An Overview

Production consists of both the BA Production Technology and Management and the BA Production Arts and Design programmes. Production students will work very closely with each other in the classroom and on RCS productions.

This is the only conservatoire-based technical theatre degree in Scotland. Through the programme we aim to produce production technicians, stage managers and lighting designers who can turn their hands to any related role, making them employable in a range of contexts, whilst also being specialists in career pathways, i.e. stage management, stage technology, sound design, sound engineering, lighting technology and lighting design.

We’ll help you to create your own pathway through the programme, focusing on your areas of interest. You will learn to work creatively, as an individual artist, as part of a production team and in collaboration with other students of all disciplines.

RCS is a major public performance venue with world-class facilities. The combination of professional venues, extensive workshops, construction spaces, design studios, and the latest stage and workshop technologies provide a fantastic learning environment.

We work closely with industry to ensure our curriculum is current, competitive, and of the highest professional standard, so you will gain all of the skills and knowledge needed for your future career. We have very close relationships with key Scottish national companies, such as Scottish Opera, the National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Ballet as well as companies across Scotland, such as the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, Blue Parrot Production and Events in Edinburgh and Warehouse Sound in Glasgow.

Further afield we have well-established relationships with national and international organisations such as the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT), the Association of Stage Pyrotechnicians (ASP) the Production Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA), United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), Cirque du Soleil, TAIT, Just FX and the National Theatre in London.

Our graduates will aspire to become the creative leaders and innovators of the future and will be encouraged to push accepted boundaries and create new standards of practice in the industry at large.

Institution Code:

R58

Programme Code:

204F

UK Deadline:

31 March 2024

International Deadline:

31 March 2024

Programme Structure

Your first year will be based on experiential learning and skills acquisition focusing on the context of production through a range of classroom, workshop and venue-based experiences. This culminates in allocated assistant roles in each core area on RCS productions (e.g. Assistant Stage Manager, Assistant Electrician).

You will engage with a broad-based introduction to the production environment and standard practices both in core subjects and other related areas. In Personal and Professional Practice modules you will investigate and analyse the importance of the key issues such as the creative and cultural context, equality and diversity awareness, the importance of health and safety and the RCS requirement for best practice in this area.

You will also investigate the collaborative nature of production and performance and have the opportunity to work with other students from across RCS.

You will be allocated to production roles, with increasing levels of responsibility focusing on your specialist subject area. Advanced teaching in the key areas of your specialism, as well as integral skills such as management and communication, leads to allocation on more senior roles on RCS productions (e.g. Stage Manager, Production Electrician).

You will also engage with Options modules where you can choose from a range of modules on offer from programmes across the institution.

In your final year, you are expected to perform with autonomy, consolidating your learning and applying the specialist skills you have gained in senior roles on RCS productions. Staff support is available on request and through tutorials but we expect you to operate on an almost professional level.

You will negotiate your individual pathway in your final year to take advantage of the available production roles, Options modules and work placement opportunities.

Work is assessed through staff observations of your practice but reflection underpins the approach to assessment. Reflective blogs and summary statements form a key component of assessment in Personal and Professional Development modules.

There is a strong emphasis on the assessment of process and so all paperwork generated in each practical role is also assessed as evidence of your widening understanding of the production process and your role within it.

Additional Staff

Tutors
  • Sam Burt – Stage Management Tutor
  • Dave Evans – Lighting Tutor
  • Malcolm Stephen – Stage Supervisor (Tutor)
  • Barry McCall – Sound Tutor
Production Arts & Design Lecturers

The BA Production Arts and Design Programme team also deliver a range of sessions on this programme particularly throughout year one. Also led by the Head of Production, the team consists of five dedicated lecturers:

  • Zander Lee Lecturer in Scenery Construction
  • Martin Mallorie Lecturer in Props Construction
  • Christine Murphy Lecturer in Costume Construction
  • Robin Peoples Lecturer in Design
  • Gary Fry Lecturer in Scenic Art
Central Production Unit (CPU)

CPU staff are also tutors who will mentor and supervise students in the production workshops including tuition and tutorial support. There are also three Production Managers in the CPU who will be your line managers on production work and are there to support your learning. The CPU is separate to the School of Drama, Dance, Production and Film and supports all RCS productions as required.

