Michael Budmani
- MA (Professional Practice in Higher Education), Bath Spa University, UK
- PG Certificate (Professional Learning in Higher Education), Bath Spa University, UK
- Diploma (Stage Management, Technical Theatre and Design), Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, UK
Michael Budmani is a professional stage manager, production manager and educator with over 30 years of experience. His areas of expertise include stage management, production management, technical management, professionalisation, coaching and mentoring.
Prior to joining LASALLE, Michael was Subject Leader for Theatre Production at Bath Spa University, UK. He re-wrote 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 particularly interested in 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.
Awards
- Training in Health and Safety and Risk Assessment (2018)
- Training For Senior Management in HE (2015)
- Coaching In The Workplace (2013–2016)
Research and Practice
- An Exploration of Stage Management Practice, and An Investigation As To Whether Pedagogy and Practice Can Be Enhanced By “Agile” Management Theory, International Symposium on Practice as Research; Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Hong Kong (December 2017)
- CallQ – Development of Cutting-Edge Software For Stage Management Training
Current Research and Practice
Use of new technology to inform stage management and show calling training and practice
Research Interests
- 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
- Theatre in the Smart City