QUT Technical Production

QUT Technical Production The homepage for the BFA Technical Production major at Queensland University of Technology Learn more at our website!

The official page for the QUT Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Production) degree. We specialize in the management, technology and design of live performance.

Congratulations to the QUT Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Production) graduating class of 2025!Massive thanks to every...
11/11/2025

Congratulations to the QUT Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Production) graduating class of 2025!

Massive thanks to everyone who came along and supported ‘Standing By 2025’!

Gelassenheit: The Calm Within The ChaosGelassenheit[ge·las·sen·heit] noun a german word meaning serenity, composure, cal...
10/11/2025

Gelassenheit: The Calm Within The Chaos

Gelassenheit
[ge·las·sen·heit] noun
a german word meaning serenity, composure, calmness - especially the kind that comes from accepting that you can’t control everything

Even at the best of times, the backstage of a theatre is chaos held together with zip ties and gaff - yet somehow, it all runs like a well-oiled machine. This project encapsulates the fragile balance of the hour before an opening night performance. A stage manager’s laptop sits on a desk that is made up of more paperwork than table. The hum of a printer fights to be heard over the cacophony of notifications demanding attention. The ever-changing lights offer no relief, as every department races to meet the immovable deadline of opening night.

As a stage manager, Izzy thrives within this chaos - organising, anticipating, holding it all together - but at the same time, is her worst nightmare. As an autistic person, this overwhelming noise often threatens to spill over, usually when there isn’t time to take a breath. Gelassenheit is Izzy’s quiet rebellion: an attempt to find stillness inside the storm, and showcase the small superpower of staying calm in a world full of noise.

Izzy Markham, standing by.

Anatomy of a ProductionAnatomy of a Production is a collection of artworks visually exploring the unseen side of the spo...
10/11/2025

Anatomy of a Production

Anatomy of a Production is a collection of artworks visually exploring the unseen side of the spotlight, highlighting the people and processes that bring life to live events. This project portrays each member of the QUT Technical Production cohort through a series of independent illustrations, created over weeks of interviews and iterations to incorporate both professional and personal identity. Every emerging creative is depicted in a solo portrait, capturing their industry discipline through real paperwork from theatrical projects and linking ties to the greater Standing By showcase.

The series culminates in a large amalgamated illustration that unites all members of the cohort within a single scene - a fully realised production environment where every role connects. From lighting and sound to stage management and costume, each position is imagined working through a project. The composition reflects the interconnection of roles within a production, illustrating how the absence of any individual creates a visible void.

Rooted in a love for community and volunteer theatre, the work examines the extensive and often invisible labour that is required for every stage production. By visualising those who usually remain unseen, Anatomy of a Production celebrates the artistry, precision, and teamwork that make live performance possible. Britney invites viewers to look beyond the spotlight and into the framework that supports it - the complex anatomy of people, skills, and stories.

Britney Cawkwell, standing by.

Down the Rabbit HoleToile [twahl] noun. An early version of a finished garment, often made of simple fabric and used to ...
09/11/2025

Down the Rabbit Hole

Toile [twahl] noun. An early version of a finished garment, often made of simple fabric and used to test and perfect a design.

A whimsical exploration of past, present and future, Down the Rabbit Hole presents the viewer with a toile - notations, alterations and improvements, marked and waiting to be completed. The train of the dress forms out into a tunnel of possibility, decorated with a collection of trinkets, motifs, and knick-knacks all referencing past courses, productions, and interests; leading to a kaleidoscope of fabric collected from off-cuts and remnants - designed to be deconstructed and used for a future project. A beaded spider forms a web, weaving a history and future together in this amalgamation of learning, experience and knowledge both from QUT and elsewhere.

