The Department of Film, Theatre & Television (FTT) works with a range of partners across the creative industries and wider community.
These relationships give our students opportunities to gain industry insight, develop practical experience and contribute to local cultural activity and talent development.
Shadowbox Studios Shinfield is the anchor tenant of the 91µ¼º½â€™s Cine Valley project, which aims to foster a film and TV hub, expertise and skills around the University.
FTT works with Shadowbox Studios Shinfield, Screen Berkshire and Resource Productions to give students opportunities to engage with the local screen industry through training, workshops and practical production experiences. These have included sessions on entering the film and TV industry, working as a runner, set etiquette, camerawork and sound design, as well as shoot simulations and bootcamps designed to help students gain IMDb credits.
Additionally, through the partnership, students can also register with a local crew and talent database, providing access to information about creative opportunities in the region.
South Street Arts Centre is one of our long-term partners and hosts the Arts Council-funded Work in Progress programme, co-delivered with the Department.
As a student, you can collaborate with professional companies, including Action Hero, Little Bulb, and Dante or Die, and gain valuable theatre production experience.
91µ¼º½ Rep is a theatre company based in 91µ¼º½ that works with artists and creative practitioners to develop and produce new theatre.
We work with 91µ¼º½ Rep to give students insight into professional theatre practice and opportunities to develop their skills in a professional environment.
Rabble Theatre is a nationally recognised, community-led theatre company based in 91µ¼º½ that creates locally rooted stories with national relevance.
We work with Rabble Theatre, giving our students opportunities to engage with professional theatre-makers and explore community-led approaches to storytelling and performance.
The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) works with us on student-led projects across film, theatre and media.
Projects have included The Absolute Units podcast, which lets students create media work in collaboration with a museum and respond creatively to its collections, audiences, and stories. Students have also used their collections to create performances and workshops for local schools.
Our students contribute to Climate Change Theatre Action, an international theatre project connecting artists and communities around climate change.
Students have also co-produced the 91µ¼º½ edition of the festival with local schools, giving them experience in developing and delivering theatre as part of a wider community and cultural programme.
Make/Sense Theatre is a 91µ¼º½-based company creating inclusive theatre work for, by and with neurodivergent, disabled and sensory-attuned people of all ages.
We work with Make/Sense Theatre to introduce students to inclusive approaches to theatre-making and creative practice, and to explore how to develop performance with and for different communities.
Real Time Video works with the Department to support student learning through community media production.
This partnership gives our students experience in creating media in community settings and developing work that responds to the needs, interests and experiences of local audiences.
Our students also undertake commissioned work through our Commercial and Community Filmmaking and Community and Collaborative Performance Practices modules, partnering with community organisations and local businesses to create media work for them.
Recent projects include:
Through our Film Programming and Film Festivals module, students have worked on Community Programming projects with local communities to develop and deliver creative programmes:
We welcome new collaborations with production companies, theatre-makers, arts organisations, charities and community groups.
If you have an idea or opportunity you’d like to discuss, please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.
Please email: FTTenquiries@reading.ac.uk
Find out more about our research projects, which include an exciting range of work on contemporary practices and their context and histories.
Our modern theatre spaces, cinema auditorium, film and TV studio, and post-production suites all support teaching and research and meet the highest standards.
Find out who works in our Department, including our academics, lecturers and support staff.