Production Lighting, BA

This course remains open to new applications. If you make an application via UCAS, your application will be marked as 'late' but will still be considered for progression to interview and this will not affect your chances of being offered a place

Course information

Duration
3 years full-time
Course start
October
Award
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Theatre Practice

UCAS code

Institution
C35
Course
W451

About this course

Studying on the Production Lighting pathway of the BA (Hons) Theatre Practice course, you will:

  • Learn how to rig and focus professional lighting and video equipment to industry standards
  • Work alongside professionals on realised projects within Central and in industry settings
  • Develop a high level of technical proficiency and expertise

As a student on the Production Lighting Course, you will learn to plan, rig, focus, plot and maintain lighting and video rigs for theatre and other live shows. You will also have opportunities to develop management skills that (along with your practical skills) will help you position yourself at the forefront of the industry on graduation.

Production Lighting Course Leader Nick Moran discusses becoming a Lighting Engineer for Live Performance.

Tailor your experience

As you progress through the course, there are opportunities to develop specialist skills in the areas of most interest to you as a developing practitioner, giving you the best possible preparation for employment upon graduation. There are also opportunities to develop and negotiate your own projects, which have previously included programming for music, conference and event lighting, site-specific work, festival planning and architectural projection.

Practical-based tuition

Tuition is structured around practical projects in Central’s well-equipped studios, theatre and performance spaces, supported by taught sessions on, for example, computer-aided drafting, making electrical props and programming. You will also study video and projection systems, working on productions and on more experimental projects.

Beyond traditional theatre roles

Central offers opportunities, within the course and on placement in industry, to broaden your experience beyond the traditional theatre roles for production lighting practitioners. Past projects have included programming for music, conference and event lighting, site-specific work and architectural projection. As well as our long established and deep connections to theatre, we have strong links with well-established practitioners in concert touring and events.

Second-year Entry

You can apply for second-year entry to this course if you have already undertaken first-year study at another institution on a relevant course, taken a HND and HNC qualification or have relevant experience. Please contact openevents@cssd.ac.uk to find out more

Accordion

  • Course Detail

    Year 1: Introduction to professional lighting practice

    • Through sessions and workshops in Central’s studio and theatre spaces, you will build your confidence and ability to plan, rig, focus and programme lighting.
    • Develop a solid foundation in health and safety management, safe working with electricity and working at height.
    • Collaborative exercises and individual projects further develop technical and management skills, in preparation for work in the role of Lighting Crew and/or Lighting Programmer in the summer term.

    Year 2: Continuing to build practical and management skills

    • Through taught sessions and production experiences, including opportunities to work in key roles on Central’s public productions, you will rig and troubleshoot lighting and video systems, programme them, and manage fellow students through the production process.
    • You will also research areas of practice beyond conventional theatre, including events and festivals.
    • You will be mentored by tutors, technical support staff and visiting professionals, and have the opportunity to develop projects with fellow students.

    Year 3: Focus on professional development

    • You will continue to research specific industry sectors that interest you, and build on your experience through taking on senior roles in larger projects at Central, and/or through individually negotiated placements.
    • Tutors and industry mentors help each student to develop a strategy for their entry into the world of work.
    • Personal networks are of great importance for this and you will benefit from Central’s unrivalled relationships with the lighting industry, including numerous alumni and other practitioners working in the theatre, live event and concert touring/festival sectors.
    • Industry Links & Placements

      There are opportunities – within the course and on placement in industry – to broaden students’ experience outside the traditional theatre roles for production lighting practitioners.

      Past projects have included:

      • Programming for music, conference and event lighting
      • Site-specific work
      • Architectural lighting.

      Central’s lighting courses are generously supported by major industry partners, including White LightSLXPRG UK and PRG XL Video.

      Central also has strong links with a range of smaller companies, several started by graduates, including Liteup EventsCassius Creative and Fray Studios (Finn Ross/Adam Young video design).

      From the video industry, regular visitors and placement hosts include d3 TechnologiesReally Creative Media and 59 Productions.

