School: Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Stagecraft, Design and Technical Theatre
  • Unit Code

    PMA1006
  • Year

    2021
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Renee Esther NEWMAN

Description

This unit introduces students to foundational ideas about staging performance using the principles of design, stagecraft and technical theatre. Students develop a broad knowledge and understanding of how technical theatre elements such as lighting, sound and stage management interact with and influence the overall performance. Students also learn about important processes, documentation and digital tools related to stagecraft, design and technical theatre. The unit introduces students to thinking from a director’s perspective about production, design and technical elements, preparing them for practical performance units later in the course.

Co-Requisite Rule

Y97 students only.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Prepare technical theatre documentation using common industry terminology, formats and best practice.
  2. Successfully use industry-relevant tools, software and processes for the staging of live events.
  3. Analyse the design and technical elements of pre-existing theatre and performance works.
  4. Make creative choices about design and technical elements in performance that support or complement the theme or intended style of a work.
  5. Apply practical knowledge of stagecraft and technical theatre to conceptualise creative design ideas for performance.

Unit Content

  1. Risk assessment and safe practices in staging performance.
  2. Common terminology utilised in the performing arts industry.
  3. Roles and responsibilities in backstage and technical production.
  4. Technical and production documents such as plans and cue sheets.
  5. Scoring action, lighting and sound for theatre and performance.
  6. Industry-relevant tools, software and processes used in live theatre and performance for example QLAB.
  7. Integrating vocal and physical gestures with technical and scenographic elements such as set, props and sound or light design.
  8. Foundational principles of design for performance.
  9. Analysing text as the basis for a consideration of the technical and scenographic elements in the role of director or performance maker.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECUs LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 2Not Offered26 x 2 hour seminarNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentTechnical Theatre Documents20%
Case StudyAnalyse and discuss the design and technical elements of a performance work30%
PortfolioPortfolio of design ideas and technical elements for a creative project50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

PMA1006|1|1

School: Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Stagecraft, Design and Technical Theatre
  • Unit Code

    PMA1006
  • Year

    2021
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Renee Esther NEWMAN

Description

This unit introduces students to foundational ideas about staging performance using the principles of design, stagecraft and technical theatre. Students develop a broad knowledge and understanding of how technical theatre elements such as lighting, sound and stage management interact with and influence the overall performance. Students also learn about important processes, documentation and digital tools related to stagecraft, design and technical theatre. The unit introduces students to thinking from a director’s perspective about production, design and technical elements, preparing them for practical performance units later in the course.

Co-Requisite Rule

Y97 students only.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Prepare technical theatre documentation using common industry terminology, formats and best practice.
  2. Successfully use industry-relevant tools, software and processes for the staging of live events.
  3. Analyse the design and technical elements of pre-existing theatre and performance works.
  4. Make creative choices about design and technical elements in performance that support or complement the theme or intended style of a work.
  5. Apply practical knowledge of stagecraft and technical theatre to conceptualise creative design ideas for performance.

Unit Content

  1. Risk assessment and safe practices in staging performance.
  2. Common terminology utilised in the performing arts industry.
  3. Roles and responsibilities in backstage and technical production.
  4. Technical and production documents such as plans and cue sheets.
  5. Scoring action, lighting and sound for theatre and performance.
  6. Industry-relevant tools, software and processes used in live theatre and performance for example QLAB.
  7. Integrating vocal and physical gestures with technical and scenographic elements such as set, props and sound or light design.
  8. Foundational principles of design for performance.
  9. Analysing text as the basis for a consideration of the technical and scenographic elements in the role of director or performance maker.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECUs LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 2Not Offered26 x 2 hour seminarNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentTechnical Theatre Documents20%
Case StudyAnalyse and discuss the design and technical elements of a performance work30%
PortfolioPortfolio of design ideas and technical elements for a creative project50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

PMA1006|1|2