Transporting audiences into new worlds

Ross Nichol with his puppet counterpart and Stagecraft student Jayson Thomson.

For Stagecraft Coordinator Ross Nichol, building a good stage production is like going backwards, or forward, in time.

"The theatre stage is like a time machine. With each new production, a new world is created and if we do our job well we can transport an audience to new places, new eras and new cultures," says Nichol.

Nichol has a lot of experience in creating new worlds. He has been in the theatre industry for over 25 years and has taught students the art of design at Douglas College and Langara College's Studio 58.

"There is simply so much they need to know. Stagecraft is not like studying in a traditional academic program. The shows are why you are here. Everything you do in class leads to putting on that show. That's real life."

Nichol's real world perspective is based on his own experience. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria and has almost 200 set and lighting design credits to his name. As the BC Vice Chair of the Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology and a member of the Associated Designers of Canada he stays on the cutting edge of industry and employment trends.

And it's the cutting edge of creativity that Stagecraft graduates are after.

"After graduating from the program, students can get jobs with theatre companies or equipment suppliers, in film and TV, on rock n' roll tours, or onboard cruise ships. These days the special event industry is really big and with the Olympics gearing up the future looks bright."

For students interested in furthering their education there are plenty of options.

"Students not looking for immediate work and wanting to further their studies can transfer to university. Some students go on to become drama teachers, others may go on to specialized training at the Banff Centre of Fine Arts - a unique institution that is recognized all over the world. One year we had seven of our students go there after graduation."

Stagecraft is an intensive two-year diploma program designed for students interested in a career within the entertainment industry, and who have some fine arts or technical experience.

For more information about the Stagecraft program attend a free Information Session.

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