The CPU staff are:

  • Lynfryn Mackenzie – Head of Technical Production
  • Kevin Murray – Production Manager
  • Colin Bell – Production Manager
  • Simon Cook – Workshop Manager
  • Matt Doolan – Scenic Carpentry tutor
  • Danny Main – Scenic Carpentry Tutor
  • Merlin Currie – Prop Tutor
  • Rhonda Barclay – Production Support Assistant
  • Megumi Hari – Scenic Art Tutor
  • Gillian Ferguson – Costume Tutor
  • Lynne McGinley – Costume Tutor
  • Anna Antczak – Costume Tutor
  • Fiona Larkin – Costume Tutor
Venues Team Technicians

The Venues Team provide technical support in RCS venues and offer advice and guidance in production practice. They work independently to the School of Drama, Dance, Production and Film and have responsibility for all RCS internal venues. The team is led by:

Kevin Robertson  – Receiving Stage Manager

Visiting Staff and Practitioners

Production students also regularly work closely with freelance designers and directors on RCS productions.

In addition to this the department work with a range of professional practitioners in order to support RCS productions, this includes directors, lighting designers, stage managers, production electricians, sound engineers and technical stage managers.

Recent masterclass guests and visiting professionals:

  • Rick Fisher – Lighting Design
  • Davy Cunningham – Lighting Design
  • Bruno Poet – Lighting Design
  • Simon Wilkinson – Lighting Design
  • Simon Hayes – Lighting Design
  • Paule Constable – Lighting Design
  • Tim Reid – Video Design
  • Matthew Strachan – Technical Director, Scottish Ballet
  • Niall Black – Production Management
  • John Robb – Head of Technical, Edinburgh International Festival
  • Andrew Evans – Theatre Health and Safety Consultant
  • GrandMA – Lighting Console Programming
  • Ambersphere – Lighting Console Programming
  • Vectorworks – Digital Design
  • Martin Professional – Production Lighting
  • ETC – Lighting Console Programming
  • Raymond Short – Fight Direction
  • RC Annie – Stage Blood and Weapons
  • Kai Fischer – Lighting Design
  • George Baker – Encore Special Effects
  • Callum Howie – Production Management EIF
  • Matt Padden – Sound Designer
  • John Riddell – Theatre Projects
  • Zoe Hayward – Stage Manager, Scottish Ballet
  • Emma Geddes – Head of Automation, Cirque du Soleil
  • Eve Kerr – ASM/Book cover – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
  • Rory Boyd – Head of Automation, Cirque du Soleil
  • Andrew McCabe – Head of Automation, Cirque du Soleil
  • Calum Willoughby – Unusual Rigging
  • John Riddell – Theatre Projects
  • Kinesys
Programme Support Administrator

Production and Film production programmes also have dedicated administration support.

Grace Dunn – Programme Support Administrator (Production & Film)

Why Choose Us?

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is consistently ranked in the World Top 10 for performing arts education (QS World Rankings 2023)

  • The only conservatoire-based technical theatre degree in Scotland
  • Industry placement during your studies
  • Award-winning stage management department
  • Small class sizes
  • Regular workshops and masterclasses with distinguished visiting professionals
  • New kit acquisitions include Martin & Robe moving lights, Kinesys stage automation, Yamaha QL5, Kinesys, KV2, Shure Axient and DPA microphones
  • Develop invaluable industry contacts with our unrivalled professional partners including Shure UK, Black Light, the Production Lighting and Sound Association, the Association of Lighting Designers,
  • , Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera, Citizens Theatre, Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Soundgirls.org
  • Work on a diverse range of productions including ballet, opera, contemporary performance, classical drama and musicals
  • Fully equipped proscenium arch theatre with a fly tower and automated flying capabilities, as well as the highest level equipment in both lighting and sound
  • Study abroad opportunities in Europe, Australia, California and Hong Kong

Production Technology and Management at RCS

Watch our video to learn more about the BA Production Technology and Management programme.

