FdA Musical Theatre at Italia Conti is a two-year, full time vocational course for anyone aged 16+ wishing to start their training to become a professional performer in Musical Theatre. Musical Theatre training is truly triple threat and encourages all performers to find versatility and adaptability in their skillset to nourish their future careers with a world of opportunity.
Italia Conti’s FdA Musical Theatre course is designed to nurture and develop innovative and individual musical theatre performers, who embody and apply specialist skills and techniques supported by grounded knowledge of industry practices, contexts, and the emerging requirements that empower graduates for a sustainable career in musical theatre.
The course is validated by University of Chichester. Full government funding is available through Student Finance England for Home students. 16 year old students can also access student finance for this programme.
Students that undertake the FdA at 16, are able to complete three years of training and graduate with a degree at the age of 19, extremely valuable for extraordinarily talented young performers who have already undertaken considerable vocational training.
Mountview produces over 20 in-house productions each year in our state-of-the-art theatres, giving Technical Production students a vast array of learning experiences.
Mountview’s Technical Production training is primarily focussed on sound and lighting, while also incorporating video and technical stage craft. Course content includes lighting and sound studio skills, the preparation and management of technical equipment, lighting and sound system design, how to programme and operate desks, video mapping and design, as well as core technical and maintenance skills.
Mountview is internationally recognised for the quality of its Musical Theatre training and produces at least 8 large-scale musicals in-house every year, providing Technical Production students with extensive experience of the musical format.
Mountview also offers a one-year BA (Hons) Top-Up in Technical Production, in which students with previous experience can select a specialism and develop a greater depth of understanding.
GRADUATE DESTINATIONS
Mountview Technical Production graduates enter a strong network of successful professionals working in lighting, sound and technical production. Their work spans large-scale national, West End and regional theatres, international touring productions, festivals and events, as well as TV, film and media companies.
Production Arts graduates have gone on to work with a diverse range of companies including the National Theatre, Secret Cinema, Hamilton, Mamma Mia, Eurovision, Les Miserables and the Olympics.
COURSE LEADERS AND GUEST PRACTITIONERS
Our resident team of tutors for this course are supported by industry professionals who work alongside the students on productions. Previous guest tutors have included professionals from:
• Punchdrunk
• Hamilton
• The Globe
• The National Theatre
COURSE CONTENT AND DELIVERY
The Technical Production Foundation Degree is a full-time two-year course with 30 contact hours per week over 36 weeks in each year. With continuous assessment across all the compulsory modules, students work alongside professional lighting and sound designers, senior technicians and programmers.
Training includes:
• Hands-on training with contemporary equipment
• Technical stagecraft skills including rigging and flying and installation of live productions
• Sound studio skills including recording and editing technology and techniques
• Lighting Studio skills including computerised drafting and visualisation software
• Understanding and designing lighting and sound systems
• Prepping, fitting, and monitoring radio mic systems
• Planning, prepping and managing lighting equipment for live productions
• Programming and mixing industry standard sound desks on plays and musicals
• Programming and operating lighting desks, including working with generic and moving lighting equipment
• Creating sound, lighting and video designs
• Technical and maintenance skills such as power distribution, soldering and other skills needed by the modern production professional
Students also undertake work placements with external organisations, allowing them to develop a network of professional contacts and gain valuable experience. Previous placement destinations have included Moulin Rouge! The Musical, The Globe, Wiltons Music Hall, National Theatre, Cabaret , Park Theatre and the Barbican.
SHOWCASE
Students are given integral roles on both Mountview productions and professional placements. This provides excellent opportunities to showcase skills, gain important industry contacts and develop personal networks, all of which are key to your career progression.
Mountview produces over 20 in-house productions each year in our state-of-the-art theatres, giving Stage Management students a vast array of learning experiences.
Stage managers are the glue that holds a production together. Their many responsibilities include running communication across all creative and technical departments, acting as a right hand to the director, overseeing sets, props, lights, and sound, and calling all technical cues during performances.
