Undergraduate Course

BA Creative Producing

(Theatre and Short Film)

How to apply

Overview

The details

Course: Creative Producing (Theatre and Short Film)

UCAS code: W900

Start date: October 2023

Study mode: Full-time

Maximum duration: 3 years

Location: Southend Campus

Based in: East 15 Acting School

East 15 Acting School’s BA Creative Producing (Theatre and Short Film) course is a full-time, industry-focused training aimed at entrepreneurial artists with an interest in creating, producing, administrating and promoting theatre and film.

This three-year practical course draws together the broad disciplines of theatre and film (such as writing for performance, lighting & sound, theatre directing & directing for camera, screenwriting, film editing, location management, dramaturgy, and digital set design) with business-focused aspects of the creative arts and associated industries (including marketing, web-design, social media, fundraising, and arts management). It prepares you for a career in the creative industries working as producers and facilitators, and develops transferable skills in communication, presentation, administration, leadership and critical analysis.

Based at our vibrant and modern Southend Campus, you will have direct access to our state-of-the-art Clifftown Theatre and the opportunity to work alongside further East 15 students studying on our actor training programs.

View more undergraduate courses from East 15 Acting School, including our Stage & Production Management behind-the-scenes training.

Female student sat in the corner of a sofa holding a cup of tea and chatting to another student slightly out of view in the left of the image.

Chat to our staff and students

Find out what it's like to live and study at Essex from those who are already here.

Why we're great.

Development of business and entrepreneurial skills in a creative environment.
Understanding of how to develop artistic projects into viable ventures.
Introduction to stage, screen and live event production processes.

Our expert staff

Our training is by professionals and for professionals, allowing our graduates to work successfully across the globe.

Our international, outstanding teaching faculty is made up of professionals from all areas of live and recorded performance.

Learn more about our staff here.

Specialist facilities

Our Southend Campus is based in the heart of Southend-on-Sea. A vibrant and modern British seaside town with excellent transport links.

Famous for its beach resort and pier, Southend-on-Sea stretches along seven miles of award-winning coastline. There are also over 650 acres of parks and gardens, a fun park, leisure centres, pubs, clubs, cafés and restaurants.

Southend Central railway station is opposite our Campus and the journey to central London takes less than an hour. Southend Airport, with flights to many European and UK destinations is just three miles away. We are also just one hour away from London’s Stansted Airport.

Our Gateway Building houses a purpose-built suite specifically for East 15 students. This includes fully equipped, state-of-the art rehearsal studios with panoramic views across Southend-on-Sea, plus seminar rooms, computer labs and media production resources including an Apple Mac edit suite for our BA Creative Producing (Theatre & Short Film) students.

A magnificent Victorian former church in the heart of Southend’s conservation area was converted into East 15’s Clifftown Theatre. It also houses a variety of unique spaces for rehearsals, technical and practical work and performances. The church nave, with its original organ and stained glass windows now provides an inspirational and atmospheric environment, re-designed to accommodate the needs of a twenty-first century performance space.

In ‘The Forum’ building, students have round the clock, secure access to the Learning Hub, which provides innovative IT and study spaces. The Forum also houses an integrated public and academic library, carrying books and other support materials. Students in Southend also have access to the East 15 Loughton Campus library and the University’s Colchester Campus library.

Outside of learning, the Students’ Union at our Southend Campus provides a dedicated space for students to meet, have a coffee, relax and watch films or sport. It runs a wide variety of entertainment throughout the term, such as international nights and open mic nights.

Your future

The UK’s creative industries are now worth over £84 billion to the UK economy. The BA Creative Producing course develops your capacity to instigate projects across the digital, stage and screen sectors. Industry specialists and professional experts work with you throughout the degree to develop your employability. Students have opportunities for workplace learning, and are encouraged to develop their professional profile in preparation for careers as freelance producers working as part of a creative team, and for roles across theatre, media and film such as researchers, producers, editors, writers, and managers.

Entry requirements

UK entry requirements

Successful interview, plus
A-levels: BCC, or the equivalent in UCAS tariff points, to include 2 full A Levels

BTEC: DDM

T-levels: Merit

IB: 28 points or three Higher Level certificates with 544. We are also happy to consider a combination of separate IB Diploma Programme Courses (formerly certificates) at both Higher and Standard Level. Exact offer levels will vary depending on the range of subjects being taken at higher and standard level, and the course applied for.
We can also consider combinations with BTECs or other qualifications in the Career-related programme – the acceptability of BTECs and other qualifications depends on the subject studied, advice on acceptability can be provided. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for more information.

International & EU entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.

Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please select your country page where you'll find this information.

English language requirements

If you do not require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK then we will assess your English language proficiency/ability at your interview or audition.

If your first language is not English and you are an international student that requires a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK then you will need IELTS 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.

Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels listed above. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications.

