Theatre and live event productions are evolving – new Master’s degree combines technology, creativity and leadership

Theatre productions, concerts, festivals and other live events are becoming increasingly complex from a technical perspective. Metropolia’s new English-taught Master’s Degree in Theatre and Live Event Technology responds to this transformation by combining technical and artistic expertise with the skills needed to lead productions and people. The international programme will bring together professionals from different working environments, backgrounds and countries.

The theatre and live event technology industry is constantly evolving. Lighting, sound, video and stage technologies are developing rapidly, but professionals in the field need much more than the ability to master the latest technologies.

According to Tero Aalto, Senior Lecturer in Theatre and Performance Technology and Head of the Theatre and Live Event Technology degree programme at Metropolia, continuous change is not a new phenomenon in the industry – it is part of everyday professional life.

“In our field, there has never really been a separate digital leap, because technologies and tools are changing all the time. Even two consecutive productions may be carried out in completely different ways. That is why working in this industry requires a great deal of resilience.”

It is for this constantly changing professional environment that Metropolia is launching its new English-taught Master’s Degree in Theatre and Live Event Technology. The programme builds on Metropolia’s experience in providing Master’s-level education in theatre technology in Finnish. The new degree draws on the same foundations while placing the field in a more international context.

Technical experts also need leadership skills

Live productions bring together a wide range of professionals. Technical specialists, artists, producers, designers and external partners may all be involved in the same production. According to Aalto, major productions can be long-term projects that are planned years in advance.

Alongside technical expertise, professionals therefore increasingly need the ability to lead people, manage complex processes and navigate change. Aalto sees a clear need in the industry for stronger leadership and management skills.

“Technical expertise has developed enormously, but leadership and people management skills have sometimes received less attention. In this programme, we focus specifically on leading people and managing productions.”

The degree focuses on technical and artistic expertise and leadership, the management of production processes, and the development of sustainable working communities.

A small group enables a more personalised learning experience

The student group in the new international degree programme will intentionally be kept relatively small. In Metropolia’s Finnish-language programme, groups have typically consisted of approximately 16–20 students.

“We want to keep the group small so that we can provide students with targeted and personalised teaching. At the same time, we want to bring leading professionals and experts from the industry into our teaching.”

The programme’s teaching staff bring extensive professional experience from different areas of the field, including leadership and management, theatre and live events, artistic work and engineering. Visiting lecturers and experts working directly in the industry also contribute to the studies. With the launch of the international programme, the aim is to bring an increasing number of international experts into the classroom as well.

Your professional experience becomes part of the learning

Students entering the Master’s programme are not starting their professional development from scratch. They already have experience in theatre, performance or live events, and that expertise becomes an important part of the learning process.

A student group may include technical specialists, supervisors, managers and other professionals in leadership roles. Students may also have different educational backgrounds – something Aalto sees as one of the strengths of the programme.

“When students come from different roles and organisations, they bring their own expertise and experience with them. This creates valuable discussion in the classroom and allows students to learn from each other as well.”

Students’ previous professional experience therefore helps shape the learning environment. This becomes even more valuable in an English-taught programme that can bring together professionals from different countries and production cultures.

According to Aalto, Metropolia’s degree programmes in the field of culture have already gained positive experience from bringing together people with different professional backgrounds.

Take what you learn directly into working life

Learning in the programme goes beyond theory. Project-based studies are connected, whenever possible, to students’ own professional roles and real development needs within the industry. According to Aalto, this approach has received positive feedback from students.

“Students are encouraged to look at their own work from a new perspective and put their new knowledge directly into practice. Throughout the programme, there is practically always a project underway that is connected to working life.”

Students can carry out project-based studies within their own organisations, for example. Freelance professionals can also connect their studies to their own professional environment and projects, so having a permanent employer is not a requirement for progressing in the programme.

A particularly important part of the degree is the 30 ECTS Master’s thesis. Many theses are commissioned by organisations in the industry and can focus, for example, on production management and development, occupational safety or performance technology.

As Head of the Degree Programme, Aalto hopes that students will choose thesis topics that have the potential to change and develop practices within the industry. The goal is to create work that has genuine relevance and value for professional life.

Bringing Finnish production expertise to an international industry

For Aalto, there is a natural reason for making the degree international: the industry itself is already highly international. Finnish professionals work in international productions and on global tours, and English is often the working language at major events in Finland.

Aalto considers efficient working practices and broad professional expertise to be particular strengths of the Finnish industry.

“Finland is a small country, which has helped our professionals develop a very broad range of skills. We have had to learn to work efficiently and master several different areas.”

Aalto also highlights Finnish expertise in leadership, safety and production. Finnish professionals and working practices are already making an impact internationally.

Metropolia’s new degree programme aims to take this development further by creating an international learning environment for experienced professionals – while contributing to the development of the industry as a whole.

Applications open in January 2027

Applications for the 60 ECTS Master’s Degree in Theatre and Live Event Technology will open for the first time in January 2027.

Applicants are required to have a suitable Bachelor’s degree or equivalent higher education degree and at least two years of relevant work experience. The studies will begin in autumn 2027 and are designed to be completed alongside work in approximately 1–1.5 years.

The programme is taught in English and welcomes applicants from Finland and around the world who want to deepen their expertise and take the next step in their careers in theatre, performance and live event technology.

Learn more about the Master’s Degree in Theatre and Live Event Technology