How the Performance Design and Production program brings students to the theatre, and theatre to the classroom

Starting in their first year students in the Performance Design and Production program receive an introduction to live performance and creative fields; becoming familiar with designing and making, exploring creative ideas, and establishing a practice. A pillar of the first year in the Design and Production program will see students attending a number of performances to heighten their awareness of the diversity of possibilities across for-profit and not-for-profit projects. 

Students are brought into the world of live performance in their foundational courses: PFZ 100 & PFZ 101. In these courses, traditional readings and classroom lectures are swapped for field trips to the theatre and discussions with guests from the production. 

The course is taught in a two week cycle, where week one introduces the show students will see and the area of production they’ll focus on (ex. lighting, sound, costume, etc.) and week two brings in a guest from the production (such as the producer, production manager, costume designer, and other roles on the show) for an in class talk back. 

The cycle repeats throughout the academic year until students have seen a total of 10-12 shows.

The Foundations course is set up to expand students’ awareness of the live performance industry by bringing them to productions that span a wide range of genres, themes, and modes of presentation, such as staged plays, concerts, festivals, dance works, art installations, and multidisciplinary performances. 

This year, students have or will visit: Soulpepper Theatre, Nuit Blanche, Crow’s Theatre, Fall for Dance North, Massey Hall, Canadian Stage, Tarragon Theatre, Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), National Ballet of Canada, and Buddies in Bad Times.

In addition to the theatre visits, students have or will hear from guest artists like current Production Manager at Soulpepper Theatre Maya Royer, multidisciplinary artist Ahmed Moneka (external link) , current Director of Production and Facilities at Canadian Stage Daniel Bennett, and Peabody Award-winning co-creator of CBC/Max/Sphere Media’s Sort Of, Zaiba Baig. (external link) 

The Performance Design and Production program represents the future of training for live entertainment, combining artistry, innovation, and industry to prepare students for the realities of a changing creative industry.