Drawing from remembered childhood loves; past education and knowledge; and current interests and hobbies - Down the Rabbit Hole invites the viewer into Sarah's unique and whimsical world view, showing an abstract timeline built up over 30 years of experiences and stories. The exhibition explores how a person’s story, both personal and professional, is ever evolving, changing, and improving through multiple iterations as time goes on. All leading to how, going ‘down the rabbit hole’, can lead to new worlds of possibility.

Sarah McGeorge, standing by.

What She Taught MeA mother’s love is like nothing else. She is there to raise you, to nurture you, to love you. But what...
09/11/2025

What She Taught Me

A mother’s love is like nothing else. She is there to raise you, to nurture you, to love you. But what happens when she’s no longer there?

Through the eyes of a stage manager, this short animation follows a single day in the chaos of theatre: the early mornings, the meticulous routines, the unseen labour. Beneath the surface, it is also a portrait of endurance, how the love and care given by a mother echo in every aspect of the day.

Alongside the animation, a scrapbook offers a glimpse into Jo’s own family history. These works weave together their personal and professional lives, blurring the line between the stage manager’s role and a child’s enduring memory.

What She Taught Me is a chronicle of grief and perseverance in the wake of great loss, but also of continuity. Love, once given, continues to shape us long after it’s gone.

Jo Craddy, standing by.

The StoryboardThere is chaos in creation, a story to be told in the messy web of intersecting lives.As an assistant dire...
08/11/2025

The Storyboard

There is chaos in creation, a story to be told in the messy web of intersecting lives.

As an assistant director, one must understand the nuances of not only the job, but the individual. Human interactions and collaboration are the keystone of art and creation. By embodying organised chaos, The Storyboard, creates a cluedo-esque experience that invites you to be both entertained and challenged as you enter the world of a fictional production, as well as the chaotic mind of Angel.

This engaging and interactive evidence board installation allows you to enter the creative process of a show. Much like an assistant director, you will need to understand the significance of not only the technical abilities of your peers, but also who they are as people. You will see the way things can be planned to the most minute details and still be derailed in any way possible.

Art is a mixed bag of planned and unplanned - sometimes it works out, and sometimes it really doesn’t. However, as any creative does - and as Angel will continue to do in her career - we identify the issues, hone our skills and persevere.

Angel Tan, standing by.

Shaping LightA large suspended hand hovers above a model box, each fingertip casting a distinct light that transforms th...
08/11/2025

Shaping Light

A large suspended hand hovers above a model box, each fingertip casting a distinct light that transforms the miniature world below. Audiences are invited to step into the role of the lighting designer by controlling the lights themselves, shaping the atmosphere, focus, and emotion of the scene. The hand serves as a physical representation of that creative role - the unseen force that sculpts how a story is seen and felt. The work reflects on the collaborative nature of theatre and the power of light to define space, perception, and meaning. By using a home setting without characters, the work emphasises environment over narrative, allowing light to become the primary storyteller and inviting audiences to imagine the space and its possibilities

Although Finn’s first experience in a designer role was through model making, his practice has since evolved towards lighting design. Acting as a miniature stage, the model box explores space, scale and the transformative impact of lighting. Shaping Space combines that early practice with my current focus on lighting design, uniting the precision of model making with the expressive potential of light. This piece embodies Finn’s growth as a designer and invites others to experience the act of shaping a world through illumination.

Finn Lumsdale, standing by.

A series of Unfortunate ManagementsIs there ever a "right" choice, or just a better one?One of the main allures of theat...
07/11/2025

A series of Unfortunate Managements

Is there ever a "right" choice, or just a better one?

One of the main allures of theatre over other forms of media is the live aspect. There are no second takes or editing in post. A story is unravelling before the audience's eyes, whilst everyone backstage is diligently working to keep it running smoothly. At least, that is what should happen. Oftentimes a prop goes missing, a costume cannot be found, or a light just will not turn on. It is up to the crew to find the best (or more predictably, the quickest) solution to keep the magic alive.

