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

    PSM1015
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Ms Libby KLYSZ

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 an overall performance. Students also learn about important processes, documentation, and digital tools related to stagecraft, design and technical theatre. Students will view the production, design and technical elements from the perspective of the performance maker which will prepare them for the practical performance units later in the course.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain and prepare technical theatre documentation using common industry terminology, formats and best practice.
  2. 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. Choose creative 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 technical and design terminology utilised in the performing arts industry.
  3. Foundational principles of design for performance.
  4. Roles and responsibilities in backstage and technical production.
  5. Technical and production documents such as plans and cue sheets.
  6. Scoring action, lighting, and sound for theatre and performance.
  7. Industry-relevant tools, software, and processes used in live theatre and performance.
  8. Integrating vocal and physical gestures with technical and scenographic elements such as set, props and sound or lighting design.
  9. Analysing text as a basis for the consideration of technical and scenographic elements of performance.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 2Not Offered22 x 2 hour seminarNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Students will attend a series of classes and engage in learning activities via the ECU Learning Management System.

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
Case StudyAnalyse and discuss the design and technical elements of a work or performance40%
PortfolioPortfolio of design ideas, technical elements, and documentation of a performing arts project60%

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.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

PSM1015|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

    PSM1015
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Ms Libby KLYSZ

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 an overall performance. Students also learn about important processes, documentation, and digital tools related to stagecraft, design and technical theatre. Students will view the production, design and technical elements from the perspective of the performance maker which will prepare them for the practical performance units later in the course.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain and prepare technical theatre documentation using common industry terminology, formats and best practice.
  2. 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. Choose creative 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 technical and design terminology utilised in the performing arts industry.
  3. Foundational principles of design for performance.
  4. Roles and responsibilities in backstage and technical production.
  5. Technical and production documents such as plans and cue sheets.
  6. Scoring action, lighting, and sound for theatre and performance.
  7. Industry-relevant tools, software, and processes used in live theatre and performance.
  8. Integrating vocal and physical gestures with technical and scenographic elements such as set, props and sound or lighting design.
  9. Analysing text as a basis for the consideration of technical and scenographic elements of performance.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 2Not Offered22 x 2 hour seminarNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Students will attend a series of classes and engage in learning activities via the ECU Learning Management System.

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
Case StudyAnalyse and discuss the design and technical elements of a work or performance40%
PortfolioPortfolio of design ideas, technical elements, and documentation of a performing arts project60%

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.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

PSM1015|1|2