Third year BA (Hons) Production Design for Stage & Screen students have been collaborating on a live brief with Theatre Hullabaloo in Darlington. Working with the companies Production and Programme managers to create a spooky space complete with decorations and stage set for the theatre companies Hulla-ween Hullabaloo event for little ones! Featuring a tree set display, haunting decorations and a giant pumpkin to welcome guest to the theatre!

Using their skills to bring the theatre space to life, students created a wide range of intricate decorations, student Kerry O’Connor said, “I loved learning new things and the fact that you don’t need a lot in a room to make the space seem full was mind blowing. I think that learning how to fill a space with craft items that you would never expect has made me realise that for my own designs I don’t need specifically bought items to fill the space. I can make them from scratch.”

The is opportunity to work with a live brief allows students to learn professional skills and gain real experience collaborating with working industry professionals and spaces.

“Gaining experience in the industry can be difficult and when you get opportunities like this, they help you understand what your role is. Being able to have the freedom to design and create decorations for a children’s theatre event has allowed me to experience a different type of theatre design. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It can be in an arts and crafts style and still looks amazing when everything comes together.”- Student Jordan Peel.

This unique brief has allowed students to gain new skills and work with new equipment too, student Holly Russel said “Having the freedom to design and create something for the theatre space was one of the best parts of this opportunity. It was good to work with the production manager and programme manager to make their vision a reality ready for the halloween event. I think it was good to have the experience of using the wire tension grid about the stage space as that was completely unique and different to what I’ve done before.”

Well done to all the students involved in the brilliant creative project! If you are interested in productions design our production design course is perfect for you! Students on this degree develop the skills and opportunities needed to build a successful in the theatre and screen industries, find out more here and apply now!