Master of Theatre Design

The Postgraduate Diploma in Production (Design specialisation) provides students with the opportunity through coursework and designing set and costumes for small scale projects to develop the creative, expressive, collaborative and organisational skills necessary to begin work as a theatre designer.

The Masters program provides the opportunity for the student to develop and extend knowledge and expertise developed at Diploma level through undertaking advanced level research.

The candidate is encouraged to develop his/her own personal artistic vision through an intensive and practical research project.

The objectives of the course are:

• to provide an opportunity for candidates of proven ability to undertake advanced work in set and costume design for theatre in an environment where their artistic vision will be realised;
• to extend the creative and expressive skills, knowledge, collaborative abilities, and self-confidence of the candidate;
• to develop appropriate skills for the documentation, description and analysis of design processes;
• to promote the development of design for theatre relevant for the contemporary age, while building on the traditions of the art form;
• to provide an environment where the practice and critical analysis of set and costume design for the theatre can co-exist at an advanced level;
• to make a significant contribution to theatre design practice in Australia.

Sound Design for a performance or series of performances (60%); written commentary of 10,000-15,000 words (40%). Two appropriate external examiners will assess both the performance(s) and the commentary. The Degree of Master of Sound will be conferred on students reaching a mark of 65% (H3). Marks will be provided as letter grades with corresponding percentages.

Master of Theatre Design

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

At the completion of the course or subject students should be able to:

• Exhibit extensive theoretical and practical knowledge of their discipline including relevant professional knowledge, skills, discipline and ethics as they relate to a practising visual/performing artist;
• Demonstrate capacities for artistic imagination, creativity, transformation and interpretation;
• Demonstrate practical skills in respect of critical analysis, problem solving, report writing, team work and oral and written communication;
• Demonstrate a flexible and innovative approach to the national and international challenges for the professional visual/performing artist in the 21st century;
• Work at various levels, both as an individual and as a team member, in a wide variety of visual/performing artistic environments;
• Contribute to a range of visual/performing arts environments as artistic collaborators and leaders;
• Demonstrate an open, independent and inquiring attitude towards contemporary cultural developments and new ideas;
• Critically and creatively engage with topics of cultural significance across communities;
• Understand and appreciate how the visual and performing arts connect with the broader society and contribute to its social and economic development; and,
• Understand their relationship with and responsibility to their cultural environment and society.