Free Technical Workshops

During the week of the festival NSDF provides a vast number of technical workshops which are incredibly popular and beneficial and appeal to a diverse group of young people who are fascinated by the behind the scenes jobs which theatre technicians carry out.

"I can honestly say that this is one of the most important events in the UK arts diary. Without this opportunity for the students to see how their home- grown shows work on a different platform, they would simply remain amateurs. This event fills the gap that BA’s seem to have in giving proper vocational experience to everyone involved in whatever capacity. Drama school [RADA, LAMDA etc] students get this experience day in and day out but degree, and BTEC/A-Level, students simply don’t get out of their safety nets until they get work [which they will struggle to find without the practical skills they only get at this festival]. Frankly they won’t get that chance to anywhere else but through NSDF, in this current arts climate. As an employer I would consider applicants who had been on a degree course and done this festival but not those who only had the qualification." (John Samuels, Resident Lighting Designer, NSDF08)

NSDF is working with PLASA to create a range of technical workshops which will be programmed across the country introducing students into lighting, sound, design, projection, stage management, scenic construction and props making to name but a few.

If you have any interest in technical theatre and would like a free technical workshop please email the following information to workshops@nsdf.org.uk AND admin@nsdf.org.uk: 

Name

Name of University/College/School

Contact number and email

What workshop you would like and why

Ideal dates and how many participants you would expect to attend 

We generally operate on a first come first serve basis although we also try and prioritise places we have visited rarely or never and groups who have a very clear idea of what they would like and why they would benefit. 

The following workshops have already taken place:

Cardiff University - Lighting Design - 14th January 2009

Longley Park School, Sheffield - Lighting Design - 15th January 2009

Kingston College - Moving Lights - 16th January 2009 

Check back here for news of future workshops