Stagecraft and Event Technology (Diploma)

Douglas College has a number of scholarships, bursaries and awards available as well as other financial aid for students. In addition, the SET department awards a performance-based, full-tuition scholarship each year to a first-year student who has demonstrated excellence in academic and technical production activities.

The technical areas of the entertainment industry are widely varied. Because of this there are countless skills that will benefit you in this field. Some of these could include: visual arts, carpentry, welding, music, management, performance, fabric arts, costumes, electronics, video production and computer skills. The main requirements are a desire to work with a team, a strong ability to solve problems, stamina to work long hours, an ability to think on your feet and a desire to create the environment for the performers to tell a story. Ideally you will have theatrical experience or have worked in another area of the performing or visual arts. This is a program for the motivated student who is dedicated to the field.

Yes. While the majority of the students are full-time, some part-time seats are available. Contact the SET program for more information on part-time study.

Currently, there are no SET courses offered in the evening. Some potential upper-term elective courses are scheduled in the evening. When we are working on productions you will have evening crew calls or rehearsals, so we recommend that you check the Production Schedule before registering for electives.

Approximately 25 students are accepted each year.

Douglas College Theatre and Stagecraft & Event Technology Departments offer four public productions every year (two each in the Fall and Winter semesters) in the Laura C. Muir Performing Arts Theatre and Studio theatres. Individual SET students concentrate on one of these two shows per semester and then assist as needed on the second production.

SET students provide full crew for the productions. Jobs can vary depending on the demands of the show but the standard departments are Stage Management, Carpentry, Painting, Props, Lighting, Wardrobe, Sound and Running Crew. Second-year students are crew chiefs while first-year students are the crew.

Our productions are designed by both SET Faculty and guest designers who are professionals in their field.

Although the emphasis of our program is on live entertainment and events, many of our graduates find work in the film and TV field, and the skills learned in the SET Program are easily transferable to many other fields. You can take Film Studies and an introductory Film/ TV production course as electives.

No, at Douglas College there are two separate departments for performance and production. Please see the Theatre Program for information on full-time performance training. SET students do not have to take any performance classes; however, Theatre does offer an open acting course (PEFA 1120) take as an elective depending on scheduling.

We recognize that many students need to continue to work while in school. We strongly recommend that you have a job that allows you flexibility in scheduling. Many of our classes demand extensive class time, including seeing a play a week. During the three weeks before our productions open you may be working long shifts on your crew assignment.

Graduates of this program have gone on to work in a wide variety of settings, including:

• Traditional theatre
• Opera
• Film & TV
• Sales and service companies
• Cruise ships
• Concert touring
• Events and festivals
• Museums

In these settings, they work in a wide variety of roles, including:

• Lighting and sound technicians
• Painters
• Props builders
• Carpenters
• Riggers
• Set, Costume and Lighting Designers
• Production Managers
• Technical Directors
• Stage Managers
• High school teachers
• University instructors
• and more.

Where you end up depends on your talents and ambitions.

In your second year of study, you will take STGE 2440 Work Experience, that will allow you to gain work experience in professional settings.