Making artistic and logistical ends meet is the key skill in creating successful theatre. This module will look at basic aspects needed to make theatrical events of professional artistic quality happen successfully, such as: a stimulating and interesting content, a competent and suitable artistic team, evocative design, a suitable venue, pragmatic logistics, an effective business plan, and, most importantly, an audience to play to.

As a foundation for students who will then go on to specialise in areas of Creative Producing or Theatre Dramaturgy, this module explores effective and qualitative artistic concepts (both on the level of venues and their programming), as well as companies and their productions, and individual theatre shows and events. Core aspects covered are artistic policy and mission, audience demographics and development, season programming, production development, contract law, intellectual property, performance licensing; economic feasibility and routes to financial operation (funding, co-production, sponsorship), marketing and targeting an audience. Students will acquire these core artistic as well as entrepreneurial skills from working on a range of case studies taken from contemporary theatre 'in the real world', representing best, and not so good practice of the practicalities of running a venue or company, and presenting theatre performances. In addition, practitioners and professionals will introduce and discuss their own work and projects in guest lectures and workshops.

In this module, you will develop:

       * skills in the creation of original theatre of artistic quality and financial sustainability, and a detailed understanding of artistic processes as well as entrepreneurial methods in theatre production,

       * an understanding of professional procedures, processes and disciplines in the running and programming of a venue and theatre company, informed by professional practice,

       * your understanding of the realisation of original artistic ideas within frameworks of legislation, cultural policy, and professional enterprise,

       * a knowledge of contemporary regional, national, and - to certain degrees - also international contexts and networks of theatre artists, producers, companies and venues, and

       * proficiency in assessing professional practice, and to present and defend original, informed and competent analysis, arguments, and recommendations.

 More generic skills you can enhance on this module include:

       * independent, creative, and reflexive thinking and problem solving,

       * the retrieval, synthesis, critical evaluation, assessment, implementation and application of information, facts, and data as a basis for professional and effective decision making, including your continuous self-reflection and self-assessment,

       * communicating and presenting in a variety of oral, written, and visual media, to a variety of audiences in professional contexts,

       * self-discipline and personal organisation in order to manage and direct projects effectively within constraints of resource, time, space, or budget, and

       * team working skills, demonstrating efficiency in group management, cooperation and leadership

Assessment & Deadlines

This module is assessed 100% on continuous assessment by coursework:

12.5% Case Study Submitted - Wednesday Week 1 

12.5% Contracts case studies - Submitted throughout 

25% Venue/Company in-depth review - Group Presentations and notes Week 7 

30% Group Presentation - Week 13 

20% Seminar attendance/contribution etc.

 PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE

Please liaise with Dermot O’Brien about this module.