Virtual Tour

Explore the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in our 360 virtual tour. You’ll be able to see our rehearsal and practice rooms, professional performance venues, production workshops, editing suite, ballet studios and more.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Admissions Process

Our admissions processes are designed to be fair, transparent and efficient. The audition/interview approach serves the dual nature of allowing the panel to assess first-hand an applicant’s suitability for their chosen programme and it also affords the applicant the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the nature of that programme and the opportunities offered by the RCS.

In arriving at its recommendation, the audition/interview panel will take account of all aspects of the applicant’s profile i.e.:

  • Performance at audition/interview
  • Commitment to the particular programme
  • Potential to benefit from the programme
  • Academic qualifications
  • Personal statement
  • Performance qualifications
  • Performance/practical experience
  • References
  • Contextualised data
General Academic Entry Requirements
  • Scottish Highers — 3 passes (grade C or above)
  • A Levels — 2 passes
  • International Baccalaureate — minimum score of 24 with 3 subjects at Higher Level
  • Recognised equivalences (EU and International Entry Requirements)

We welcome the Scottish Baccalaureate and will accept combinations of Highers and Advanced Highers.

We offer a flexible approach to students taking Higher over more than one academic year and/or who achieve their qualifications in more than one sitting.

Language of Study

The language of study is English. Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. We accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Level 6.5 (with no component below 5.5) is required.

Direct Entry

Applications for direct entry beyond Year 1 will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Royal Conservatoire’s Recognition of Prior (Experiential) Learning policy. If you wish to apply for direct entry, please mark the point of entry on UCAS Conservatoires application as 2 or 3.

Non-Standard Entry

We welcome applications from individuals whose academic qualifications or English language qualifications do not match (in terms of equivalence) or fall short of the normal entrance requirements, where specified*. Having satisfied the Audition Panel that they meet the selection criteria and demonstrated that they have the capacity to pursue the proposed course of study, such applicants will be considered through examination of contextualised data provided in accordance with the Non-Standard Entry Policy. The appropriate Head of Department/ Programme will make a case in support of the applicant for consideration by the Directors of the Schools and Convener of the Quality and Standards Committee.

*Note that UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) imposes minimum English Language qualifications in respect of international (non-EU) applicants who require a Tier 4 Visa to study in the UK.

Mature Students

RCS welcomes applications from mature students, i.e. students over the age of 21 at entry to the programme. Whilst the selection procedures will still be applied, consideration will be given to appropriate artistic experience not normally expected in school leavers, which is deemed to compensate for any lack of traditional entrance qualifications. Successful mature applicants, as for all other applicants, must convince auditioning panels that they have the ability and potential to cope with the demands of the programme. Their progress, especially in the early stages of the programme, will be closely monitored and appropriate advice and support given.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply via UCAS Conservatoires

Applications are made through UCAS Conservatoires website. The UCAS Conservatoires application system is separate from the main UCAS undergraduate application system.

There is a UCAS application fee of £27.50 to register to use UCAS Conservatoires.

To begin a new UCAS Conservatoires application, you will need to register. You can read the UCAS Conservatoires’ advice on completing the UCAS Conservatoires application.

If you need assistance with your application, you can contact UCAS Conservatoires team by telephoning (Monday to Friday, 8.30 — 18.00). Phone 0371 468 0470 from within the UK or +44 330 3330 232 if you are calling from overseas.

Application deadline date

The closing date for all on time undergraduate applications is 31 March 2024. If you submit your application after this date, we cannot guarantee that you will be invited to audition.

If you do want to submit a late application, please contact admissions@rcs.ac.uk in the first instance to check we are accepting late applications. Late applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

We do not offer deferred entry. If you wish to commence in 2025, you must apply next year.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland institution code is R58. You will also require the following programme code to apply:

BA Production Technology and Management: 204F 

Application Fee

There is a UCAS Conservatoires application fee of £27.50. In addition to the application fee, each conservatoire charges an audition/interview assessment administration fee. For RCS, the audition/interview assessment administration fee is £35 per programme applied for. Fees are not refundable. The fees are paid via the UCAS Conservatoires website and not directly to RCS.

