Outline

Overview

This unit offers an introduction to theatre lighting, sound design and audiovisual projection. Through practical workshops and site visits, students will develop some basic technical skills as well as an understanding of the creative contribution that production personnel can bring to the realisation of performance concepts.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Theatre and Performance Studies
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 2000 level from PRFM including PRFM2601
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Paul Dwyer, paul.dwyer@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Paul Dwyer, paul.dwyer@sydney.edu.au
Practitioner(s)	Richard Manner, richard.manner@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Production Analysis Essay Analysis of the design for a current theatre production in Sydney	40%	- Due date: 01 Oct 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 23 Nov 2024	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Group Design Rationale and Documentation Written rationale for the design concepts presented in Week 13	20%	Formal exam period Due date: 14 Nov 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 23 Nov 2024	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	WHS Simulation Report Report on WHS issues revealed in a simulation exercise	10%	Formal exam period Due date: 11 Nov 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 23 Nov 2024	500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Technical Knowledge and Installation Practicum Continuous assessment of technical knowledge/skills	10%	Week 10	Equivalent to 500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Group Design Presentation Group presentation of lighting and sound design concepts	20%	Week 13	Equivalent to 500 words
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Task #1 — Technical Knowledge and Installation Practicum (10%)

Over the course of the first 10 weeks of semester, you will be given multiple opportunities in class to demonstrate understanding of, and basic skills in, setting up/operating lighting and sound equipment etc. Your lecturer will keep a record of your attainment of the relevant knowledge/skills. There is no written compenent to this task: it is completed simply through active participation in class.

Task #2 — Production Analysis Essay (40%)

You will attend a live theatre production (to be selected from a small list of shows nominated by the lecturer) and write an analysis of the contribution made by lighting and other design elements to the overall impact of the staging.

Task #3 — Group Design Presentation (20%)

In Week 13, as part of a group project, you will present a lighting design, soundscape and (if it suits your concept) video design component, modelling a possible approach to production design for an assigned script.

Task #4 — Group Design Rationale and Documentation (20%)

Working with the other members of your group, you will submit a brief written rationale for the choices made in your Week 13 Group Design Presentation (plus an appendix with relevant design sketches, notes from group meetings, lighting plans etc.).

Task #5 — WHS Simulation Report (10%)

After the final class in Week 13, the teaching staff will set up a (safely!) simulated WHS 'horror scenario' in the Rex Cramphorn Studio. You will be assigned a 15 minute inspection time during which you can photograph the WHS problems on display. You will then write up a brief report to explain these problems and suggest remedial strategies.

Assessment criteria

HD	High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
DI	Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
CR	Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
PS	Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
FA	Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.
AF	Absent fail	0 - 49	When you haven’t completed all assessment tasks or met the attendance requirements.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

For written assignments, 5 whole marks will be deducted for each day late (unless a Simple Extension or Special Consideration or an Academic Plan has been approved). Please note that Saturdays and Sundays are included in the calculation of late penalties. Owing to the limited time for which we have access to the Rex Cramphorn Studio and its equipment, no extensions of time will be possible for the Group Design Presentation.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Unit of Study Overview; Q&A with Griffin Theatre artists-in-residence	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 02	Some Key Principles of Scenography; Practical Exercises on Configuration of Stage/Auditorium and Other Spatial Relationships	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 03	Basics of Lighting Operation: Part One	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 04	Basics of Lighting Operation: Part Two	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 05	Site visit to a theatre venue and overview of its production resources	Field trip (1.5 hr)
Week 05	Key Concepts for Performance/Production Analysis: Part One	Seminar (1.5 hr)
Week 06	Site visit to a theatre venue and overview of its production resources	Field trip (1.5 hr)
Week 06	Key Concepts for Performance/Production Analysis: Part Two	Seminar (1.5 hr)
Week 07	Introduction to use of QLab for Operating Sound and Overview of Group Design Presentation Assessment Task	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 08	Sound Design Workshop with Guest Artist	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 09	Video Design Workshop with Guest Artist	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 10	Lighting Design Workshop with Guest Artist	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 11	Devising Group Design Presentations	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 12	Devising Group Design Presentations	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 13	Performance and Discussion of Group Design Projects	Presentation (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90 per cent of timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Associate Dean or relevant delegated authority. The Associate Dean or relevant delegated authority may determine that a student fails a unit of study because of inadequate attendance. Alternatively, at their discretion, they may set additional assessment items when attendance is lower than 90 per cent.

The case of any formally enrolled student who is absent from 50% or more of classes, regardless of the reasons for the absence, will be automatically referred to the end-of-semester examiners' meeting for a determination as to whether the student should pass or fail the unit, or, if a pass is awarded, the level of penalty that should be applied.

Full details of the attendance policy of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are available here: https://www.sydney.edu.au/policies/showdoc.aspx?recnum=PDOC2022/540&RendNum=0

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Please refer to Canvas for details of assigned readings and additional resources.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. identify Work, Health and Safety (WHS) issues relevant to technical production
LO2. patch together sound, lights and projection equipment safely and efficiently
LO3. develop, execute and articulate the rationale for your own lights, sound or video design concepts
LO4. describe and analyse the scenographic practice of contemporary lighting, sound and video designers

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

PRFM3607: Production Strategies for Performance

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links