Theatre, Festival and Event Production

If you can think of a skill in backstage theatre, TV, festivals or events, we teach it. 

The course is very broad in its scope, allowing you to experiment, practise, discover new skills and develop strengths. There's also room for safe failure; we encourage you to learn from your mistakes while training in order to reflect on your practice and processes.

You'll work on public productions in a range of regional venues and gain further experience through skills development and professional work placement opportunities.

You'll document your development throughout the course so that you can see how far you've grown as a professional. Our aim is that you’ll graduate with the skills and contacts you need to thrive in this challenging yet rewarding industry. 

Year one
You'll learn introductory skills in all areas of theatre production through lectures, practical projects and practical tests. You'll begin to semi-specialise by identifying your strengths and subjects of interest to further develop your skills. 

Year two
In your second year, you'll choose two pathways that reflect your interests. You'll further develop your strengths through lectures and practical projects. You'll also work on three productions across the year in an intermediate capacity to put your skills into practice.

Year three
You'll hone your skills within the specialism or specialisms of your choice. You'll work on three productions across the year as a head of department, to a professional standard. You'll also complete a four-week work placement within a professional working environment to form industry links and gain first-hand experience.

You'll complete a professional portfolio module to prepare you for work, including job applications, interview techniques and website design.

You’ll be assessed by coursework including practical work, presentations, evaluations, group projects, individual reports and written assignments. There are no written exams.

Expect a busy, intensive, highly practical learning experience to prepare you for the creative industries.  

You'll produce professional public facing productions and receive guest lectures from experienced industry professionals.  

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

Our BA Theatre, Festival and Event Production course is an Approved Graduate Course of the Stage Management Association.

Placement opportunities are available across the UK. Successful student placements have been undertaken at Theatre Royal Bath, The National Theatre, Cardiff Theatrical Services, Royal Shakespeare Company, Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera, Watermill Theatre Newbury, Salisbury Playhouse, Bay Productions, Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Globe, Bristol Old Vic, Oxford Playhouse, Glastonbury and Arcadia. 

Our graduates work in a wide range of industries and professions, including theatre, film and TV, cruise ships, theme parks, live events and festivals, event organisation and management, and all aspects of technical design and production. 

Many graduates have successful long term freelance careers, allowing them to work right across the industry in many varied roles, venues, and professional companies.

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

You'll be taught at our Oldfield Park Theatre workshops near Westmoreland Station Road. The centre is a newly renovated, sizeable, and fully equipped production hub where the scenic, costume, props and design elements of the programme are based, alongside a Mac Lab, Black Box Studio, rehearsal, and lecture rooms.

At Newton Park, facilities include our University Theatre, where practical skills are taught in Lighting, Sound and Stage Management.

As a theatre production student, you’ll benefit from access to:

• Theatre workshops
• University theatre
• Film and television studios
• Commons building
• Newton Park library
• Our Virtual Learning Environment
• English Language Unit
• Writing and Learning Centre.

You can also hire out equipment using SISO, Bath Spa University’s free equipment loan service. We provide a huge variety of equipment in our performance and workshop spaces.