Theatre practicums
Get involved in a UFV Theatre production while earning university credit.
Theatre practicum courses give you hands-on experience acting, working backstage, or taking on production and design roles.
Opportunities range from introductory roles such as set crew, dresser, lighting or sound operator, and assistant stage manager to advanced roles such as stage manager, designer, assistant director, or dramaturg.
How to enroll?
- Acting: Audition for a role in a UFV Theatre production. Auditions for the winter production typically take place in November. Check the Auditions page for upcoming dates and details.
- Backstage and production: Contact Theatre Production Manager Giuseppe.Condello@ufv.ca to express your interest in a backstage, technical, or production role.
Why take a theatre practicum?
A theatre practicum is an opportunity to put your learning into practice while becoming part of a production team. You can:
- Build practical theatre and production skills
- Meet and collaborate with other students
- Gain experience that can help prepare you for professional theatre opportunities
- Explore new roles and areas of theatre
- Earn university credit toward your program
What to expect
Working on a theatre production requires a significant time commitment. Your schedule will depend on your role, but you may need to attend rehearsals, production meetings, technical and dress rehearsals, and performances.
Before enrolling, review the production schedule carefully to make sure you can attend all required dates.
Acting
Actors typically attend up to four rehearsals per week for eight to 10 weeks, as well as all technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and performances. You will also need time outside rehearsals to learn lines and prepare for your role.
Rehearsals are generally held on weekday afternoons.
Stage management
Stage managers and assistant stage managers attend all rehearsals and production meetings. They are also expected to arrive early and stay late for technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and performances.
Backstage and technical roles
Roles such as set crew, running crew, dresser, lighting operator, sound operator, and projections operator are concentrated around the production period.
You will attend some rehearsals as well as all technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and performances.
Design roles
Design and assistant design roles offer more flexibility because much of the work is completed independently.
Student designers and assistant designers attend some rehearsals and performances, all technical and dress rehearsals, and meetings with the director and other designers as required.
Theatre practicum courses
UFV currently offers six theatre practicum courses.
THEA 290 — Acting Practicum
1 credit
Gain experience acting in a UFV Theatre production. Students cast in a department production who want to receive one credit for their work can enroll in THEA 290.
THEA 295 — Backstage Practicum
1 credit
Gain introductory or additional experience working backstage or in a design role. This course can be a great way for students who are new to theatre to experience working on a production.
Students who have completed the other practicum courses can also take THEA 295 to gain additional backstage or design experience.
THEA 291 — Acting in a Complex Role
3 credits
Audition for, rehearse, and perform a complex role in a UFV Theatre production.
THEA 299 — Theatre Production Practicum
Work backstage on a UFV Theatre production after completing THEA 121 or THEA 123.
You will receive instruction in communication, teamwork, conflict resolution, and backstage safety, along with production-specific training and mentorship from experienced staff.
THEA 399 — Intermediate Practicum in Theatre
Take on intermediate-level responsibilities in areas such as stage management, design, dramaturgy, directing, or acting. This course also includes research and substantial written assignments.
THEA 499 — Advanced Practicum in Theatre
Take on advanced responsibilities in areas such as stage management, design, dramaturgy, directing, or acting. This course also includes research and substantial written assignments.