BA Theatre Design at Wimbledon will equip you with knowledge and professional skills in the specialist areas of both theatre set and costume design and realisation for performed events.

The course has a long-standing reputation in the entertainment industry and is synonymous with theatre design training at the highest level.

The broad base of the programme gives you increasing freedom to specialise in related areas of theatre production such as film-making or animation and pursue areas of practice-based study that will prepare you for employment in an increasingly widening field.

You will be navigated through a sequence of projects that encourage you to take total command of all visual and other sensory aspects of live productions. You will be guided through a broad range of technologies including: scaled precision model-making, costume construction and treatments, scenic art, specialist carpentry and metalworking, computer- aided design and technical drafting.

Your final year is designed to give you opportunities to use your imaginative and technical potential to the full. In partnership with staff you will design a bespoke programme of study tailored to your ambitions. This can involve realised set and costume design for various forms of theatre, from site-specific performance to dance or, increasingly, exciting and diverse hybrids.

Key Facts

You will gain production experience both on the course with professional practitioners, and with companies or individuals through specialist work placements.

The course has on-going collaborative projects with both drama and dance programmes in other universities and conservatoires.

Year 1

You will be introduced to all technical areas connected with live events including lighting, sound, woodwork, metalwork, costumecutting,construction and photography. This work will be supported by computeraided image making, drafting, scenic art and photography. Alongside studio practice you will undertake a Contextual Studies programme coordinated across the School of Theatre.

Year 2

You will test your ideas in ambitious and challenging ways on a variety of performance contexts. This work is often speculative and realised in scale model form but there are also opportunities to work collaboratively or on one of the many work placements that punctuate the year's programme of events. The Contextual Studies programme prepares you for your dissertation. You will take an elective unit, selected from a broad range of options to enhance your core subject of study.

Year 3

You will pursue your own interests and enthusiasms through self directed study. There are also several opportunities offered for collaboration in areas such as Design for Dance, an annual collaboration with young choreographers at the London Contemporary Dance School. The final year of your Contextual Studies programme will culminate in your dissertation.

Graduates are likely to progress into a range of roles within the field of theatre and performance. Some work as designers and collaborators, others in television and film production, or as production managers and scenic artists.

Graduates have been both finalists and winners of the Linbury Prize for stage design, progressing to being BAFTA and Olivier Award-winning designers with the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and the BBC.


Applicants to the BA (Hons) Theatre course are required to have a strong portfolio of work and be able to meet the following criteria:

• Foundation Diploma in Art & Design and 1 GCE A-level and 3 GCSEs grade C or above
  Or
• BTEC National Diploma or NVQ Level 3, and 3 GCSEs grade C or above
• The College also takes into consideration prior learning and experience, and alternative qualifications.
• Applicants whose first language is not English must show proof of IELTS level 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four skills. All information regarding acceptable tests, scores and exemptions from testing can be found here: http://www.arts.ac.uk/international/apply/englishlanguagerequirements/

Study Abroad Applicants

This course accepts a limited number of Study Abroad students (international students who would like to spend one, two or three terms studying alongside our undergraduates, as part of their course at their home university). To find out further information about Study Abroad fees and the application process please visit the CCW Study Abroad pages. 

Portfolio Advice

Your Portfolio of Work should support an application through the following:

• Set Model, Storyboard Sequence and Costume Drawings from a recent design project.
• A good level of drawing abilites, including Life Drawing.
• Abilities to work with form, colour, texture and space, either ficitonal or architectural.
• An ability to understand character in the context of a dramatic situation.
• An interest in historical and contemporary life - 'the human condition'.
• An interest in collaboration and making performances.
• Previous experience of theatre work.
• Sketchbooks and notebooks.

Design for Performance - Set Project

Please note the Set Project is optional, but can provide a good framework for discussion about your design ideas and is a good opportunity to demonstrate your interpretive skills.

You should choose one of the following plays (or one that is equally well known) to design for, completeing at least six designs for your portfolio together with supporting work such as costume reference material, character sketches and fabric swatches. You can also include ideas for staging if you wish:

• 'Waiting for Godot' by Samuel Beckett
• 'The Tempest' by William Shakespeare
• 'Cabaret' (Musical) by Kander and Ebb
• 'Turn of the Screw' (Opera) - by Benjamin Britten

Please ensure you work from the play text rather than a video.

Home/EU Applicants

You need to apply through the UCAS online application system.

All Wimbledon College of Art UCAS Course Codes can be found on the course 'At a Glance' tab or on the UCAS website.

Our Institution Code is U65.

There is no 'Campus Code' for Wimbledon College of Art.

For further information about the UCAS application procedure, please contact them directly:

Universities & Colleges Application System (UCAS)
T: +44 (0)870 1122211
E: enq@ucas.ac.uk

For any other information please contact Wimbledon College of Art Admissions Team.

T: +44 (0)20 7514 9687
E: admissions@wimbledon.arts.ac.uk

International Applicants

Please visit the ccw international apply page for details.

or contact the CCW International Office.

T: +44 (0) 207 514 1852
E: ccwinternational@arts.ac.uk

Study Abroad Applicants

International undergraduate students can apply to join this BA course for a period of up to three terms as a Study Abroad student. Please visit the CCW Study Abroad pages for details on how to apply or contact the Study Abroad office:

T: +44 (0) 207 514 2249
E: studyabroad@chelsea.arts.ac.uk