The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has decided to cut the junior production technician role in the theatre starting next semester in 2024. But what does this mean for students?
Why Is This Happening?
The Creative School decided to cut the position of junior production technician starting in January as a result of a series of decisions made by Doug Ford’s provincial government. According to an email on Nov. 13 from Caroline O’Brien, the chair of the School of Performance, The Creative School decided that a position needed to be dropped due to recent cuts.
Since taking power in 2018, the Ford government has cut various post-secondary education budgets. This has resulted in TMU facing a 3.5% spending cut this year, the university’s third cut in three years.
TMU says 80% of the university’s expenditures go towards academic and student support, but of the entire operating budget, 75% goes towards salaries and benefits.
These cuts are being felt across the university, but this decision, in particular, affects performance students and anyone planning on using the theatre.
What is the Junior Production Technician?
The junior production technician is a paid position within The School of Performance to help run the various shows that happen in the Studio Theatre and Mainstage Theatre.
The production technician (PT), Scott Martin, oversees all performances by students in the acting and dance programs — who have eight multiple-day shows throughout the year — as well as anyone who wants to rent the space. Since this is a lot to manage while teaching, the junior technician helps manage some of the PT’s responsibilities, like checking inventory and sourcing supplies.
They also supervise work in the theatre, which includes hanging lights or attaching scenery. In addition, they help with the students’ problems, whether it’s trying to figure out how much weight is needed for a fly or what kind of light is needed — they are one of a few people who know the theatre very well.
The Junior PT ensures all health and safety regulations are being followed and that no one is putting themselves at risk. This position reduces the reliance on the PT and ensures both theatres can work at the same time, each with their own staff member supervising.
What Does This Mean for Students?
If you are a performance student like I am, this means that there will be some changes to next semester’s shows.
With no junior production technician to assist the PT, there will be less time to work on lighting, projections, sound, and scenery as there are fewer theatre-trained staff to come and help. The lack of time on necessary preparations can lead to smaller-scale shows with less complicated tech to compensate for this loss.
It will also put more stress on student technicians to finish the work needed in the reduced number of hours given. We’ve already seen the effects of long hours and smaller productions, with many students dropping out or switching programs as this was not the program they were promised.
These dropouts add more stress to the students left, with fewer people to create crews for the shows. Also, any issues the theatre has will have fewer people to fix them, leading to delays and more stress.
What We Can Do?
All these decisions are being made for the winter semester, which is shortly here. The decision is left to The Creative School, so the ruling is out of our hands as a student.
What we can do is prepare for the coming changes and stay informed on important matters like this so we are not surprised when changes are made. Keeping yourself and others informed helps us all communicate better so that we can come into the new semester with a clear plan of action in our minds.