Covering all aspects of musical theatre skills and opportunities for creating new music theatre, this practice-based course is ideal if you are looking ahead to a career as an on-stage performer or back-stage creative.
Our musical theatre degree includes weekly drama school-style actor training, focussing on all the classic musical theatre skills including acting, singing, dance, ensemble singing and yoga. These developing skills are realised in a full-scale production in each year of the course. In addition to performing in a full-scale musical, you will also take on a production role, including stage management, design, assistant director, hair and makeup, costume, front of house and many more. By both performing and having a production role you take full ownership of your musical theatre production and gain valuable experience across a range of creative roles.
You will also be able to explore your own creativity by co-creating original pieces of musical theatre. Through engagement with a variety of contemporary musical and performance techniques, you will expand your creative frames of reference to develop and understand new ways of combining music and theatre. There are opportunities to work with visiting creatives and performers, including working with a professional director in your third year production.
Inclusivity and community, as well as safe and supportive spaces, lie at the heart of the music theatre course. Together staff and students build and nurture an environment that is thriving with the highest level of training, and develop performers who are individual, unique, professional, and great company members. Personal support and guidance are a key aspect of our delivery to students.
Become a specialist in musical theatre, stage entertainment and performance
Explore music performance and grow as a performer
On this BA (Hons) Music Performance degree you will have individual tuition in instrumental and/or vocal performance and have the opportunity to join a selection of university musical groups including six orchestras, five choirs and nine other taught performance ensembles. Ensembles perform throughout the year and attend a rich programme of concerts, recitals and masterclasses by visiting artists. You will train in the art of performance and study topics including performance anxiety, the use of gesture and movement in performance, and concert and event hosting.
You will complete a personal study module where you have the chance present a longer and more challenging programme of work.
On this course you will:
Working across disciplines of acting, music and movement, this exciting and collaborative course responds to the creative industry demands of today by developing artists who will graduate as multi-skilled creative performers and practitioners.
If you don't meet the entry requirements for a BA, you can study this course as an extended, four-year programme. You'll begin by taking a foundation year which prepares you for a successful transition to the BA degree. This means it will take you four years to complete the course full-time, and eight years to complete the course part-time.
You will study acting, dance, physical theatre and community theatre through six distinctive modules. You will participate in a variety of dynamic projects and learn about current trends in the performing arts. The course content is specifically chosen to reflect the diverse nature of our students and this is evident through the themes, practitioners and subject matter covered. You will learn in a highly supportive environment where you can develop the self-confidence, knowledge, skills and understanding for further study.
Each module focuses on developing your understanding of the techniques intrinsic to the separate disciplines and will prepare you for a successful entry onto your chosen degree pathway listed below.
BA (Hons) Dance: Urban Practice
BA (Hons) Performing Arts
BA (Hons) Drama, Applied Theatre and Performance
The foundation course is for students who:
do not yet have the entry requirements for study at level 4.
want to develop skills and confidence before embarking on study at Level 4.
are returning to study.
are changing careers and need to gain experience in the performing arts.
Working across disciplines of acting, music and movement, this exciting and collaborative course responds to the creative industry demands of today by developing artists who will graduate as multi-skilled creative performers and practitioners.
You will work collaboratively and creatively with your peers, exploring and blending the disciplines of music, movement and acting. Experiencing a range of contemporary performance methodologies, you will develop skills as both performer and performance maker, enabling you to establish your own authentic and relevant creative practice.
You will be taught by a team of academics and professional artistic practitioners with a combined wealth of experience as makers, performers and researchers. Professional guest speakers will provide lectures, tailored workshops, masterclasses and opportunities, which will provide a direct link to the creative arts industry. In the past, our students have performed or collaborated with Stratford Circus, the National Youth Theatre, English Heritage, Positive East, The Vault Festival and many more.
The sound and music industry is transforming. Traditional careers are adapting to include creative industries that require skills in sound and music production. The broadcast, film, theatre, games and immersive experience industries are growing and thriving.
We see opportunities for multi-skilled, digitally fluent, dynamic and adaptable sound and music creators, who can initiate and present innovative ideas in modern and engaging ways.
The BA (Hons) Music Technology and Production is part of a suite of programmes for applied practice in professional industry contexts. The key features of these programmes are: A focus on Ideas, Creative Enterprise and Collaboration, Portfolio of Transferable Skills, Professional Industry Projects.
You will develop and apply a range of specialist technical and creative skills in sound and music production, working collaboratively within interdisciplinary projects modelled on professional practice in the music industry.
The principal focus of the BA Music Technology and Production will be Music Production and Studio Production, with some elements of sound design and non-linear performance and production processes shared with other programmes in the suite.