      Each year, a panel of industry experts helps final year students launch their professional careers. Many opportunities for lighting students come from these panels and from the ever-expanding network of Central graduates.

      The course has strong links with the Association of Lighting Designers (ALD) and local theatres, which helps students to network in the industry, and to find placements and job opportunities.

      • Graduate Employment

        Graduate employment and career pathways include:

        Theatre

        National Theatre London, Rambert Dance Company, Northern Ballet, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, English National Opera, Sadler’s Wells, The Place, Hampstead Theatre, Young Vic, Royal Court Theatre, Tricycle Theatre.

        Events and Production Graduate Traineeships

        PRG UKWhite Light, working on events at the Royal Albert Hall, Roundhouse, Chelsea Football Club, The O2 Arena and venues throughout the UK and Europe.

        Concert Touring and Festivals

        Including Glastonbury FestivalLatitude FestivalV FestivalThe Big Chill and touring with companies such as Cyan LightingNeg EarthGLS Lighting and HSL worldwide.

        Video and Projection

        Including world tours with leading concert artists, as media server specialists on d3 and Hippotizer, and nominations for awards for concert lighting and video design.

        • Notable Alumni

          Adam Bassett (2000) is Partner, Company Director and Lighting Designer for Woodruffe Bassett Design, which designs the lighting for some of the world’s biggest music tours, productions and events. To name just a few of their previous projects; they’ve worked on music tours for Adele, The Rolling Stones, and Elton John, and lit the Opening Ceremony for the Invictus Games, and The London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

          Jack Berry (2016) has been travelling the world lighting productions including Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, Ghost the Musical and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Most recently he was Head of Lighting and Video for Motown: The Musical, and Deputy Head of Lighting for Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s The Phantom of The Opera, both touring the UK & Ireland. 

          Phil Brejza (2015) is Head of Lighting for the Blue Man Group World Tour, and prior to this was Chief Electrician for the UK tours of Jersey Boys and Sunset Boulevard, and Deputy Chief Electician for the international tour of Wicked.  

          Marc Callaghan (2006) is Director, and Kristopher Box (2006) is Operations Director, of Liteup, a concert touring, festivals and live events company supplying the very best in lighting, video, rigging and production equipment. 

          Charlie Heyday (2008) is a Freelance Production Electrician, Chief Electrician and Re-Lighter, working regularly in theatre and live events throughout the UK and Europe.

          Adam Povey (2006) is a Production Electrician and Associate Lighting Designer. Adam has been Head of Lighting for a number of Secret Cinema’s immersive events, and regularly works for Regent’s Park Theatre, and Assembly Theatre, as well as on West End shows and UK touring productions. His credits include; Sunny Afternoon; Guys and Dolls; Hairspray; Constellations, and Uncle Vanya. Adam also regularly provides mentoring for students on the Production Lighting course.  

          Libby Spencer (2008) is currently Commercial Events Manager for English Heritage. She has many years of experience in creative marketing agency, international touring and production of one off events, and has worked with UEFA, Samsung, B Festival and on the London 2012 Olympics as Event Project Manager. Libby is also a regular Theatre Practice Visiting Lecturer and Mentor. 

          Ellie Thompson (2014) is a touring Video Designer and Video Supervisor, working internationally. One of her stand out projects was working with The National Theatre of Scotland on Adam, a production based on the experiences of a digital cast of over 100 transgender and non-binary persons from all over the world. 

          James Valpy (2010) is a Concert Video Engineer and has worked on international tours for a number of artists including Rihanna, Imagine Dragons, and The 1975. 

        • Recent Visiting Professionals

          Leading Production Lighting Specialists:

          • Mark Mumford
          • Craig Bennett
          • Martin Chisnall
          • Stuart Crane

          Lighting Designers:

          • David W. Kidd
          • Ingi Bekk
          • Marc Callaghan
          • Nick Richings
          • Matt Daw
          • Simon Corder
          • Andy Purves.

