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BA (Hons) Theatre Design
College
WIMBLEDON
Start date
September 2019
Course length
3 years
UCAS code
W463
Course summary
The BA Theatre Design course at Wimbledon College of Arts covers both set and costume design.
We prepare you to enter the world of contemporary theatre and performance design with the skills, knowledge and sensibilities that professional designers need.
The course is a mix of practice and theory. This ensures that experimentation and critical thinking are equally valued. This will enable you to produce inventive and imaginative design work underpinned by strong practical skills.
Student work
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Bianca Sequeira-Martin - BA Theatre Design. (Credit: Kristy Noble.) -
Set design and costumes by BA Theatre Design students. (Credit: Wimbledon College of Arts.) -
Cecile Tremolieres - BA Theatre Design. (Credit: Kristy Noble.) -
Design for dance - BA Theatre Design. (Credit: Wimbledon College of Arts.) -
Design for dance - BA Theatre Design. (Credit: Wimbledon College of Arts.) -
Design for dance - BA Theatre Design. (Credit: Wimbledon College of Arts.) -
Jack McDougall - BA Theatre Design. (Credit: Wimbledon College of Arts.) -
Yue Xia - BA Theatre Design. (Credit: Wimbledon College of Arts.)
Divided event - BA Theatre Design students worked with choreographers from The Place’s youth dance company, Shift.
BA Theatre Design Stories
BA Theatre Design students collaborate with directors for New Directions theatre festival
Wimbledon BA Theatre Design students talk about their designs, themes and what they learnt from working with directors from the Lyric Theatre.
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.
Wimbledon BA Theatre Design scale model project
First year BA Theatre Design students were tasked with making a 1:25 scale model of a scene from the local area.
Course details
This course is subject to re-validation. Re-validation is a process that makes sure students get a high quality academic experience. During re-validation there maybe be some changes to course content and structure. Please contact us if you have any questions about this course.
What is a theatre designer?
A theatre designer designs the environment in which the performance takes place and the performers costumes. They may also design sound, lighting and other digital aspects. All these areas are covered on the course.
What skills does a theatre designer need?
As well as having a range of practical skills designers must be good communicators and collaborators. They must be resourceful, imaginative, self-assured and effective problem solvers.
What you can expect
- A staff team that are all practicing theatre and performance designers. You will also have tuition from a wide range of freelance theatre-makers
- A contextual studies programme. This builds your knowledge and understanding of film, television and the arts
- Collaborative projects with both drama and dance programmes in other universities and institutions. These include The Lyric Theatre, London Contemporary Dance School, MA Directing at Birkbeck and BA Contemporary Theatre Practice at East 15 Acting School
- To build a strong network of theatre-makers through collaborative projects
- To explore the relationship between drawing and performance
- The chance to get involved in Wimbledon’s Acts Re-Acts Festival, which combines performance and fine art
- To engage with a rich mix of ideas, events, discussions and performances
- To have access to Wimbledon's shared workshops. View the Wimbledon facilities
To focus on aspects of theatre and performance design practice:
- Interpretation of text
- Perception of character
- Dramatic space
- The designer’s role within the creative team
- Working on live shows with performers
An introduction to a range of skills and technical areas including:
- Computer-aided design
- Costume construction and drawing
- Fabric dyeing
- Lighting
- Metal and wood workshop
- Recorded digital arts for live performance
- Scaled precision model-making
- Sound
- Story boarding for live performance
- Technical drafting
Course units
Year 1
- Unit 1: Introduction to study in theatre and screen
- Unit 2: Designing and making - the principles of practice
- Unit 3: Designing and making - extending the skill set
- Unit 4: Looking at ideas - debates in the discipline
- Unit 5: Who are you? Establishing a specialism
Year 2
- Unit 6: Collaboration and its’ connections
- Unit 7: Practice as a laboratory
- Unit 8: You think what? How to research and review work
- Unit 9: Where in the world? My specialism in context
- Unit 10: Where in the world? Extending skills
Year 3
- Unit 11: Finding your voice - portfolio design, crafting research skills and career planning
- Unit 12: Show your work - independent practice
Work experience and opportunities
Students gain production experience on the course with our professional practitioners, as well as through specialist work placements with companies or individuals.
Our students also have the chance to collaborate with established and emerging choreographers and directors designing sets and costume for a wide variety of realised performances including, dance, plays, opera, site-specific theatre and new writing projects.
Students can also study abroad in their second year as part of the college’s Erasmus scheme.
