BA Production Arts – Stage Management

Stage Management Pathway

Stage managers are at the centre of any production or event. Stage managers are organised and creative individuals who require all manner of skills and competencies, but chief among these are ‘people skills’. Only through good interaction, communication and negotiation with people will stage managers be able to understand and work with performers, directors, designers and all the production departments.

As a Stage Management student, you will learn about managing rehearsal rooms and performances, props sourcing and show calling, as well as team management and budgeting.

This pathway is all about developing your craft to professional standards in a fully professional context. By the end of the programme you will bring all your skills to bear on full-scale productions, taking lead roles in managing shows from rehearsal room to final performance.

Stage Management Instagram

For a little more insight into what we do, visit the Stage Management Instagram.

Hear from students and staff

Find out more from our students and staff by watching the video below.

Pathway Structure

Year One

Along with all other students in the programme, the Stage Management students take classes in a broad range of core subjects. These include: History of Theatre, Critical Lens Contemporary Theatre, Health & Safety and Stagecraft & Production Process.

Classes are usually project based and wherever possible have a hands-on, practical approach. For example, when studying trends in Critical Lens You will engage with international productions, exhibitions and interdisciplinary projects.

Besides the core subjects, you’ll be spending time in classes and working on projects and productions to develop your knowledge of management skills, organising rehearsals, sourcing and managing props, and cueing to music. Classes cover all areas of stage management and give a thorough grounding in preparation for the responsibilities to come.

Students will also work on two productions during their first year.

Associated Studies

In the first year you will also take a core module called Associated Studies, which allows you to take three short courses in other areas of Production Arts such as Prop Making, Lighting, Sound, Video, or Scenic Art.

Year Two

Your second year is entirely practical. You will divide your time between working in Stage Management on a number of productions and projects. You will work with a broad range of different practitioners including  actors, directors and designers.  

You will also spend a term working in one of the areas you studied in Year One Associated Studies. All stage management students also undertake a Costume production allocation in their second year.

Year Three

Third Year students normally spend two terms in leading Head of Department roles. You will lead teams and take responsibility for productions from pre-production through to the final performance.

You will also undertake a four-week professional work placement and complete a Graduation Project.

Final-year Stage Management student Hope Marshall talks about her role as Deputy Stage Manager on our drama production of Gut by Frances Poet and how she made the role completely paperless for this production.

Graduates in the Industry

Recent Work Placements

Recent work placements undertaken by Stage Management students include: 

 

  • Hamilton (West End) 
  • Smyle Event Management
  • Royal Opera House
  • Bugsy Malone national tour
  • Farley Prop Hire company
  • Ryan O’Connor theatre / props buyer

Future Careers

Potential careers include stage manager and production-related roles in: 

  • Theatre and events 
  • TV and film production 
  • Arts management  

Read about career possibilities after graduation.

Deputy Stage Manager at a cueing desk on a production

Our Facilities

Students use the School’s on-site theatres, rehearsal rooms, workshops and costume department to collaborate on major productions and a range of smaller projects and events.

Stage Manager Samantha Liquorish wearing a headset during a rehearsal

Production Arts alumni

Meet our Production Arts graduates and find out what they've been working on since graduating from Guildhall.

Group of actors on stage in period costume

See a production

See the work of our students come to life on stage in our drama and opera productions.

Stage Management student crouching down with props

Chat to students

Got a question about our programmes? Want to know more about life in London, or application advice? Send a message to one of our friendly student and staff ambassadors.

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