Introduction To Producing
Introduction To Producing
This course offers a practical introduction to producing theatre, designed for early-career producers, artists, and theatre-makers who want to better understand how shows are developed, managed, and delivered. Focusing on the producer’s central role in bringing creative ideas to life, the course explores the core areas of producing: financial management, people management, and production delivery. Participants will gain both strategic insight and practical tools to support sustainable, well-managed theatre projects.
Course Description
Introduction To Producing
This course offers a practical introduction to producing theatre, designed for early-career producers, artists, and theatre-makers who want to better understand how shows are developed, managed, and delivered. Focusing on the producer’s central role in bringing creative ideas to life, the course explores the core areas of producing: financial management, people management, and production delivery. Participants will gain both strategic insight and practical tools to support sustainable, well-managed theatre projects.
Across three structured days, the course combines taught sessions, real-world case studies, peer learning, and individual mentoring. Participants will develop a clearer understanding of producing responsibilities, build confidence in decision-making, and leave with practical knowledge they can apply to their own projects or future producing roles.
SESSION 1: Introduction to Producing – the three main areas of work: Financial, People and Production (Full Day)
SESSION 2: Case studies, peer assessment, pitching (Full Day)
SESSION 3: One to one mentorship and feedback.
Who This Course Is For:
This course is suitable for artists, emerging producers, and theatre-makers who want a clear, supportive introduction to producing theatre shows, with a balance of theory, practice, and personalised mentoring.
DETAILS
SESSION ONE – Introduction to Producing
This foundational day introduces the role of the theatre producer and the three main areas of work: Financial, People, and Production. Participants will explore budgeting and fundraising basics, contracts and scheduling, team building, communication, and managing timelines from development to delivery. The session also considers the producer’s relationship to artists, venues, audiences, and funders, grounding learning in real-world practice.
Key outcomes:
What a producer does and when
Budgeting, funding, and financial oversight
Working with artists, freelancers, and partners
Planning, scheduling, and risk management
SESSION TWO – Practical Training: Real-Life Filming
Day two focuses on applying knowledge through analysis and discussion. Participants will examine real-world case studies of theatre productions at different scales, exploring challenges, decision-making, and outcomes. Through peer assessment and group exercises, participants will share ideas, test assumptions, and learn from each other’s experiences. The day culminates in pitching sessions, where participants present a project idea and receive structured feedback from peers and facilitators.
Key outcomes:
Learning from real producing case studies
Giving and receiving constructive peer feedback
Developing and pitching a theatre project
Understanding artistic, financial, and logistical balance
SESSION THREE – Review, Reflection, and Critique
The final day provides dedicated one-to-one mentorship tailored to each participant’s interests and goals. Participants will receive focused feedback on their project ideas, producing approach, or career development questions. This session supports reflection, confidence-building, and next-step planning, ensuring learning is personalised and practical.
Key outcomes:
Individual feedback and guidance
Refining project ideas and producing strategies
Identifying next steps and professional development pathways
In-Person
This will happen at Accidental in the Theatre, in the Ground Floor theatre.
Remote
This will happen over Zoom, you will be able to see and hear the course but you won’t have the same hands-on experience.
Facilitator - Una NicEoin
Una has worked in the arts sector since 1992, including Artist in Residence for Wheelworks, Drama Tutor at the Centre for Performing Arts at Belfast Metropolitan College for four years before becoming Head of Education and Outreach at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast. In 2006 she became Creative Director at Creative Media Partnerships and subsequently Arts Development Officer at Belfast City Council. She became Executive Producer at Prime Cut Productions in 2009. Since then she has produced all of their award winning shows as well as for Oona Doherty and The Belfast Ensemble.
Talk to The Professionals
Accidental’s Talk to the Professionals Programme empowers artists and technicians to thrive within today’s fast-changing creative industries. As digital innovation, hybrid performance models, and new production technologies reshape how work is made and shared, creative practitioners need future-focused skills that combine technical capability with bold artistic thinking.
This programme offers a practical, hands-on pathway for early- and mid-career creatives to develop those skills. Through workshops, labs, and mentorship led by experienced artists, digital specialists, and production professionals, participants gain confidence in areas such as digital performance tools, emerging media, core production practices, collaborative creation, and innovative storytelling.
Funding by the James Kane Foundation.
Course Info
In-Person
Venue: 12-13 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, BT2 7DB
Access: Directly from Shaftesbury Square
Date(s): TBC
Starts: TBC
Age Guidance: 18+
Run Time: TBC
Disabled Access: Theatre (ground floor) is fully accessible. Toilets & Book Bar (1st floor) are accessible via a wheelchair platform lift. Carer tickets available: Call 028 9032 5881 to book.
Online
Access for the remote access will be emailed out a few days ahead, please check junk/spam folders.
Booking Info
Please book a ticket per attendee to avoid issues.
£100 - IN-PERSON TICKET - a standard ticket that gives you in-person access to watch the show in the theatre.
£100 - REMOTE TICKET - a standard ticket that gives you in-person access to watch the show in the theatre.
£150 - DONATION TICKET - a special ticket that gives a little extra to the exceptional and hardworking artists creating the event. Donation Tickets include both attendee options above.