Please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English course that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Structure

Course structure

We offer dynamic and unique courses for actors, directors, producers, technical theatre specialists and students of theatre practice. Training at East 15 draws upon 50 years of tradition combined with a keen sense of the world of stage and screen today.

Our carefully selected modules will give you the chance to explore and develop your specialist training.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, or in response to COVID-19, we’ll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Components and modules explained

Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.

Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.

In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.

Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

100

The department or school the module will be taught by.

In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.

The module number.

The UK academic level of the module.

A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course.

A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules.

A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.

The term the module will be taught in.

AU: Autumn term
SP: Spring term
SU: Summer term
FY: Full year
AP: Autumn and Spring terms
PS: Spring and Summer terms
AS: Autumn and Summer terms

COMPONENT 01: CORE

Playwriting

(30 CREDITS)

This module, which builds on and expands the work from the first year, will not have sub-units. But focus solely on screenwriting. It will engage students by adding a further aspect to their progressions in filmmaking. Alongside directing for the camera and the practical aspects of filmmaking, students will now be taught how to frame a narrative and create characters for a variety of purposes. They will focus on traditional narrative, as well as promotional writing and in the third term they will be guided in the popular field of “game writing”.

View Playwriting on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: CORE

Producing Skills

(30 CREDITS)

This module is divided into two units: Producing Skills and Sound & Lights. The Sound and Lights unit will provide a general understanding on two major factors of the technical process in creating theatre. Students will develop both theoretical understanding and the practical skills to support live and recorded performances in these two areas. There will also be an emphasis on how these elements can be manipulated for filmed projects. Producing Skills will introduce the fundamentals of business practice as applied to performance-based projects. The unit will introduce current critical debates, concepts and discourses in producing. This unit will equip you with practical skills and knowledge to develop, record and present business and strategic thinking. Students will also hone their communication and presentational skills.

View Producing Skills on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: CORE

Filmmaking and Editing

(30 CREDITS)

Film Making / Digital Editing: Students will be taught how best to capture performance on camera, which may include live performance, rehearsal footage, marketing material, documentary footage, and short films. Introduction to offline editing of video will lead to students editing their own work. Students will learn how to work on a variety of different equipment including smart phones, tablets and handheld recorders. Digital Arts Skills: Students will learn about the evolution of digital media forms, from a technical and design perspective, developing their knowledge of technical and practical considerations relating to various digital media and, with a focus on creative processes, build an understanding around the various uses and applications of digital media. Students will be introduced to approaches to using technology as an artistic tool and develop a variety of digital art skills.

View Filmmaking and Editing on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: CORE

Context

(30 CREDITS)

This module provides students with a grounding in the development of the Western Theatre and approaches to studying and analysing theatre movements and events in their specific cultural contexts. It includes a survey of Western Theatre practice from Ancient Greece to the present day, and an introduction to key concepts in the development of theatre. Students will examine the progress of theatre history and the effects of key European influences on the development of theatre and drama in the UK. They will continue to conduct background research and will be pushed to think laterally, by exploring theatre from a point of view that they may not have previously encountered. They will be challenged to question their preconceptions about forms of theatre, and will develop an understanding of how the various elements of theatre systematically interact to communicate with an audience. Throughout the unit students will be developing critical, analytical and reflective abilities, both in oral and written communication.

View Context on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 01: CORE

Creating Film and Theatre 2

(30 CREDITS)

View Creating Film and Theatre 2 on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: CORE

Producing and Managing 2

(30 CREDITS)

Students will look at more specific details around producing both live events and filmed projects. They will be exploring some of the legal issues surrounding touring a theatre production, employment contracts and copyright law, as well developing strategies for Human Resources Management. Their practical skills will be furthered by sessions on how to make pitches and write proposals.

View Producing and Managing 2 on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: CORE

Digital Media 2

(30 CREDITS)

Film Making / Distribution: This unit will further develop the students’ film making skill set. As it sits alongside screen writing, there will be more of a focus on narrative and the creation of short films. They will explore more advanced editing tools and begin to look into the world of film distribution Digital Set Design: This unit will introduce students to the software and skills that will enable them to design a theatre set through digital means. It will cover the basic principles around design for theatre performance, the principles of dramatic space and how these relate to performance narrative. They will gain experience of working with CAD to experiment with design concepts. Marketing: This unit will cover the basic principles of marketing and how this applies to Arts institutions and projects. Students will develop the necessary skills to be able to research, plan and implement a marketing strategy for a variety of arts related ventures. They will be encouraged to critically analyse existing strategies and engage in dialogue around the ethics and responsibilities connected to marketing.

