About the course

This course is designed to produce highly skilled, passionate and versatile young production crew and artists. You will have the opportunity to develop your understanding of the demands of professional training in the performing arts industry in our purpose-built and modern theatre and studios. It is for anyone who wants to study production arts.

Entry requirements

4 GCSEs at grade 4 or above, at least one of which should be in a performing arts subject, or an equivalent Level 2 qualification in a relevant subject. Music, acting or dance grades of the appropriate level may also be considered as suitable entry qualifications. You will also need to provide a portfolio of production material/ideas (i.e. sound; set; costume; lighting).

How much does it cost?

Free to those aged 16-18. If you are aged 19+ you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.

There is a range of financial support that you may be entitled to, including: Learner Support funds, grants and bursaries and employer support.

Workshops and trips – approx. £150 per year. 

Uniform – £50 (named t-shirt and hoodie with Glassbox Theatre logo and name embroidered on).

Who is it suitable for?

Anyone who has a drive and desire to work in the production arts industry! Or go to university/vocational college, to study theatrical arts, backstage production or technical theatre. You will also need to provide a portfolio of production material/ideas (i.e. sound; set; costume; lighting etc) to show you have a reasonable production ability at interview.

Why study?

Working alongside actors, musical theatre performers, dancers and musicians, will enable a real-life industry experience into the life of a production artist. Become more skilled, confident and connected; learn how to design a lighting plan, follow scripts to cues, operate lighting and sound desks, design and construct sets, manage a show from the backstage perspective, plus many more skills, all featured in our own Glass Box Theatre AND professionally prepared dedicated studios AND external performance venues. You will be 'Professionals in Training' – preparing for progression into the Production Arts Industry, further training or a related employment area. Don’t wait another minute to claim your creative future – apply today, online or in College.

Where will this course take me?

The qualifications will encourage recognition of the broader context within which the performing and production arts industries operate and the necessity to develop transferable skills to ensure an effective contribution to both the immediate and future development of those industries.

Progression to higher education in areas such as performing arts, community theatre, drama and theatre studies, arts administration, technical theatre. Work within the industry in areas such as theatre in education, touring productions, holiday camps, cruise ships and technical theatre, dance performing, teaching, community arts, cruise ships and commercial entertainers.

Destinations for our students include the following:

• Higher Education Degree Courses
• University
• RADA
• De Montfort University
• Roehampton Institute
• UEL University Rosebruford
• Middlesex University Stage Schools – Performance and Degree Courses
• East 15
• Masters Performing Arts College
• Urdang Dance Academy
• Performers College
• London Studio Centre
• Laine Theatre Arts
• Tiffany’s
• Arts Educational School
• Collins
• Penny Meakins London Contemporary Dance School

Career opportunities:

• Administration (critic; ticket office; publisher; designer; marketing manager-coordinators etc)
• Production (sound/lighting engineers, set designer or builder; costume maker or designer;  Front of House managers etc); 
• Presenters (Media-radio, film, TV).
• Performance Artists 

Core modules

The Level 3 Diploma in Performing and Production Arts is made up of 8 mandatory units. The qualification will be delivered through 12 units over a nominal two-year period.

• Unit 1: Principles of Performance
• Unit 2: Engaging with an Audience
• Unit 3: Introduction to Professional Practice
• Unit 4: Critical and Contextual Awareness
• Unit 5: Production Skills and Context
• Unit 6: Performance Skills and Context
• Unit 7: Preparation for Specialist Study
• Unit 8: Collaborative Performance Project.
  (The Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing and Production Arts Students must complete units 1-8 of the Diploma in addition to Units 9-11 and either Unit 12 or Unit 13)
• Unit 9: Developing Performance and Production Skills
• Unit 10: Preparing for Progression
• Unit 11: Exploration of Specialist study and Context
• Unit 12: Extended Project
• Unit 13: Extended project

How will I be assessed?

Verbal and written formative and summative feedback, through a variety of methods: Practical work; production based portfolios; classroom observations; Showbie app: Padlet app; WIX pages; presentations; logbooks; viva voca; rehearsals; blogs; diaries; essays etc.

Will I have to provide anything?

Pens, pencils, diary, highlighters, A4 folder. 

Workshops and trips – approx. £150 per year. 

Uniform – £50 (named t-shirt and hoodie with Glassbox Theatre logo and name embroidered on).