          Lighting Programmers

          • Lawrence Stromoski
          • Jim Beagley

          Visiting graduates

          • Adam Povey (Production Electrician for Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, large-scale theatre tours and West End productions)
          • Jo Richardson (Co- Director of Full Production Services Ltd)
          • Chris Purnell (Touring Chief Lx of Rambert Dance Co)
          • Squib Swain (Lighting Designer for Bombay Bicycle Club, The Streets, Delphic)
          • Jamie Thompson (award-winning Lighting Designer for The Script and others)
        • Entry Requirements and Admissions

          Minimum Entry Requirements

          Our standard academic entry requirements range between 120 and 64 UCAS tariff points. As part of meeting these tariff points, we consider a range of qualifications including A Levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can see how many tariff points your qualifications would gain on the UCAS Tariff Calculator. International qualifications and others not covered within the UCAS tariff can also be accepted. Please email us if you need further clarification.

          Please note that we make lower offers (including unconditional) to exceptional candidates and those who have alternative or prior experience to offer. All candidates invited to interview are asked to bring a portfolio. Interview and portfolio are key factors in determining which applicants are accepted on to the course.

          Admission with Academic Credit

          For information on alternative entry requirements see www.ucas.com.

          Application Details

          See How to Apply section for Undergraduate courses.

          We particularly encourage applications from groups currently under-represented in higher education, such as students with disabilities and members of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups. Find out more information on Central’s commitment to equality and diversity.

          Interviews

          All candidates invited to interview are asked to bring a portfolio, which should demonstrate their experience of stage lighting (no matter how small that might be) and their understanding of, and passion for, the industry they wish to train for. For more on preparing a portfolio for a lighting course, see the Association for Lighting Production and Design website - Training section, where the Course Leader Nick Moran has written some guidance.

          International Interviews

          Each year Central hosts a number of interviews outside the UK, with a team of tutors from Central travelling to meet applicants. The international interviews are designed to replicate the London-based interview experience in every aspect (other than a tour of our site!). See our Event Finder for listings of upcoming interview locations and dates.

          International Students

          Visit the International Students section to view details of English language requirements for Central’s courses.

          • Tuition Fees, Bursaries and Scholarships

            Tuition Fees for 2024 Entry

            UK (Home) students: £9,250 per year*
            Overseas students: £25,200 per year

            Please note that there may be additional costs that you need to incur as part of the training for the course.

            Full information is available on the Tuition Fees and Additional Costs page.


            Bursaries and Scholarships

            Central offers a range of bursaries and scholarships. If you are holding an offer for a place on a course then you will be invited to apply for a bursary or scholarship.

            UK-based undergraduate students who are applying for a student maintenance loan and have a household income under £35,000 will automatically be awarded our Access to Central Bursary.

            *If you are a UK student but already hold a qualification at the equivalent or higher level to the one that you are applying for, then you may be classed as an ELQ student and be required to pay the same fee as an overseas student.

          Student Feedback

          “The course was a great way to form strong contacts for the future. Straight after leaving Central, I collaborated with Katie Mitchell on The Forbidden Zone at the Salzburg Festival, as Video Production Technician. I also worked as Video Supervisor for The Driver’s Seat with the National Theatre of Scotland.”

          Ellie Thompson

          Graduated 2014, recent projects include Associate Video Designer for Reisende auf einem Bein, Deutsches Schauspielhaus, Hamburg and for Schatten, Schaubühne.

          Staff On The Course

          Nick Moran is a highly experienced teacher and practitioner, specializing in Performance Lighting Design and Production Lighting. His professional work includes Theatre, Opera, Dance Concert Touring and Events.

          Nick Moran

          Ros is a tutor on the lighting courses at Central coming from a professional career spanning 20/30 years in the theatre industry.

          Ros Sobotnicki

          Alex Stone is a visual artist, lighting designer and production manager creating work within the public realm and urban environments.

          Alex Stone

          Kathrine Sandys is a scenographer, researcher and academic.

          Dr Kathrine Sandys

          UniStats Widget

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