View Digital Media 2 on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: CORE

Skills 2

(30 CREDITS)

This module will introduce students to the working practices in the theatre and film, allowing them a better understanding ofthe various roles in a production and at the same time developing further skills that willfuel their creative work. In year two students look at a different role in each term: the dramaturg, the theatre director and the film director. Much of the sessions will be through seminar, but students will get the opportunity to test their theoretical knowledge through practical workshops. In the directing units students will gain experience of working from a text, communicating with actors, and plotting action for a given space. Students will also explore the role of the dramaturg as a facilitator between different aspects of rehearsals and planning, as mediator between the script and the actors/director, as 'outside eye' and 'critical friend', and as representative of the audience during the rehearsal process

View Skills 2 on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 01: CORE WITH OPTIONS

(30 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 02: CORE WITH OPTIONS

(30 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 03: CORE WITH OPTIONS

(30 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 04: CORE

Dissertation

(30 CREDITS)

n this module students will devise and plan a performance project (national / international tour; a festival; a feature film) in the media of your choice. As this is a theoretical project, students will not be required to realise the plan in practical terms, and as such provide the widest possible scope for their creative ambitions. Nonetheless, artistic concepts (script, design, wardrobe, etc.) and the practicalities of running the project (costing, venues, staging, casting and production schedules, etc.)need to be researched and presented in detail. This will require students to utilise the core skills and knowledge that were developed during the first and second year, use various forms of research, and demonstrate both oral and written expression of ideas.

View Dissertation on our Module Directory

Teaching

Year 1

The first year of this course focuses on the fundamental elements of producing theatre and film to build the foundations of knowledge and skills that you will need to progress to more creative modules in years 2 and 3. Throughout the year you will:

Gain an understanding of lighting and sound for performance
Discover how to turn an artistic endeavour into a feasible, marketable product
Work behind the camera to make short videos that can exist on their own as a narrative or support larger work as marketing material

Although this is a largely practical course, you will also develop requisite research skills required for the working world and understand the historical and cultural context to arts practice

Year 2

Throughout this year, you will further develop your new skills and learn new facets of the producing role by focusing on more specific tasks across media, theatre and film production. You will also:

Develop your understanding of the skills required to write for film
Develop your understanding of location management, fundraising, preparing grant proposals, touring a production, and filming live events
Explore the role and practice of the director and dramaturg in theatre and film

Year 3

Your final year consists of one core unit, a written proposal, in which you plan a project that you could feasibly achieve in the future.

Alongside this, there are opportunities to practically engage with vocational pathways, for example, film production, theatre producing, writing for screen or performance, etc.

Fees and funding

Home/UK fee

£9,250

Additional costs for materials and field trips of up to approximately £650 per academic year. Equipment lists are reviewed annually.

International fee

£18,585

Additional costs for materials and field trips of up to approximately £650 per academic year. Equipment lists are reviewed annually.

Fees will increase for each academic year of study.

Home/UK fees and funding information

International fees and funding information

What's next

Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer. You have the chance to:

tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff

Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.

Applications for our full-time undergraduate courses should be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Applications are online at: www.ucas.com. Full details on this process can be obtained from the UCAS website in the how to apply section.

Our UK students, and some of our EU and international students, who are still at school or college, can apply through their school. Your school will be able to check and then submit your completed application to UCAS. Our other international applicants (EU or worldwide) or independent applicants in the UK can also apply online through UCAS Apply.

The UCAS code for our University of Essex is ESSEX E70. The individual campus codes for our Loughton and Southend Campuses are ‘L’ and ‘S’ respectively.

For full details, please see the East 15 website.

Apply now

Interviewing

Applicants to this course will need to book an interview. If you apply to us through UCAS we will send you information on how to do this. Alternatively, you can apply to East 15 directly. During your interview you’re encouraged to share your passion and enthusiasm for the theatre industry.

If you’re resident in the UK you’ll be able to visit our campus to take part in your interview, where you’ll meet some of our staff.

Our staff travel the world meeting applicants so if you’re not resident in the UK, it’s likely that we’ll be in a location near you at some point. This will be a one-to-one interview.

If you are unable to attend an interview for any reason, a Skype interview can be arranged.

For full details, please see the East 15 website.

Offers for this course will only be made after a successful interview.

Students giving each other a piggy back on the beach

With its lively, state-of-the-art facilities and a close-knit international community, Southend is the perfect environment for living and learning.

If you're joining our School of Health and Social Care, East 15 Acting School, or Essex Business School, you may well be studying at our Southend Campus.

Famous for its beach resort and pier, the city of Southend-on-Sea stretches along seven miles of award-winning coastline, providing plenty of opportunities for a wide range of water sports and leisure activities.

How to get to Southend Campus

Haven't been able to visit? Come and meet us online!

We understand travelling here isn't always easy, so you can now access virtual tours of our Southend campus from the comfort of your own home.

Find out more

View from Square 2 outside the Rab Butler Building looking towards Square 3

If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tours allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour and Southend virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

Our staff travel the world to speak to people about the courses on offer at Essex. Take a look at our list of exhibition dates to see if we’ll be near you in the future.

At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.

Find out more

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.