Courses

BA (Hons) Stage Management and Film & TV Production

Key Information
  • Award

    Bachelor of Arts with honours, BA (Hons)

  • Application process

    Interview & workshop

  • Duration

    Three years (full-time)

  • Academic year

    22 September 2025 – 10 July 2026

  • Application deadline

    28 February 2025 (16:00 GMT)

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Subject to Validation

ⓘ  Please note this course is currently subject to validation by UWE, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’s Higher Education Institution partner.

The validation process ensures each course aligns with our high standards of training. By complying with Higher Education regulations and quality standards we can ensure that all of our training programmes meet the expectations of our students and the industry.

Course overview

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This innovative new programme combines stage management for theatre and live events with film and television production, offering comprehensive practical training across multiple entertainment sectors.

Students select either the ‘Stage Management’ or ‘Film & TV Production’ pathway at application.

This three-year programme is designed for aspiring professionals seeking robust training in both the creative and technical craft of Stage Management and Film & TV production, supported by extensive hands-on experience and a chance to build industry connections.

In the first year, all students get to experience the fundamentals such as lighting, sound, props, the art department and what it’s like to be part of a full cast and crew team.

Years two and three focus on tailored modules in either Stage Management or Film & TV Production. Throughout the programme, you’ll work on professional-standard projects, collaborating across departments.

This career-focused degree gives you opportunities to engage with industry professionals and organisations, and develop your network of contacts through shadowing, placements, mock interviews and networking events; developing the skills and knowledge needed to launch your career. This highly regarded aspect of the course also provides real-world credits for your future CV.

Whether your future lies in the immediacy of live theatre or the precision of Film and TV production, this degree will provide the foundations for a successful career.

We want to see you thrive in the industry we love!

Course highlights

  • Comprehensive Training: Learn essential skills for the industry, including lighting, sound, and prop-making, tailored specifically to the needs of a stage manager or Film & TV Producer. This training ensures you are well-equipped to handle the technical aspects of production.
  • Industry Connections: Engage in career preparation activities, including mock interviews with industry professionals, and develop a professional CV and portfolio.
  • Professional Placement: Gain invaluable real-world experience and industry contacts through professional placements with a professional organisation relevant to your pathway, applying your skills in a practical setting.
  • Collaborative Environment: Work closely with peers from different courses on a variety of projects, mirroring the teamwork required in professional settings.
  • Small Class Sizes: Benefit from personalised instruction with a cohort size of around 12 students and small group classes of 6, allowing for tailored feedback and support.
  • Immersive Learning: Enjoy an average of 25 hours of contact time per week, with opportunities for independent study and intensive work during production weeks, including evening and weekend hours.
  • Unique Assessment Method: Focus on practical assignments and industry-standard paperwork, with no written exams or dissertations, ensuring assessments are directly relevant to the demands of careers related to your pathway.
  • Career-Ready Graduates: Complete the course with the skills, experience, and industry connections needed to secure roles in stage management, film & TV production and related fields.

Course structure

Year 1:

  • Fundamentals of the industry
  • Industry Craft
  • Production Portfolio 1
    In the first year, you will build a solid foundation in understanding the  wider context of the industry with a perspective on both pathways of this immersive course. The year will give you a firm knowledge of the basic roles and responsibilities, alongside an introduction to the broader context of theatre, film & tv production. You will gain initial experience in areas such as lighting, sound and prop-making, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of the production process. You will also work with a number of different courses at the School on internal, practical projects.

Year 2 and 3 – Focussed pathway development

 

Stage Management Pathway Film & TV Production Pathway
You will explore:

  • Collaborative projects (year 2)
  • Industry preparation (year 2)
  • Production portfolio (year 2)
  • Professional development (year 3)
  • Production portfolio (year 3)
You will explore:

  • Advanced Film & TV production techniques (year 2)
  • Assistant roles (year 2) 
  • Head of Department Roles. (year 3) 
  • Career kick-off (year 3)
  • All while developing professional portfolios to take out into the industry 

 

Career pathways

Training is designed to prepare you for a successful career, offering opportunities to engage with industry professionals through mock interviews and networking events, and facilitating connections with key national companies.

The breadth of successful career opportunities that recent graduates of the Theatre School have gone on to is huge. For those who specialised in stage management – they have secured roles with diverse employers, including the immersive theatre company Trigger and touring companies Roustabout and Moonbeam Theatre. Graduates have also found work at prestigious venues such as Theatr Iolo, The Park Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, The Mill at Sonning, Tobacco Factory Theatres, Chichester Festival Theatre, and Southwark Playhouse, as well as on national tours of West End productions like Jesus Christ Superstar and & Juliet.

While those who focused on Film & TV Production going on to work with major production companies and working on films, Netflix productions, the BBC and many more.

Testimonials

  • “Being at the Theatre School was like working in a professional company every day, which equipped me with the skills, training and contacts I needed for a smooth transition into the industry. We got to work on shows from very early on in our training, whilst being guided by our amazing tutors who have a wealth of industry expertise. An invaluable experience!”

    Matthew Newcombe, technical graduate
  • “Before my training, I didn’t have much experience. It has been amazing to graduate, not only with a fantastically rounded skill set, but also the inner confidence to walk straight into an amazing stage management role! I’ve made friends for life, and have loved the shows I’ve worked on at BOVTS. The contacts I have made through the School are still hiring me for exciting new opportunities, which reminds me why I’m so passionate about being a Stage Manager and my training at BOVTS.”

    Iona Hicks, technical graduate
  • The skills I learnt and developed during my training at BOVTS set me up to enter the professional world feeling confident and comfortable with anything that is thrown my way. Working on public productions from day one and being taught and nurtured by our incredible tutors who still work professionally in the industry is what makes BOVTS so special.”

    Zoë Mackinnon, technical graduate
It was always stressed that the contacts you make during your training are incredibly important, and your classmates are likely to end up being on set alongside you in the future. After working with a director of photography on one of the School’s short films, I was invited to work on a project with him outside of Bristol - proving that the professionals we meet via the School, may one day give us a call to action! Muir McFadden, Technical Graduate