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Technical Theatre and Production Arts Level 3

UAL Level 3 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Performing and Production Arts

Love live theatre, music, and events, but prefer working behind the scenes rather than stepping into the spotlight? This could be the perfect course for you.

From lighting spectacular live performances and controlling sound, to creating sets, costumes, props, and stage effects, you’ll explore the skills that bring productions to life. Whether it’s a major concert, a touring theatre show, a festival, or a community performance, the technical team is at the heart of every successful event.

Our Technical Theatre and Production Arts Extended Diploma gives you hands-on experience across a wide range of backstage disciplines, helping you develop the practical and creative skills employers are looking for. You’ll learn in industry-style environments, work on real productions, and gain experience using professional equipment and technologies.

The creative industries are growing rapidly, with exciting career opportunities in theatre, live events, television, film, concerts, and entertainment venues. This qualification is designed to prepare you for employment in the industry or progression to higher education and degree-level study in technical theatre and production arts.

If you’re creative, enjoy problem-solving, and want to play a vital role in making performances happen, this course could be your first step into an exciting and rewarding career.

Student painting a background set for theatre production
Students making props for theatre show
Floor manager handing out duties to students
Student amending light and sound settings during dance production
Student performing a sound check on soundboard equipment
Course Info
Do I have to pay a fee?
Other courses in this area
Technical Theatre and Production Arts Level 3
Qualification: UAL Level 3 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Performing and Production Arts
LevelLevel 3
LocationColchester
DurationTwo years | Year 1: Foundation Diploma | Year 2: Extended Diploma
Study ModeFull-Time
Campus / Adult Skills CentreColchester Campus
Start DateSeptember 2027
Fee(s)16-18 year olds: Free
19+: £8,583 (This fee covers the whole two year course)
Awarding/Validation BodyUniversity of the Arts London
What Will I Learn?

This course is built around hands-on experience, giving you the opportunity to develop practical skills while gaining the knowledge and industry-standard health and safety awareness needed for a successful career in technical theatre and live events.

You’ll play an active role in supporting the exciting range of theatre, dance, and music productions that take place throughout the year, gaining real-world experience in a live production environment. Along the way, you’ll meet industry professionals, take part in specialist workshops, and visit local and regional theatres to explore career opportunities and gain valuable insight into the industry.

Every project is designed to reflect professional working practices, helping you build the confidence, skills, and experience needed to progress into employment or higher education. From planning and problem-solving to delivering live productions, you’ll be challenged to think and work like a member of a professional production team from day one.

In addition to your specialist studies, you’ll also develop your English, maths and employability skills, preparing you for progression into higher education, training or employment within the creative industries.

You will complete the National Foundation Diploma in your first year and continue to the Extended Diploma in your second year.

Course Content

Technical Theatre and Production Arts Level 3 may including:

  • Production Arts Skills Development
  • The Production Arts Industry
  • Personal Production Arts Profile
  • Collaborative Production Arts Project
  • Production Arts Planning
  • Stage Management
  • Technical Stage Operations
  • Lighting and Sound
  • Design and Operations
  • Scenic Construction
  • Automated Stage Lighting
Entry Requirements

5 GCSEs (9-4) including English (Level 2 Functional Skills equivalent), or satisfactory results (Merit/Distinction) in a relevant Level 2 qualification, and an interview.

Facilities
  • 2 Live Performance Spaces
  • Access to purpose built wood working workshop
  • Access to purpose built art studio with 3D printing facilities
  • Industry standard digital lighting and sound operating systems
  • Diverse array of LX, Sound and AV equipment
  • Music Production Suite
  • Access to lighting, sound and scenery design software
Course Progression

Successful students could progress directly into work or on to higher education courses. This qualification carries 168 UCAS points and meets the admission requirements for many relevant courses, for example degrees in: Technical theatre, Design, Stage management or Lighting.

Learners have progressed onto courses at RADA, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Birmingham Conservatoire, Mountview and Academy of Live Technology.

Career Opportunities

The course prepares you for work in the production arts industry. There are many opportunities in the field of production arts including stage management, sound operation, lighting design and operation, rigging and set construction.

This may involve working in a theatre, an arts centre, schools and colleges, conference venues or touring. Many of our graduates can be found working locally, nationally and around the world on a variety of projects.

This qualification offers learners the opportunity to develop their technical and performance skills over their course of study through a process of self-evaluation, practice and review, which are key skills for progression to higher education

Audition Guidance

What to Prepare?

  • Your interview will consist of a brief overview of the course, a short study skills task, and a 1-1 interview with a course tutor.
  • Please bring examples of your work with you. This may include any programmes, photographs, or drawings of productions you have previously worked on. If you do not have any examples of your work, please bring a piece of coursework that you are proud of.

Fees and Finance

Students’ college education is funded for three academic years after leaving secondary school in year 11. Please click the button below which will apply to your age on the 31st August 2027 in order to find out more information about fees and finance relating to your course.

I will be under 19 on the 31st August 2027
I will be 19 or over on the 31st August 2027

Other courses in this area

Level 2 Courses
Level 3 Courses

Disclaimer

All fees, prices and funding information shown on this page are for courses starting in the 2025-26 academic year unless stated otherwise, and are correct at the time of entering/printing information, however these may be subject to change due to factors outside of our control. The College cannot accept legal or financial liability as a result of any such changes.

Courses fees are generally not confirmed for September until June / July due to the above factors.

The course information describes programmes offered by Colchester Institute. The College takes all reasonable steps to provide courses as described, but cannot guarantee provision. The information is for guidance and does not form any part of a contract.

The College reserves the right to update and amend information as and when necessary. Colchester Institute will do its best to provide the courses shown, but may have to modify or withdraw a course depending on customer demand and other factors.

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