Production/Design
Design and Production
Unique in Canada for its comprehensive approach, the Design and Production program studies live performance from both design and technical perspectives.
As a student in Performance Design and Production at The Creative School, you’ll build the creative, technical, and leadership skills necessary to produce small to large-scale productions including plays, musicals, dance shows, immersive experiences, AR/ VR, large-scale events, community-engaged artistic projects and more. Explore all facets of production design, including costume, scenery, lighting, digital media, and sound, while gaining hands-on experience participating in live performances and industry collaborations.
Degree Earned
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Program Format
Full time / 4 years
Program Highlights
Unleash your creativity and experiment in the art of design in our hands-on, four-year program by diving into real-world projects and learning with industry-standard tech in classroom and studio environments.
Immerse yourself in the performing arts and attend live events across the city of Toronto — Canada's entertainment hub.
Apply what you've learned in studio to the real world - develop your own dream projects or work with other students, professional artists and leading experts in projects around Toronto.
Courses & Curriculum
Performance Design and Production emphasizes two streams of study, Technological and Material Practice. The program offers a revolutionary new curriculum that centres student experience in radical creative practice.
First year offers an introduction to live performance and the creative fields, designing and making, exploring ideas and establishing a practice. Course modules include readings, case studies, and the establishment of a journal practice with studio opportunities in all streams.
In second year students immerse themselves in ‘practice as laboratory’ using mock production as a learning tool. Learning to work together to create mock live performance, students will complete designs and paperwork for a performance and implement several of the objects proposed for the design.
In the third year students will see a number of performances to heighten their awareness of the diversity of possibilities across for-profit and not-for-profit projects. Students will have an option to travel abroad for the fall semester, while visiting / exchange faculty opportunities can foster greater awareness of educational opportunities at partner institutions. The winter semester provides discussion of a range of performance styles including community based, site specific, parades, protests, activism and puppetry as a way to give students a breadth of experience, with the possibility of local guest instructors offering projects within these genres.
In the fourth year, students will continue to deepen their skills through core electives and application of practicum hours. Required courses include developing a portfolio, research skills and career planning in the fall semester. In the winter the focus is on independent practice through a capstone project while completing core electives in their chosen stream.
1st Semester
REQUIRED:
- THF 101 Elements of Production I
- THF 200 Timelines of Performance History I
- THP 101* Production Technique I
- THT 100 Design Communication I
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
* THP 101 has a GPA Weight of 2.00.
2nd Semester
REQUIRED:
- THF 102 Elements of Production II
- THF 201 Timelines of Performance History II
- THM 200 Production Communication I
- THP 102* Production Technique II
- THT 200 Design Communication II
* THP 102 has a GPA Weight of 2.00.
3rd Semester
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
* THP 201 has a GPA Weight of 2.00.
6th Semester
REQUIRED:
- THP 302* Production Technique VI
PROFESSIONAL: One course from Table I.
PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED: Two courses from Table II.
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
* THP 302 has a GPA Weight of 2.00.
8th Semester
PROFESSIONAL: Two courses from Table I.
LIBERAL STUDIES: One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
* THP 403 has a GPA Weight of 2.00.
Admission Requirements
Academic
Academic requirements
This is a Grades-Only program. Admission decisions for Grades-Only programs are based on academic performance.
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent with a minimum of six Grade 12 U or M courses including the following program specific requirements.
Typically, a minimum overall average of 70% establishes eligibility for admission consideration; subject to competition individual programs may require higher prerequisite grades and/or higher overall averages:
- English/anglais (ENG 4U/EAE 4U preferred).
- The minimum grade required in the subject prerequisite (normally in the 65-70% range) will be determined subject to competition.
Academic admission requirements for all other applicants are available on the admission requirements page.
Non-Academic
Pilot: Commencing 2023, the Production + Design program does not require the submission of non-academic requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our graduates go on to design, build, and produce for world-renowned organizations like Cirque du Soleil, Mirvish Productions, the Olympics, Broadway, and Hollywood. Our program offers an immersive experience with a heavy focus on hands-on, applied learning and exploration. Located in the vibrant core of Toronto and on our state-of-the-art Chrysalis stage, you'll be at the epicenter of Canada's most dynamic arts and entertainment scene. From captivating dance and theatre performances to cutting-edge music, visual art, immersive experiences, film, and television productions – it's all happening right here, often within our very own spaces. Join us to turn your passion into a thriving career, surrounded by endless creative possibilities and unparalleled opportunities in the entertainment industry.
From day one, you'll be thrust into a vibrant network that will shape your future. Imagine forging bonds with peers across all years – these aren't just classmates, they're your future collaborators and industry powerhouses. Prepare to be mentored by the crème de la crème of the industry. You'll work shoulder-to-shoulder with seasoned professionals, gaining invaluable insights and hands-on experience that will set you apart in the competitive world of live performance. With a dynamic faculty whose fingers are on the pulse of the industry, we'll connect you with job opportunities and experiences that align perfectly with your ambitions and the new horizons you discover in the program.
The first two years of Performance Production introduces students to the multi-disciplinary and collaborative nature of production work. In core courses consisting of lectures and studios , students learn the fundamental skills required to mount live productions and apply those skills in working in junior roles on school shows. Performance Production uses a moduel based structure within our courses, so in a 12-week semester a first year student might take six weeks of wardrobe skills then six weeks of scenic carpentry skills. This allows us to introduce students to more disciplines in a semester.
In third and fourth year, students concentrate on their discipline(s) of interest through elective courses and broaden their understanding of the performance industry through business and management courses. They also take on more senior positions within Performance's various live productions.
Performance Production is focused on providing comprehensive eductation on everything it takes to build and make a live production happen.
Both lecture and studio based courses provide students with knowledge about lighting, sound, scenography, technical drafting, costume design and implementation, stage management, technical direction, scenic painting, and safe working practices in the theatre.
No. Students of all levels of experience are welcome to Performance Production. Performance at The Creative School is invested in the creative potential of their students. Throughout the first year, classes focus on introductory skills across all disciplines in live performance (ex. costuming, lighting, sound, etc.). These introductory courses in the first year have different challenges for different people. However, our small class sizes ensure students receive individualized guidance from their professors, lecturers, and staff.
The program is rigorous and challenging. Students attend lectures, write essays, build costumes and props, and stage manage shows. Efforts are made to accommodate moderate working hours when scheduling teams on Performance projects. As a student, you are expected to commit to your studies, but the world is your oyster! Minor degrees are available to Performance Production students and there are no restrictions against part-time occupations. These are definite possibilities, but balancing commitments is a personal responsibility.
Yes! Of course, remaining on campus means there is less back-and-forth, but because of Toronto’s elaborate transportation system, you are able to commute easily to and from school. A number of our students are commuters who can successfully maneuver through their courseload, and commitments, and thrive in our program.
Graduates of the program pursue careers in the field of live performance, both locally and internationally. Opportunities also exist in film, television, live corporate events, and other industries. Some graduates transition into unrelated fields, while others continue their education at the graduate level.
You belong at
The Creative School
As a Performance student, you'll be part of The Creative School, a dynamic faculty offering 27 degree programs in media, design and creative industries. Through global experiences and transdisciplinary opportunities, our students emerge as some of the most in demand and employable graduates anywhere.