Lulu Tam joins Guildhall’s new BA Performance Design course

13 November 2025

Scenographer Lulu Tam has joined Guildhall School as part of the academic team on its newly launched BA in Performance Design.

Lulu is known for her work exploring the relationship between materials, body and space in performance. Her practice spans theatre, dance, musical theatre, circus, art installation and exhibition design. She has worked both nationally and internationally, with her designs showcased at the Prague Quadrennial, London Art Biennale and World Stage Design among others.

Lulu holds a BA in Film, TV and Stage Design and an MA in Scenography. She was selected as a finalist for the Linbury Prize; Winner of Taking the Stage award (supported by the British Council Ukraine) and received the Naomi Wilkinson Award for Stage Design in 2022.

In addition to her design work, Lulu is an experienced educator. She has previously taught on Film, TV and Stage Design courses and has been a visiting lecturer at universities around London. She brings passion for collaboration and interdisciplinary performance into her teaching practice.

Speaking about her new role at Guildhall, Lulu said:

“I am thrilled to be working with Programme Leader Dr Susannah Henry on the brand new BA Performance Design course. This marks a revolutionary step for Guildhall, as one of the UK’s leading drama schools, to launch its first dedicated design programme. I am truly honoured to be part of this exciting journey in shaping its future.”

Hear from Lulu, as she talks through the BA Performance Design course and what to look forward to.

What makes BA Performance Design at Guildhall distinctive?

Lulu: Students are introduced to a broad range of performance design skills, across haptic and digital modes, which reflects our open definition of performance design. We are keen to recruit students who approach designing spaces and costume in varied ways, and who might come to us through routes in art and design, textiles, drama or film.

The innovative Whole Designer module runs across the whole degree and sees all three years of the programme come together to explore the inspiration, history and professional skills that underpin the day-to-day practice.

What can students look forward to?

Lulu: Students can look forward to meeting performance design practitioners of dif

ferent stripes, who visit us to deliver masterclasses and introductions to their work. They will enjoy an exciting programme of trips to exhibitions or inspiring archives, and can settle themselves in an individual, dedicated studio space from which to develop their emergent practice.

What's involved in the course?

Lulu: The programme aims to build confidence in students' individual approaches to performance design by giving everyone the opportunity to experiment with a raft of skills and techniques in their first year.

Projects in the second year allow students to explore what it means to take a design concept and translate it into real spaces.

In their third year, students have the latitude to frame their own performance design projects and also to design public-facing events at the School.

Why is this an exciting opportunity for students?

Lulu: I think it's exciting for students to be part of a live conversation about where and how performance design exists now, and the possibilities for performance designers to shape, or lead, diverse kinds of performance events. It is genuinely thrilling to be building a fresh offer for performance design at Guildhall, and I think it is attracting students who want to be part of something new.