Learning and teaching methods
- Artist talks and lectures
- Critical studies and writing
- Design of a learning agreement
- Documentation and dissemination of a project
- Exhibition planning meetings with tutors and technical staff
- Group discussions, crits, seminars and tutorials
- Independent research
- Individual academic tutorial advice and support
- Lectures and seminars
- Negotiation and development of a design proposal
- Peer review and assessment
- Planning for a formal presentation of a design proposal
- Postgraduate forums
- Practical workshops
- Preparation and presentation of ideas at planning meetings
- Project related professional work placement or collaboration
- Seminars
- Studio work
- Study visits
- Technical inductions and instruction
- Workshops
Assessment methods
- Presentation
- Professional and personal development
- Research portfolio
Staff
- Lucy Algar - Course Leader
- Matt Deely - Lecturer, Designer, Auto CAD and model making specialist
- Peter Farley - Designer
- Geraldine Pilgrim - Site-specific theatre maker
- Dick Straker - Site-specific theatre maker
- Michael Vale - MA Theatre Design Course Leader
Visiting Staff
- Dan Bird - Director
- Professor Jane Collins - Theatre Director
- Mauricio Elorriaga - Designer, technical drawing tutor and model maker
- Pamela Howard - Designer
- Rob Howell - Designer
- Sophie Jump - Designer
- Glen Neath - Director and writer
- James Perkins - Designer
- Uri Roodner - Theatre Director
- Vivian Sendall - Scene painter
- Sjef Tilly - 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 one or a combination of the following qualifications:
- Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (Level 3 or 4)
- 2 A Levels at grade C or above
- Merit, Pass, Pass (MPP) at BTEC Extended Diploma
- Pass at UAL Extended Diploma
- Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Or equivalent EU/International qualifications, such as International Baccalaureate Diploma
- And 3 GCSE passes at grade 4 or above (grade A*-C)
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 6.0 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking (please check our English language requirements)
Portfolio advice
Portfolios should show the following:
- A range of visual recording, such as drawing, life drawing and photography
- Experimentation, which demonstrates idea generation and development
- Visual work which uses form, structure, colour, texture and space
- Design development showing how problems are solved
- Previous experience of theatre work
- Sketchbooks and notebooks
Please remember:
- The quality of the work is more important than the quantity
- Where possible, large or 3D work should be photographed and scanned
- To organise your work by project, with supporting work presented alongside final outcomes
Selection criteria
We look for:
- An interest, commitment and motivation for studying the subject
- An ability to work imaginatively and creatively in 2D and 3D visual media, materials and processes
- An ability to create, investigate and develop ideas independently
- An ability to communicate your ideas visually, verbally and in writing
- Potential for creative problem solving
- An ability to self-direct and evaluate your own work
- An ability to engage with the idea of character in the context of a dramatic situation
- Visual awareness and an understanding of the creative process
- Cultural and historical awareness of theatre design and performance
- Motivation for working in theatre related industries
- A desire to learn and succeed
Making your application
You must apply through UCAS, where you’ll need the following information:
- University code - U65
- UCAS course code - W463
Application deadline
We recommend you apply by 15 January for equal consideration.
However, this course will consider applications after that date, subject to places being available.
This course will give consideration to:
- Applications for year 2 entry, subject to places being available
- Deferred entry 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 or asked to book onto a suitable date to attend 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.
The event will also give you a chance to meet current students, take a tour of the college and see the facilities.
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, you will be sent an email requesting that you upload a digital portfolio using UAL’s online portfolio review system.
How we notify you of the outcome of your application
You will receive the final outcome of your application through UCAS track.
Please note that applicants for this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.
There are 3 ways international students can apply to an undergraduate course at Wimbledon College of Arts:
- Through one of our official representatives in your country
- Through UCAS
- By direct application
If you are applying via UCAS you will need the following information:
- University code - U65
- UCAS course code - W463
You can only apply to the same course once per year whether you are applying via UCAS, UAL representative or using the UAL online application system. Any duplicate applications will be withdrawn. Read the UAL international application advice for further information on how to apply.
Application deadline
We recommend you apply by 15 January for equal consideration.
However, this course will consider applications after that date, subject to places being available.
This course will give consideration to:
- Applications for year 2 entry, subject to places being available
- Deferred entry 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.
Immigration history check
Whether you’re applying online via UCAS, through a UAL representative or by direct application you will need to complete an Immigration History Check to establish whether you are eligible to study at UAL. If you don’t complete the check we won’t be able to proceed with your application.
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 or asked to book onto a suitable date to attend 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 international applicants happens 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 our international office based at Chelsea College of Arts
If you choose phone or Skype, you will be sent an email requesting that you upload a digital portfolio using UAL’s online portfolio review system.
How we notify you of the outcome of your application
- If you applied through UCAS you will receive the final outcome of of your application through UCAS track
- If you applied directly or through an agent, we will notify you through the UAL portal
Please note that applicants for this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.
Study Abroad
Through the Study Abroad programme international students can apply to join an undergraduate course.
For information on how to apply visit the Study Abroad section.
Fees & Funding
Home / EU fee
£9,250 (2019/20).
Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students, in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Please visit our undergraduate tuition fees page for more information.
International fee
£19,930 (2019/20).
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
BA Theatre Design graduates progress into a wide range of roles within the field of theatre and performance.
As well as working as designers in television and film production, production managers and scenic artists our graduates work in site-specific theatre, opera, musicals, music concerts, festivals and animation.
They also possess a range of skills, which enable them to transfer into other areas such as further academic study, exhibition and retail design.
Alumni have been finalists and winners of the Linbury Prize for stage design, progressing to being BAFTA and Olivier Award-winning designers with the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and the BBC. They have also exhibited at World Stage Design.
Alumni
- Sarah Greenwood - four times Oscar nominated and BAFTA winning production designer for films including Atonement, Anna Karenina, Pride and Prejudice and Sherlock Holmes
- David Harris - Associate Designer for Cameron Macintosh's Les Misérables
- Richard Hudson - Set designer for The Lion King
- Ann Maskrey - Costume designer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland
- Edward Thomas - BAFTA winning production designer who has worked on Dr Who and Torchwood
- Cécile Trémolières - Freelance set and costume designer. Finalist of the Linbury Prize Stage Design (2013). Awarded the Royal Opera House Linbury bursary (2015)
Find out how careers and employability helps our students and graduates start their careers.