First-year students in Production Design and Technical Arts begin their NTS journey with a week of intensive bootcamp. We asked David Jodoin, technical director of the Monument-National, to talk to us about the course that he’s been teaching since 2009.

• What topics are covered in the Bootcamp?
  
  The topics covered over the nearly 45 hours of the course are quite varied, ranging from how all the lighting and sound equipment works to operating the mechanical stage and learning how to work safely.
  
  
  

• What’s the hardest thing to learn for students starting out in the Production Design and Technical Arts program?
  
  Often, the most difficult part for those who have no previous experience in theatre is learning all the new vocabulary so they can then learn how the equipment works.
  
  

• How would you describe the Bootcamp course?
  
  For some, it’s a review of the techniques preferred at the School; for others, it’s a complete introduction. The goal is to make sure that all the students have the same knowledge base.

• Let’s talk safety: what’s important to know when working on a theatre production?
  
  We always try to be at the leading edge of the Canadian theatre scene in terms of safety; this shows up in how we use the harness, lifelines, helmets, safety shoes…

• What’s unique about learning in a space like the Monument-National?
  
  The performance spaces in the Monument-National are exceptional in and of themselves, and having the opportunity to use the oldest stage in the country as your classroom is pretty special!

• What excites you about your work?
  
  I’m interested in the ephemeral nature of performances, the fact that you have to be in a specific place at a specific time to see it, and then it disappears without a trace. Also, working with students who reinvent the world with every production.
  
  

• What advice would you give to students in Production Design and Technical Arts who are at the start of their training and who dream of a career at venues around the world?
  
  Make the most of the spaces you have available during your three years hear to do all your experimenting and testing. This is the time to make mistakes!
  
  

The Production Design and Technical Arts programs paves the way to many exciting artistic careers: technical direction, production management, stage management, light, video and sound design. Learn more about the program!

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