World Stage Design 2013
In September 2013, thousands of visitors from the international
theatre community will descend on RWCMD for World Stage Design. Organised by
OISTAT (the International Organisation for Scenographers, Theatre
Architects and Technicians), the event encompasses an exhibition of
global performance design covering theatre, opera and dance as well
as public performances and performance art installations. The event
will also feature Scenofest - an educational project with lectures,
workshops and performances for professional and emerging artists,
and students. Design and production students will play a key role
in producing the exhibition from building the displays to liaising
with artists. The ten-day event will be a totally immersive and
inspirational experience for the college's design students,
providing them with opportunities to learn from some of the leading
lights in the field.
Students starting their course in 2013 will be encouraged to
come to Cardiff early, and it will be an unmissable event for
anyone considering studying theatre design in the future.
RWCMD Productions
Designers in their final year work alongside actors and stage
managers as part of The Richard Burton Company. The company stages
about fifteen fully staged drama productions each year covering
everything from Shakespeare and Ibsen to new plays by contemporary
writers. Large scale opera and musical theatre performances also
take place every year. Visiting directors have recently included
Joe Murphy (Artistic Director of Nabakov), Christopher Hayden
(Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre), Bruce Guthrie, Martin
Constantine, Harry Fehr and Shaun Kerrison.
RWCMD Design Exhibition
Graduating students present a major
exhibition of their work each summer at the College and in
London, most recently at the Bargehouse on the South Bank. These
are well attended by potential employers within the industry. There
are regular opportunities to showcase work in college throughout
the course, starting with an installation of giant paper
sculptures in the first term.
Puppetry Performances
Each summer, design student collaborate with stage managers and
musicians to produce a large-scale, site-specific puppetry show.
With two performances every day for a week, it is a highly
anticipated production popular with children and adults alike. In
recent years the promenade performance has taken place at the
college, in the city centre, and at historic venues around
Cardiff.
First Year Fashion Show
In the spring term, students in the first year of the programme
create a themed fashion show featuring costumes designed and
constructed using recycled, scrap and unconventional materials.
Stage Management students collaborate to realise this event, which
is open to the public.
Work Placements
Work placements are often organised during the summer vacation
at the end of the second year and may run into the early part of
the third year. Last year, placements ranged from National Theatre
Wales and Wildworks to Wicked and Welsh National Opera.
Students interested in TV and film undertook placements on BBC
productions including Sherlock, Upstairs
Downstairs, Doctor Who, Casualty, Being
Human and Skins. Tutors provide advice and support in
arranging placements, which normally last between three and six
weeks. Although they do not form part of the formal assessment of
the degree course, placements often lead to work opportunities
after graduation.