Film, Theatre and Television set to take centre stage on campus
Facilities for the new University of York Department for Theatre, Film and Television have been hailed as a “groundbreaking and exciting” addition to the University.
The new department has opened this year in its temporary home in the Genesis 6 development of the Science Park.
Professor Richard Woolley, the first head of the department, resigned shortly after its creation for personal reasons.
The Department has been funded by a donation from University of York Chancellor and former Director-General of the BBC Greg Dyke.
The donation was from the severance-pay package that he received from the BBC upon his forced resignation following the Hutton Enquiry of 2003-4.
“The Department will encourage innovation, creativity and the highest level of technical expertise amongst its students,” said Dyke.
The Department is currently only running postgraduate courses, however it will begin to take on undergraduate students from October 2008.
Facilities include a screening theatre, a post-production lab and the Dixon studio, but will soon boast a new theatre in Derwent College, an audio suite and state-of-the-art blue screen technology.
Phase one of the Heslington East development will see the facility move into a permanent residence on the new campus. The Heslington East site will contain editing suites, new studios and industry standard software, the number of students in the Department projected at 450.
The Department, which has links with the Department of English and Related Literature, plans to teach courses that cover writing and direction, along with performance ranging from ancient Greek to contemporary theatre.
A University spokesman said that the new department “aims to provide a modern degree that will provide valuable insight and knowledge into the media industry. Students will also have the invaluable opportunity to use production and post-production technology, using equipment which will rival that of most professional industries”.
The Department will also offer master-classes run by professionals such as Penelope Wilton, a theatre and television actress, and Sam West, actor and theatre director. It is thought that this will allow students access to first-hand experience and knowledge.
“The introduction of such a modern and technological degree will surely help the University shed its ‘1960s’ image and will open up many new opportunities for aspiring actors, producers and directors,” said a spokesperson.
