THEATRE PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

Kick things off by meeting your instructor, getting the lay of the land, and seeing what we’ve prepared. We’ll break down the course, the assignments, and the final project, so you know exactly what’s ahead. 

• Meet your instructor
• Course structure 
• Assignments & final project overview

Get to know the production manager’s key responsibilities: juggling timelines, communicating with producers, setting parameters, and getting people on board with just the right words.

• Shifting responsibilities within the process
• Language & persuasion
• Timelines & early scheduling
• Working with producers
• The importance of parameters

Assignment #1: Considering the assigned case study, list what you would include in a report to the producers. 

Learn how to spot which ideas are worth keeping, which need a Plan B, and how to steer creative chaos into something that works.

• From white card to final design
• Dealing with ideas that don’t work 
• Detail, durability, audience distance
• Balancing creativity within production constraints & structure 
• Handling disputes & managing different creative visions 

Learn how to keep your production lean, green, and on-budget: from getting team buy-in to tracking your carbon impact without losing creative momentum.

• Introducing Green Book principles
• The producer’s role in securing team buy-in 
• Integrating sustainable design & navigating evolving products
• Balancing budget & eco-friendly choices 
• Carbon tracking & reporting

Draft specifications, choose appropriate builders, identify potential issues, and manage the pre-build process. Figure out what to draw, who to hire, and when to stop tinkering, so your set looks brilliant and gets built on time.

• Tendering, scenery specifications, construction methods
• Common pitfalls & things to watch for
• Scenic art & scenery in rep 
• What to leave to a production carpenter & what to do in advance

Learn how to find the right people, keep them on the same page, and stay cool when things go sideways. This session is all about managing contractors, hiring, and handling curveballs.

• Building your contact base & choosing a quote
• Managing changes to design
• Dealing with the unexpected
• Specialists and external experts
• Overseeing hires
• Workshop: Brainstorming contractors for a production shot

Assignment #2: Write a costing package/scenery spec for a contractor, based on the assigned case study.

When it’s not about the set, it’s everything else. Peek behind the curtain and get a grip on the trickier bits — lights, sound, video, props, and costumes. Learn what can go wrong, and how to keep it all running right.

• Major flags for a PM 
• Lighting, sound, video 
• Managing special effects
• Props 
• Costumes in action 

Assignment #3: Invent a brief/designer request under each of the topics discussed in the class, indicating the impact this will have on the schedule & budget.

Get hands-on with the not-so-glam side of production, which is health, safety, and legal stuff. Learn how to keep your set safe by tackling risk assessments, safety files, and tricky licensing requirements for everything from kids to pyrotechnics.

• CDM definition & introduction 
• Risk assessment at the White Card phase
• Scenery Specs as safety management 
• Build method statements& production safety files
• Licensing considerations & reporting
• Case Study: Rigoletto 

Assignment #4: Create a safety file, incorporating the design elements from Lesson 6.

Get smart with time and money. Learn how to forecast costs, build solid budgets, realistic schedules, and contingency plans that won’t fall apart the moment things go sideways.

• Scheduling, contingency planning, time buffers
• Union agreements & best practices for welfare and safety
• Cost forecasting & estimation
• Budgeting for different departments
• Budget contingency: Who should hold it, how much and for how long?
• Workshop: Estimating the budget & expenses

Assignment #5: Build a budget for a show/set including appropriate contingencies.

Learn how to move a show without losing the magic — juggling venues with schedules, adapting sets, and syncing with on-site crews.

• Communication with venue owners, managers, technical teams
• Shifting venues, logistics, transport
• Load-in & load-out schedules
• Designing & altering auditoriums
• Site-specific considerations 
• Workshop: Discussing potential challenges & changes needed for a set

Assignment #6: Create a touring tech spec. 

Own the final stretch of production by mastering how to tackle last-minute hiccups, manage rehearsals, and make smart decisions that keep your schedule and budget on track. Learn to stay cool under pressure and turn challenges into smooth solutions.

• Managing creative ideas 
• Rehearsal scheduling & resource allocation
• Rehearsal notes & presence in the room
• When things don’t go as planned 
• Rapid decision-making, schedule & budget adjustments
• Workshop: Discussing scenarios where something is not working & brainstorming solutions

Get ready to keep the show running smoothly after opening night. You’ll learn how to handle technical issues, manage ongoing maintenance, and plan for the show’s next chapter, whether that’s storage, a reboot, or a graceful goodbye.

• Technical failures, disruptions, on-stage accidents, injuries
• Post-opening financial management
• Long-term maintenance & logistics
• Plans for future life & how it can change post reviews
• Get-outs, storage & disposal

Assignment #7: Create a get out plan for a show, including disassembly and storage or a future life plan. 

Map out your career with a clear plan that highlights your personal brand, sharpens your networking skills, and unlocks growth opportunities, both local and global. Get practical strategies to build connections, boost your reputation, and keep your skills fresh for the long haul.

• Career paths in theatre production management
• Building a personal brand & reputation
• Networking strategies & building industry connections
• Ensuring continuous development & learning
• Going global & working internationally