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BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
Deepen your knowledge and prepare to take to the stage for a career as a performer and to develop a broad portfolio of skills to work as creative entrepreneur in the world of musical theatre
Train as a triple threat performer with no written examinations
Entry requirements
Three A-levels at grades CCC or above
Or BTEC triple grades MMM or above
Or Access 23-45 D/M with min 6D
And GCSE English Language at grade 4 or grade C or above
UCAS points 96
UCAS code MST1
UCAS institution code P63
Duration Three years full-time
Course Summary
Successful musicals can run for decades and a lot of people are needed to keep all that jazz on the road. As well as performers, musical theatre requires writers, composers, choreographers and directors to make it a success.
The Musical Theatre degree is designed for students with a passion for acting, music, and dance. You’ll gain an understanding of musical theatre forms such as revue, book, juke box and rock through practical exploration. You’ll do weekly intensive skills training in singing, dance and movement with industry professionals.
There are multiple opportunities for public performances in our versatile 300 seat theatre and you’ll perform in a full-length musical directed and designed by industry professionals in the final year.
You'll be a member of The Actor's Wheel theatre company, learning about every aspect of theatre from audition through to performance including marketing, production and financial management.
Taught by theatre professionals and expert researchers with a wealth of experience, this course features unique links with theatre makers and companies. You will have opportunity to connect with and learn from artists active in the field of theatre and performance.
Our core staff team is led by director Ellie Chadwick (previous work at Barbican Guildhall London, Exeter Phoenix, Jackson's Lane London, Trinity Centre Bristol, Tate Modern London), and includes performance maker Sharon Smith (member of international collective Gob Squad), performance artist Natalie Raven (work presented across Europe and North America).
Additionally, we have arts practitioner Kate Massey-Chase (experienced facilitator of community projects, including in prisons, addiction recovery services, mental health services, with young refugees, adults with Parkinson’s, and in schools) and performer/director Karma Tucker (experienced singer, dancer, actor, and director of professional and youth theatre with recent productions in the South West and London).
Past guest lecturers on our performing arts programmes include director Natasha Nixon (previous work at West End, The National Theatre, The Young Vic Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith), actor Alice Feetham (as seen in TV series Save Me) and actor Adam Courting (voice actor for BBC Radio 4).
Why this course at Marjon?
Become a triple threat, develop your music and singing, dance and acting skills
Expand your musical theatre network through workshops with a wide range of musical industry contacts
Ongoing singing training
Perform in our 300-seat theatre and black box studio theatre
Acting, singing and dancing taught by industry professionals and directors
Create an original musical theatre ready to perform with a business plan and marketing materials
Modules for this course
Course Snapshot
“ During your first year you will explore approaches to acting on stage and learn how music interacts with performance in a practical environment. In the second year you will gain an understanding of the history behind musical theatre and further explore the theory behind music and singing in popular culture. You’ll bring these skills together in various performances across the year. Your third year focusses on preparing you for entering the industry with modules on building your portfolio, insider tips on getting job opportunities and a dissertation.”
1st Year
Theory and practice 1
Craft and discipline
Dance technique and improvisation
Naturalism
Singing and music: theory & practice 1
Ensemble performance 1
2nd Year
Popular forms
Singing and music: theory & practice 2
Dance and musical theatre styles
Theory and practice 2
Ensemble performance 2
3rd Year
The freelance artist
Acting through song
Festival performance
Directed production
This course is perfect if you’ve ever asked yourself...
How do I become a triple threat?
How do I make a career out of musical theatre?
What is acting through song?
How do I develop my brand as a musical theatre performer?
Jazz hands - love 'em or hate 'em?
How do you get an agent?
What might you become?
Students graduating from this course will have a range of skills which could be used in careers around performance and theatre. They will also have broad transferable skills around research, communication and confidence in order to move into other roles across the creative arts industry.
How you’ll be taught and assessed?
How will you be taught?
Every lecturer is a practicing professional in their field ensuring they are up to date with current industry practice, we also draw on an extensive network of visiting industry professionals and directors.
Students are taught through reflective praxis, which is a process of learning through doing and reflecting. This includes practical classes developing you as triple threat in singing, acting and dance, preparing you for all aspects of the production process from auditioning through rehearsal and performance.
Students are taught through weekly classes alternated with blocks of intense daily rehearsals for productions.
How will you be assessed?
Students are assessed through practical work. This is supported by research and reflection which is assessed by presentations, written work including essays and blogs as well as discussion. There are no written exams.
Ellie is a theatre practitioner and researcher with international experience. As a resident artist at the Watershed Pervasive Media Studio in Bristol with her company Sleight of Hand, Ellie directs and produces experimental theatre practice using immersive technologies and community-engaged approaches. She has previously worked for the University of Bristol, the University of Warwick, and Shanghai Theatre Academy. In addition to teaching at Marjon, Ellie continues to work for a variety of companies and venues as a freelance theatre director in London, the South West, and further afield.
Fees and funding
Fees UK students: £9250 per annum
Fees for International students: £12,500 per annum
This fee covers your tuition and access to course-specific equipment and facilities, as well associated services including access to the library, study skills support, IT support, student support and wellbeing services and membership of the Student Union. There may be additional costs by course.
Funding available for this course
Our Student Funding Advisors offer confidential and impartial advice about your funding options.
Learn moreLecturers
Katy is a professional actor and has performed in many musicals on UK national tours, including at the Victoria Palace, London and the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. She teaches Performing Arts in Education and Musical Theatre.
Karma directs musical theatre productions and teaches across a range of modules including Acting Through Song, Dance, Ensemble, Singing.
Book an open day to find out more about this course
Find out more about studying BA (Hons) Musical Theatre at Marjon
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