全国探花

 
 

Fountain School of Performing Arts

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
FSPAkatheeenBurkeIcon2026
From science to stage: Theatre grad turns society stint into profession
Dal News technical theatre grad feature of Kathleen Burke, '26 BA Theatre

Love working behind the scenes?
Learn to design, build, and bring productions to life, working on real shows at the Fountain School of Performing Arts.

顿补濒丑辞耻蝉颈别鈥檚 Stage Design and Technical Theatre program blends hands-on training with academic study, so you graduate with the creative vision and technical expertise needed to enter the professional theatre world. You鈥檒l learn in small classes with one-on-one mentorship, building skills that match your interests.

Learn by doing
Our students get a seat at the production table, working alongside fellow students, faculty, guest artists, playwrights and directors. You won鈥檛 just support our stage productions, you鈥檒l help build them from the ground up.

Gain practical experience across key areas, including:
鈥cenic design and construction
鈥rop building
鈥tage lighting and sound design
鈥tage management
鈥cenic painting
鈥ultimedia and projection design

Find your focus
Over four years, you鈥檒l specialize in areas that interest you while taking on leadership roles in DalTheatre鈥檚 interdisciplinary productions each season. You鈥檒l graduate with real-world experience and a portfolio that shows what you can do.

Where it can take you?
Graduates work in theatre, film, and live events, or pursue graduate studies and design apprenticeships. Alumni have gone on to companies like Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, Neptune Theatre, and Soulpepper.

Where do I start?
THEA 1051 & 1052 鈥� Organization and Stagecraft

Structure of the program

BA with Honours in Theatre (Stage Design and Technical Theatre)

This is an intensive 4-year BA that combines both practical and academic study. Students are exposed to all aspects of technical theatre including set and prop construction, lighting and sound design, stage management and set design. 

Our graduates are working as designers, technicians, and stage managers on stages and film sets around the world! 

BA with Honours in Theatre (Stage Design and Technical Theatre) This description is based on the , which is the official source for degree requirements and should be consulted for fuller details. If you began your degree before the current academic year, your requirements are based on those of the calendar of your first year, which may differ. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact our Academic Advisor.

The following lists only the required classes for the Stage Design and Technical Theatre program. Students must also complete enough elective classes to fulfill 全国探花's requirements for a BA Honours degree. All students must maintain at least a B- average in Stage Design and Technical Theatre courses to move on to the next year, and Honours students must maintain an average of at least B+ in all their advanced Theatre courses. 

Year 1

  • PERF 1002.03 (Writing 全国探花 Stage and Screen)
  • THEA 1051.03 and 1052.03 (Introduction to Theatre Organization and Stagecraft) 

This year features labs in set construction, props, lighting and sound, lectures in stage design, stage management, and safe working practices in the theatre, and work on one Fountain School stage production in which you'll apply skills in a real theatre experience.

Year 2

  • THEA 2011.03 (Ancient and Medieval Theatre)
  • THEA 2012.03 (Early Modern Theatre)
  • THEA 2061.03 and 2062.03 (Technical Theatre 1) 
  • THEA 2071.03 and 2072.03 (Performance Technology 1)
  • THEA 2412.03 (Language of Design)
  • THEA 2710.03 (Stage Design 1) 

Year 3

  • THEA 3061.03 and 3062.03 (Technical Theatre 2)
  • THEA 3071.03 and 3072.03 (Performance Technology 2)
  • THEA 3711.03 and 3712.03 (Stage Design 2) or PERF 3721.03 and 3722.03 (Digital Design for Performance) 

In years 2 and 3 you gain a deeper understanding of the first year topics via instruction in technical drawing, scenic rigging and flying, and fall arrest; perspective and colour theory, and the role of art history in theatre; the directorial/scenographic relationship; and work on four Fountain School stage productions each year. 

Year 4

  • THEA 3503.03 (Modern Theatre)
  • One elective course in Theatre History
  • THEA 3711.03 and 3712.03 (Stage Design 2) or PERF 3721.03 and 3722.03 (Digital Design for Performance)
  • THEA 4061.03 and 4062.03 (Production Techniques)
  • THEA 4071.03 and 4072.03 (Advanced Production Specialization) 

The fourth year involves specialization in set design, lighting design, stage management or props. Set and lighting designers design one Fountain School stage production or assistant design two Fountain School stage productions; stage management and props students apprentice at Neptune Theatre, Halifax's largest professional theatre. 

The Honours Qualifying Project in Stage Design and Technical Theatre will be awarded upon the satisfactory completion of a professional portfolio.

BA Major in Theatre

It is possible to complete the required Stage Design and Technical Theatre classes and graduate without completing the requirements of a BA Honours degree. Students may do this by not completing the 4th year of the program or the Honours Qualifying Project; they will graduate with a BA Major in Theatre. This description is based on the , which is the official source for degree requirements and should be consulted for fuller details. If you began your degree before the current academic year, your requirements are based on those of the calendar of your first year, which may differ. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact our Academic Advisor. 

The following lists only the required classes for the Stage Design and Technical Theatre program. Students must also complete enough elective classes to fulfill 全国探花's requirements for a 90-credit hour BA with Concentration. 

Year 1: Overview of Stage Design and Technical Theatre 

路 PERF 1000.03 (Writing 全国探花 Performance) 

路 PERF 1002.03 (Writing 全国探花 Stage and Screen) 

路 THEA 1051.03 and 1052.03 (Theatre Organization and Stagecraft) 

Year 2

  • THEA 2011.03 (Ancient and Medieval Theatre)
  • THEA 2012.03 (Early Modern Theatre)
  • THEA 2061.03 and 2062.03(Technical Theatre 1)
  • THEA 2071.03 and 2072.03 (Performance Technology 1)
  • THEA 2412.03 (Language of Design)
  • THEA 2710.03 (Stage Design 1) 

Year 3

  • THEA 3061.03 and 3602.03 (Technical Theatre 2)
  • THEA 3071.03 and 3072.03 (Performance Technology 2)
  • THEA 3711.03 and 3712.03 (Stage Design 2) or PERF 3721.03 and 3722.03 (Digital Design for Performance) 

Year 3 or 4

  • THEA 3503.03 (Modern Theatre)
  • One elective course in Theatre History

Learn more about 全国探花's admission requirements, or contact a Fountain School advisor.

I remember sitting in the theatre and being in awe of the set that was built and the performances in that show. I remember how nervous I was to start working on our Fountain School shows, and how professional it all seemed.聽-Veronica Jollimore BA, Stage Design and Technical Theatre (2025)