Design for Performance Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

Overview

The Design for Performance programme at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama provides an intensive environment for students to master the art of creating environments and characters for live performance. This postgraduate degree focuses on traditional and digital design approaches for theatre, film, television, and immersive installations. Students work alongside expert practitioners to refine their technical expertise and creative vision.

Collaboration is a fundamental pillar of the curriculum, mirroring the professional standards of the creative industries. Through placements within the college’s own theatre company or with prestigious external partners, students gain practical experience as vital members of production teams.

Why Design for Performance at Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama?

The college is a leader in state-of-the-art theatre technology, offering students access to dedicated CAD studios, prop workshops, paint shops, and large-scale scenic art facilities. Learning takes place in a nurturing environment with small cohort sizes, ensuring high levels of individual staff support and mentorship from national and international practitioners.

Students benefit from strong industry links with major organisations such as the BBC, Welsh National Opera, and Bad Wolf. These partnerships facilitate high-quality placements and masterclasses delivered by world-leading professionals. Additionally, the college’s location in Cardiff allows for regular visits to local theatre companies and insights into the thriving film and TV production sector in Wales.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: GBP 26510 per year
• National fee: GBP 13150 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

Modules may include:

• Design for Performance
• Digital and Physical Modelling
• Character Drawing
• Storyboard Creation
• Scenic Art
• Performance Collaboration
• Multidisciplinary Practice

Careers with Design for Performance

Graduates from this programme are highly sought after by employers due to their comprehensive understanding of both theoretical and practical design principles. Many alumni have successfully become Linbury Prize finalists and have secured roles as early-career designers with leading theatre and opera companies across the United Kingdom.

The training prepares students for diverse roles in theatre, film, television, and event design. Graduates often find employment in scenic construction, art departments, and costume design. The rise of television production in Wales has further increased opportunities for practitioners to take on specialist roles in scenic art and production design within the region and beyond.