Theatre Production
Theatre production is the discipline concerned with bringing theatrical performances to life from behind the scenes, encompassing the design, construction, and management of the technical, material, and organisational elements that make live performance possible. Theatre production professionals work across stage management, lighting design, sound design, set construction and scenic design, costume, props, and the production management that coordinates all of these in the complex, time-pressured environment of a professional production. It is a field that demands both creative vision and rigorous practical skill, and one that sits at the heart of the performing arts industries.
At the University of Surrey this three-year full-time programme prepares you for a range of technical and production careers in theatre and the performing arts, developing skills in stage management, technical theatre, and production planning alongside an understanding of how AI and digital tools are being integrated into contemporary theatre production workflows. You will engage with design, construction, and the technical systems, including lighting rigs, sound systems, and automation, that professional venues and productions depend on. The programme develops both the practical competences and the creative confidence that a production career requires.
Graduates from theatre production programmes work in theatre companies, producing organisations, touring companies, opera houses, concert venues, festivals, film and television production, events management, and the live events industry. Roles in stage management, technical direction, lighting design, sound design, production management, and set construction are all common career paths. The organisational and problem-solving skills developed in production work also transfer well into event management, corporate events, and broadcast production.
Some graduates continue to postgraduate study or pursue specialist training to develop expertise in a particular aspect of production or design.