Audition/Interview Assessment Administration fee

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland charges an audition/interview assessment administration fee of £35 per course.

We recognise that auditioning and interviewing for conservatoires, drama and ballet schools can be costly. The audition assessment administration fee charge allows us to offer a thorough and positive experience to all applicants and we encourage you to get in touch to ask the panel questions and find out more about the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to see if it is the best place for you.

We are committed to ensuring fair access to a conservatoire education for students who have the talent and potential to benefit from it, regardless of their background. In support of this, audition fee waivers are offered to applicants whom financial hardship may be a barrier to auditioning. Please see the audition fee waivers document for more information

References

It is your responsibility to ask two separate referees to write references and ensure that these are sent to RCS.

The references must be written by two different people and we will not accept references from family, other relatives or close friends.

You can submit your UCAS Conservatoires application form and send your references at a later date, but they must be received prior to your audition date.

UCAS Conservatoires provides reference forms for you to download and send to your referees for completion.

The Interview

Applicants who apply on time by 31 March 2024 are invited to an interview by email, approximately three weeks before. All interviews will take place online, with individual requests for in-person interviews considered.

Please note that RCS is only obliged to offer one audition/interview date per application. Alternative dates will only be provided (subject to availability) in exceptional circumstances. If you are unable to make your allocated interview date, you should email us immediately stating the reason.

BA Production Technology and Management interviews will take place from January to March.

The Interview Format 

You will be required to identify your chosen specialist subject pathway at the point of application and your interview will be tailored to this choice. 

The four specialisms are: 

  • Stage Management
  • Lighting
  • Sound
  • Stage Technology 

 Your interview will involve an in-person conversation with two staff members from the Programme. (approx. 30 minutes). At your interview, the panel will ask you about your academic record, previous experiences and your interests and hobbies and your response to the task(s) below.  

The aim of the interview 

The interview process is designed to ensure that you have every opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to and experience thus far in theatre and the performing arts.  The interview also allows for the panel to satisfy themselves that you have the potential to develop the relevant skills and qualities necessary to succeed both on a degree-level programme and ultimately in a highly competitive profession. This could include: 

  • Creative skills 
  • Technical skills 
  • Analytical and reflective skills 
  • Communication skills  
  • Collaborative skills 
  • An ability to work independently 
  • Professional standards 

 To assess these skills, the interview panel will invite you to discuss your previous experiences and your portfolio of work.  

 Your portfolio of work may take any form you feel is appropriate and could include: 

  • Prompt books, setting lists, props lists, scene breakdowns, running lists 
  • Cue sheets, colour calls, lighting plans, patch sheets 
  • Photographs of previous work  
  • Technical drawings and ground plans   
  • Short audio and/or video clips 
  • Testimonials/Certificates   
  • Other relevant production documentation    

At your interview, the panel will also ask you about a production you have seen (see brief one below), but they will focus primarily on your portfolio so if you feel you currently do not have much evidence, we strongly recommend that you undertake the creative response task (see brief two below). You may wish to do this anyway to supplement other work in your portfolio.   

There will also be an opportunity for you to ask questions about the programme and discuss any other interests you have that may be relevant.  

If you are not able to attend in person, you can request an online interview. In this instance, you should send us your portfolio a minimum of three working days in advance of the interview so that the panel can properly interrogate this. You will be required to digitise this work and upload to ‘Acceptd’.     

Brief One – Production/Performance Visit (Compulsory) 

Please attend a stage performance of your choice and be able to discuss your observations of this event with the panel. Ideally this should be a live performance but, if this is not possible, a recorded or streamed stage production can be used.  

This should be a recent professional production if possible but not one you have worked on. This may be an opportunity to challenge yourself by choosing a type of performance or venue that you have not experienced before. The panel will want to hear your opinion of the production during the interview so prepare some notes to help you but don’t write an essay to read out. 

