Introduction to Event and Production Management

Public booking opens at 11am, Monday 27 October. Join our mailing list before Friday 24 October to receive priority booking.

Course Dates & Times

Wednesday evenings on 21, 28 January, 4, 11, 18, 25 February 2026
6.45pm–8.45pm, GMT (UTC+/-0)

About Introduction to Event and Production Management

This six-week online evening course is the perfect introduction to the skills required to production manage a variety of shows and events, whilst understanding the significant challenges that come with such a varied role.

If you’re wanting to lead your first ever school production or improve the production values within your school, take your amateur dramatics production into a professional theatre, learn to talk effectively to and manage a technical team or are simply considering a career in production, this course will give you a unique insight into what is required.

Who is this course for?

Anyone aged 18 and over, interested in events and production management, from school teachers, heads of department (Performing Arts subjects), stage & dance school leaders and amateur dramatic groups, to those wishing to turn their interests and hobbies into a career.

What can I expect?

The course will be lecture-based and there will be time for discussion and questions. The course will be broken down into six modules, to cover all aspects of production and event management, to help you effectively manage and lead technical and creative teams.

You can expect to:

• Be able to plan, schedule, manage, monitor and evaluate production
• Produce and manage a production budget
• Know the legislative requirements for production
• Manage stage and technical departments for production, communicating effectively to all departments, including the creative team

The course will explore the role of a Production Manager and what they should expect and insist upon for the smooth running of pre-production, rehearsals, tech/dress rehearsals and shows.

Course Fee

£295

Public booking opens at 11am, Monday 27 October. Join our mailing list before Friday 24 October to receive priority booking.

Eligibility

• We welcome participants from all ages 18 and over
• Participants must have sufficient English language skills in order to fully engage with the course 

Online Short Courses Requirements

All sessions will take place online using Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to you in advance of the course start date with further instructions.

To participate in online classes you will need the following:

• An email address
• A reliable internet connection
• A laptop/tablet/desktop computer with a microphone and camera (most have these included)
• Speakers/headphones (the speakers in your laptop/tablet/computer should be sufficient)
• A fully updated web browser able to use the most up to date version of Zoom, or a fully updated Zoom client

If you have any questions regarding joining one of our online courses please contact us.

About the Course Tutor

The course is taught by Mark Hartley.

Mark trained at Guildhall School of Music & Drama as the first trumpet player to study a joint classical and jazz first study. Mark has worked for the Arts Council, trained in Film Composition at National Film and Television School, and worked extensively in the music and theatre industries as a producer and production manager.

Mark’s professional credits include shows in London’s West End, UK touring, large-scale UK festivals, corporate events. In 2022, Mark worked for the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar to manage the entertainment at the Lusail (the largest stadium in Qatar) and Al Bayt Stadium. In August 2023, Mark was the Production Manager for Paines Plough’s Roundabout Theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe and Production Manager and Content Producer at Chris Evans’ CarFest.

Currently Mark works as a freelance creative producer and production manager, alongside teaching music and theatre production at Guildhall School. Mark’s ex-students are found working across the creative industry from international lighting designers, production managers and music producers, to stage managers, film editors, costume designers and engineers.

In 2023 Mark launch a new national initiative ‘My Creative Future’, to give young people the access and information to see the huge employment and creative potential of working in production arts for the creative industries.