The ‘Getting Ready’ list below gives you resources and activities you can do to get ready for when your course starts at College in September. We have picked resources and activities you can access online and we have some suggestions of other resources in the ‘Going Further’ section too.
Getting Ready to study Technical Theatre
- You could download or engage with the following computer software which have free or student versions (there are plenty of great video tutorials online if you get stuck):
- SketchUp: A basic Computer Aided Design program: https://www.sketchup.com/en
- ChamSys Magic Q: Lighting desk software to download on PC or Mac: https://chamsyslighting.com/pages/magicq-downloads
- Q-Lab: If you have a Mac, this is the industry standard sound cuing software. You can download the basic version for free here: https://qlab.app/
- If instead you have a PC, MultiPlay is a similar free program: https://www.da-share.com/software/multiplay/
- Access some online video materials:
- Try to watch lots of performance work. Many performance companies are putting material online from small productions to major performances. Some of which your school may have access to, others which are going out to the public. Try to watch a variety of things, not just your favourite genre! https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ntathome
- If you use social media, look for large groups of professionals in an area you are interested in. There are many professionals who are sharing materials and training videos in those groups. Example groups on Facebook include: Hey Audio Student, Professional Technicians, Scenic Artists, Fabricators, and Set Designers, Stage Managers
- Explore the Creative and Cultural Skills website which gives information and interviews about the Creative Industry: https://ccskills.org.uk/
- Online Lighting Colour Lab: simple online stage lighting tool
- National Theatre – How We Made It: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJgBmjHpqgs68UwOF65Ge8iLUjTUoOE7c
- Distance Learning Technical Theatre: https://www.theatrefolk.com/blog/technicaltheatre/
- Online Teaching Resources for Theatre Design & Technology: https://scenicandlighting.com/article/online-teaching-resources-for-theatre-design-technology/
Going Further to study Technical Theatre
- If you would like to there are a number of great books available for the subject. Do look at the reviews before spending any money as some can be expensive (look around as there are second hand bargains to be found):
- https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/98725.Technical_Theatre_and_Design
- https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=Stage+Costume&search_type=books
- https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=Stage+Management&search_type=books
- https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=Theatre+Design&search_type=books
- Drop emails to practitioners/theatres and ask them for tips. There are lots of production professionals out there who may be willing to help answer your questions. Do communicate with them politely and professionally (they may be your future employers) and CC in an adult into your emails, such as a teacher or parent
