Stage director

Stage directors oversee and orchestrate the mounting of a performance production by unifying various endeavours and aspects of a theatrical production. They ensure the quality and completeness of the theatrical production and lead the members of the creative team into realising their artistic vision for it. 

Includes people working in a play, an opera, a musical, a circus show or a devised piece of work.

The following job titles also refer to stage director:

theatre director
scene director
stage manager
circus director
stage supervisor
theater director

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as stage director. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Stage director is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to stage director.

art director
video and motion picture director
répétiteur
director of photography
drama teacher

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of stage director. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of stage director with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of stage director.

These skills are necessary for the role of stage director.

Read scripts: Read a playbook or film script, not only as literature, but identifying, actions, emotional states, evolution of characters, situations, different sets and locations, etc.
Work with playwrights: Work with writers through workshops or script development schemes.
Cue a performance: Plan the technical actions and interventions during an artistic performance. Determine when actors go on and off stage. Make sure these cues are followed to ensure a smooth running of the performance.
Assemble an artistic team: Bring together an artistic team, after identifying the needs, looking for candidates, conducting interviews and aligning on the conditions of the project.
Adapt a script: Adapt a script and, if the play is newly written, work with the writer or collaborate with playwrights.
Maintain blocking notes: Create and update blocking notes recording the position of actors and props in every scene. These notes are shared with the director, technical director and cast.
Analyse a script: Break down a script by analysing the dramaturgy, form, themes and structure of a script. Conduct relevant research if necessary.
Direct an artistic team: Lead and instruct a complete team with the required cultural expertise and experience.
Evaluate art quality: Correctly evaluate the quality of art objects, artefacts, photographs and documents.
Carry out auditions: Hold auditions and assess and select candidates for roles in the productions.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of stage director. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of stage director. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Select music for performance: Select pieces of music for a live performance. Consider factors such as ensemble abilities, availability of scores and the need for musical variety.
Organise rehearsals: Manage, schedule and run rehearsals for the performance.
Follow time cues: Observe the conductor, orchestra or director and follow text and vocal score to time cues accurately.
Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Manage prompt book: Prepare, create and maintain the prompt book for a theatrical production.
Prompt performers: Prompt performers in theatrical and opera productions.
Ensure visual quality of the set: Inspect and amend the scenery and set-dressing to make sure the visual quality is optimal with in constraints of time, budget and manpower.

2166 – Graphic and multimedia designers

 

 

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References

1. Stage director – ESCO