involvement with national theatre collections and archives gives them the chance to identify museum curation or other forms of exhibition production as a career.
Find out how careers and employability helps our students and graduates start their careers.