You should try to give a clear account of the production elements such as the overall set & costume design, staging, costume, props, lighting, sound and stage technology to the interview panel. Whilst an overview of the directing or performances is sometimes useful, this is not what we want you to focus on. 

You may also be asked to comment on how you would have approached certain elements differently, given the chance. 

It is often helpful to provide supplementary evidence of your visit such as publicity material or personal notes and sketches to illustrate a point. 

 

Brief Two – Supplementary Creative Response Task (Optional) 

  • Source a copy of the play, Macbeth by William Shakespeare. This can be found online here Macbeth – Entire Play, Read for Free (thecompleteworksofshakespeare.com)  
  • Having read the play, have a particular look at Act 1 Scene i – iii and come to the interview ready to discuss your solutions to any production challenges you see in the script or stage directions relating to your specialism. 
  • Create a portfolio of work including relevant subject specific paperwork and other evidence of creative solutions (See portfolio of work above)      
Selection Process

No panel decision on the outcome of your interview will be offered at the end of the session.  You will be informed via UCAS Conservatoires as soon as possible afterwards, this can take up to six weeks.

At the culmination of the interview day the panel will review all the candidates seen.  At this stage the panel will evaluate your suitability and would normally conclude and settle on one of the following courses of action:-

  1. To accept you onto the programme (either conditional or unconditional).
  1. To accept you onto the ‘reserve list’ which suggests your application is acceptable, but implies the panel would wish to complete other interview sessions prior to making a final decision about the offer of a place on the programme.
  1. To decline your application on this occasion.

If you would like to discuss any matters relating to the programme or interview procedures please feel free to contact Ros Maddison, Head of Production, at r.maddison@rcs.ac.uk.

We want you to do well so please try and relax during the interview process and do your best to show us just how good you are.

Following Your Interview

All decisions will be posted on UCAS Conservatoires following your audition via UCAS Conservatoires Track,  (you will need your username and password). You will also receive notification from UCAS Conservatoires when decisions on all your choices are available.

Please see below for an explanation of UCAS Conservatoires codes:

Guaranteed Unconditional (GU) RCS is satisfied from the information you have given, that you have already met the conditions for entry. Unless your application and/or qualification are subsequently shown to be fraudulent, a guaranteed unconditional offer is binding.

Guaranteed Conditional (GC) RCS has made the offer subject to you meeting certain conditions such as examination results. Conditions can be viewed via UCAS Conservatoires Track. Unless your application and/or qualifications are subsequently shown to be fraudulent, the offer is binding if you accept the offer and meet the conditions. You must meet the conditions of the offer by 31 August 2021, unless an earlier date is specified. If your conditions include obtaining IELTS (English Language test), you must meet this condition by 31 May 2022.

Reserve Unconditional (VU) RCS is satisfied from the information you have given, that you have already met the conditions for entry and you have been offered a place on our reserve pool.

Reserve Conditional (VC) RCS has offered a place on its reserve pool subject to you meeting certain conditions such as examination results. Conditions can be viewed via UCAS Conservatoires Track.

Unsuccessful (R) RCS does not wish to offer you any type of a place.

Reserve Outcomes

If you have received a ‘reserve’ outcome, it means that RCS is not able to offer you a guaranteed place at the time of making our decision. A ‘reserve’ outcome indicates that RCS would like the opportunity to review its outcome to you in the light of acceptances/declines to its guaranteed offers. You will become part of a ‘pool’ of ‘reserve’ candidates and RCS may choose to make you a guaranteed offer if a suitable place becomes available.  Reserve does not mean that a place has been ‘reserved’ for you. If RCS chooses not to make you a guaranteed offer, you will not have a place to start at RCS.

If you have been given a ‘reserve’ outcome, in order to be considered for a guaranteed place (should one become available) you will need to accept the outcome (and meet any conditions if applicable).

