Programme Leader, Diploma in Theatre Production and Management

Michael Budmani

Michael Budmani
  • MA (Professional Practice in Higher Education), Bath Spa University, UK
  • PG Certificate (Professional Learning in Higher Education), Bath Spa University, UK 
  • Diploma (Coaching and Positive Psychology). Andy Ramage Training Academy, UK
  • Diploma (Stage Management, Technical Theatre and Design), Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, UK

Michael Budmani is an educator, stage manager, production manager and life coach with over 30 years of experience. His areas of expertise include stage management, production management, professionalisation, coaching and mentoring.

Prior to joining LASALLE, Michael was Subject Leader for Theatre Production at Bath Spa University, UK. He rewrote and transformed the course into a full three-year BA(Hons) programme. He led a period of significant growth for Theatre Production, enhancing professional partnerships and excellent student satisfaction for the programme. While at Bath Spa University, Michael also worked as a Production Manager for Theatre Royal, Bath.

A UK national, he has worked internationally and with some of the very best talent in British theatre, both onstage and backstage. Key engagements include Stage Manager for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Head of Stage Management for Scottish Opera, and latterly Head of Technical for Scottish Opera. Michael was also Chair and Director of the Stage Management Association of United Kingdom.

Michael is currently undertaking a PhD, which is focused on his core interests of new pedagogies in theatre production, and the interface between technology and theatre production. In this regard, he has been actively working on new stage management and show calling systems that can facilitate new and path-breaking ways of learning technical theatre.

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  • Training in Health and Safety and Risk Assessment (2018)
  • Training For Senior Management in HE (2015)
  • Coaching In The Workplace (2013–2016)
  • Senior Management in Higher Education (2015)

  • International Symposium on Theatre and Ecology, Shanghai Theatre Academy; China. ‘The Post-human Space of Theatre Production Education’ (2025)
  • Performing Space 2025, University of the Peloponnese. ‘What is tertiary Theatre Production education (TPE) in the post-humanist digital world? How might it meet the needs of stakeholders in the evolving theatre-making industry?’ (2025)
  • Global Connections Conference – (Singapore, Australia, Bulgaria) ‘Do we Underestimate the Permanence of the Temporary in Theatre Production Education?’ (2023) 
  • International Symposium on Practice as Research, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts; Hong Kong. ‘An Exploration of Stage Management Practice, and An Investigation As To Whether Pedagogy and Practice Can Be Enhanced By “Agile” Management Theory’ (2017)
  • CallQ: Development of cutting-edge software for stage management training

  • Coaching within higher education
  • Incorporating e-learning and modern management techniques into theatre production pedagogies
  • Utilisation of modern management methodologies within the theatre production processes
  • Delivering theatre within an ecologically sustainable framework