This thesis consists of practice-led research in the form of a pilot episode and second episode for a television series; plus a 6,500-word essay (exegesis). A summary of the script for the pilot episode of the Life Under Construction television series is as follows:

The construction industry is on a drive to bring in the other 50% of the population: women. Breaking new ground, this year’s apprentices at Johnson Construction, in Raglan, New Zealand, include Gayle, Anna and Kim. Gayle balances caring for her son while juggling two jobs; the odds are stacked against her, but she is determined to succeed at any cost. Anna deals with sexism on the worksite, and her 5-year plan to launch her own construction company is tossed off kilter after a phone call from her doctor. Kim is hiding a big secret from both her family and her employer. Together, will Gayle, Kim and Anna survive their apprenticeships and break the ‘cement ceiling’?

The script is framed by an Exegesis which is a 6,500-word essay on the subject of: a) the core theme of the script and comparative texts b) the development process from synopsis to second draft