Reserve outcomes remain active until the end of August.  The decision to wait and see whether a guaranteed place becomes available, or to accept an offer at another conservatoire is entirely at your discretion. As soon as your situation changes, this is updated on UCAS Conservatoires.

Replying To Offers

As soon as a decision is made, UCAS Conservatoires will let you know. You must reply online via UCAS Conservatoires Track. Your reply date is displayed on Track. If you do not reply by the date given, your offers will be declined automatically. The reply date may be different to other applicants as it is based on when you receive your last decision.

Last decision by Your reply date is
3 January 2024 1 February 2024
15 March 2024 10 April 2024
15 May 2024 5 June 2024
10 July 2024 24 July 2024
1 August 2024 10 September 2024

Please see the UCAS Conservatoires website for more information on replying to offers. If you make an application through UCAS Conservatoires, UCAS or UCAS Teacher Training, you cannot hold more than one confirmed place. A confirmed place in UCAS Conservatoires is a guaranteed unconditional offer as your first choice (GU1) and in UCAS and UCAS Teacher Training it is an unconditional firm (UF) place. If you receive more than one confirmed place, UCAS will ask you to accept one offer and withdraw from any others.

Policy

We have a number of policies and statements which you should read when applying to study at the Royal Conservatoire.

Please select the links below to read each policy.

Fees and Scholarships

Information for Scottish Students

The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) will pay tuition fees for all eligible full-time Scottish-based students who are studying in Scotland at degree level for the first time. Students should apply to SAAS for payment of tuition fees even if they are not applying for any other means of support. Eligible students can also apply for student loans through SAAS. For further advice and to check eligibility contact SAAS directly on 0300 555 0505 or visit the SAAS website.

Information for Rest of UK Students

Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland studying in Scotland will be eligible for the same funding/loan package that they would benefit from if they attended an institution in their home country. For further advice please visit student finance England , student finance Wales , or student finance Northern Ireland as appropriate.

Information for EU Students

The Royal Conservatoire is resolutely international in outlook and we celebrate and are enriched by the diversity of our community of students and staff. Students from across the globe are welcome and valued members of the RCS community and we continue to welcome applicants from across the EU and throughout the world.

QWhat is the fee situation for EU students?

A: On July 9 2020, Scotland’s Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Richard Lochhead announced changes to the fee regime for EU students studying in Scotland. From 2021/22, all EU students commencing study in Scotland will pay fees at the International rate.

Q: I’m an EU student looking to start my studies in 2024/25. How does this impact me?

A: From academic year 2021/22 onwards, all EU students commencing study in Scotland will pay fees at the International rate.

Only EU nationals who are ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ in the UK will remain eligible to apply for home tuition fees providing they meet the residency conditions.

Other EU nationals and associated groups, starting a course of study in 24/25 are not eligible to apply to SAAS for tuition fee support.

Because of a long-standing agreement between the UK and Republic of Ireland, new students from the Republic of Ireland will be eligible to pay the rest of UK (RUK) fee and will be able to access a tuition fee loan from SAAS.

Please also see the SAAS website for more information.

Scholarships

Any potential student who auditions for a place at the Royal Conservatoire will automatically be considered for a scholarship. They are awarded on a combination of talent, potential and financial need. More information about Scholarships is available on our Fees and Funding page.

Sources of External Funding

For more information about alternative funding sources, including external scholarships and bursaries, please visit Fees and Funding.

The Conservatoire’s International and Student Experience team are available to advise and assist applicants and current students in respect of queries about funding your studies at the Conservatoire. Please email or telephone +44 (0)141 270 8281/ +44 (0)141 270 8223 for further information.

Cost of Living and Associated Programme Costs
In addition to your tuition fees, we estimate you will need approximately £11,200-£15,300 per year for living costs (including accommodation, utility bills and food) in Glasgow – this is significantly lower than many UK cities. Much will depend on your lifestyle and whether your course runs for three or four terms.

As well as this, our degree programmes each have associated costs. More information about these can be found on our finance page.

Tuition fees for academic year 2024/25

You can find tuition fees for entry in September 2024 on our fees and funding page.