Whether they are making the call or updating others of the situation, the stage manager is the hub of communication. They liaison between the cast, the crew, creatives (and more!), and their choices can greatly alter the outcome of a production. A Series of Unfortunate Managements calls back to the ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ genre of story-telling, reflecting Eden’s idiosyncratic perspective of their career. Decisions have to be made, and one can only hope they have chosen the best one. Through gamifying such a stressful situation, they warmly welcome audience members to embark on a light-hearted version of a stage manager's day-in-a-life.

Eden Carnell-Hungerford, standing by.

Standby (for boarding)Standby (for Boarding) invites audiences into a space where the worlds of travel and theatre merge...
07/11/2025

Standby (for boarding)

Standby (for Boarding) invites audiences into a space where the worlds of travel and theatre merge, blurring the boundaries between an airport terminal and a backstage environment. Inspired by how the technical production industry, like travel, connects people worldwide - the installation celebrates the transport of stories and performances across borders.

Paying homage to stage management, the work weaves in subtle nods to backstage life. The rhythm of show calls reimagined as flight announcements and a departures board echoing the language and precision of a prompt desk, highlighting the choreography, communication and coordination that define both theatre and travel. Amid a world increasingly shaped by computers and AI, the piece includes a small nod to the irreplaceable human touch of stage management.

At its core, Standby (for Boarding) reflects the creator’s dream to tour with a production and experience the universal language of performance. Hayley explores how a single production can exist across the globe, uniting artists, technicians and audiences through shared scripts, music, and creative purpose. By stepping into this space, audiences join an international network of performance - a community bound by creativity, collaboration and the shared experience of preparing and departing together.

Hayley Stuart-Smith, standing by.

Seven Years, Three ActsSeven Years, Three Acts transforms a corner of a bedroom, into a stage of time. It maps Jaymyn’s ...
06/11/2025

Seven Years, Three Acts

Seven Years, Three Acts transforms a corner of a bedroom, into a stage of time. It maps Jaymyn’s seven-year journey through university. What began as a three-year degree became a story of rediscovery, growth, and creative exploration. The work reminds us that following one’s dreams is rarely linear, but always worthwhile.

The set divides into three acts: past, present, and future. The past is an archive with a shelf of old assessments, model boxes, and mementos. These are presented with humour and affection for the challenges that shaped him. The present captures his desk mid-creation. Scattered tools, sketches, and props show a love of making. The future looks forward with optimism. A model box built inside a suitcase reflects his upcoming move overseas and his dream of designing stages and props for large-scale concerts and world tours.

Lady Gaga, whose creative courage and reinvention have long inspired Jaymyn, is woven throughout the work as both muse and symbol of perseverance. Her influence is clear in the theatricality, emotion, and unapologetic commitment to artistry that define the piece. Seven Years, Three Acts is a celebration of passion, persistence and the belief that life’s greatest reward comes from pursuing what sets your soul alight.

Jaymyn Molony-Kelly, standing by.

Please, leave the light onAs a single bulb glows in an empty theatre, the ghost light shines. Not only a means for safet...
06/11/2025

Please, leave the light on

As a single bulb glows in an empty theatre, the ghost light shines. Not only a means for safety, but serving as a silent invitation, welcoming ghosts to the stage and allowing them to waltz in the spotlight.

Theatre’s magical essence transports an audience through space and time, but also enables itself to be experienced through realms.

The same thing is true for costumes. Even without an actor to embody the fabric, the detailed craftsmanship and intricacies embedded in the seams, capture the spirit of the art, allowing it to be appreciated, even if it's just through a ghostly silhouette.

Taking inspiration from the original showgirls of the 18th century and the extravagance of drag queens, Please, Leave the Light On combines Kasey’s love of avant-garde costuming with theatre superstition to create a sculptural representation of the indelible mark theatre has on a person; one which has shaped every element of her life.

Kasey Turner, standing by.

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Z9 Creative Industries Precinct
Kelvin Grove, QLD

Website

https://www.standingby2022.com/

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