Mountview is internationally recognised for the quality of its Musical Theatre training and produces at least 8 large-scale musicals in-house every year, providing Stage Management students with extensive experience of the musical format.
Mountview also offers a one-year BA (Hons) Top-Up in Stage Management, which offers a greater depth of study to those with previous experience.
GRADUATE DESTINATIONS
Graduates of our vocational, hands-on stage management course have gone on to successful careers across theatre, film, television and events, and work with a diverse range of shows and companies, including the National Theatre, Secret Cinema, Hamilton, Mamma Mia, Les Miserables, and the Olympics.
COURSE LEADER AND GUEST PRACTITIONERS
Our resident team of tutors for this course are supported by industry professionals who work alongside the students on productions. Previous guest tutors have included professionals from:
• Punchdrunk
• Hamilton
• The Globe
• The National Theatre
COURSE CONTENT AND DELIVERY
This intensely practical training is delivered over a minimum of 30 hours per week, 36 weeks per year. Teaching covers core skills in all areas of production arts and is delivered by experienced industry professionals.
Students take on practical show roles in Mountview’s in-house productions, with responsibilities including:
• Prompt books and show calling
• Creative research including period-specific work
• Working with theatrical effects
• Co-ordination and project management
• Cueing to music
• Prop making and sourcing
• Stage managing musicals, classics and new writing
A strong emphasis is placed on learning through practice and there is continuous assessment across all the compulsory modules.
Students also undertake work placements with external organisations, allowing them to develop a network of professional contacts and gain valuable experience. Previous placement destinations have included Moulin Rouge! The Musical, The Globe, Wiltons Music Hall, National Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Cabaret and the Barbican.
SHOWCASE
Students are given integral roles on both Mountview productions and professional placements.
These provides excellent opportunities to showcase skills, gain important industry contacts and develop personal networks, all of which are key to your career progression.
Our vocational, hands-on courses prepare graduates for life-long careers in the creative industries.
Mountview Technical Production graduates enter a strong network of successful professionals working in lighting, sound and technical production as well as senior management roles. Their work spans large-scale national, West End and regional theatres as well international touring productions, festivals & events, as well as TV, film and media companies.
The Technical Production Foundation Degree is a full-time two-year course with 30 contact hours per week over 36 weeks in each year. With continuous assessment across all the compulsory modules based on coursework and practical show roles, students work alongside professional lighting designers, sound designers, senior technicians and programmers.
Specialisms in Sound, Lighting and Technical Management are built on a robust foundation of transferable skills. Strong emphasis is placed on learning through practice, with workshops in all areas of production arts.
Students can then take third year BA (Hons) top-up in a specialism. This provides greater experience in their chosen field and the responsibility of senior lighting, sound and technical roles. This top-up year is open to non-Mountview Foundation graduates with relevant qualifications or experience.
Technical Production training covers:
- Hands-on training with contemporary equipment
- Technical stage craft skills including rigging and flying and installation of live productions
- Sound studio skills including recording and editing technology and techniques
- Lighting Studio skills including computerised drafting and visualisation software’s
- Understanding and designing lighting and sound systems
- Prepping, fitting, and monitoring radio mic systems
- Planning, prepping and managing lighting equipment for live productions
- Programming and mixing industry standard sound desks on plays and musicals
- Programming and operating lighting desks, including working with generic and moving lighting equipment
- Technical and maintenance skills such as power distribution, soldering and other skills needed by the modern production professional
A practical, performance-based programme that helps students who have the potential for full time vocational training but not yet the necessary technical standard required for entry. Students participate in daily classes for ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, singing, acting and musical theatre, in order to equip the individual with the wide range of skills they will need.
Students will also be coached for their vocational auditions, covering topics such as suitability of song, dance and monologue, interview techniques, photographs and application forms. A lecture programme will address issues concerning the healthy dancer/performer.
On successful completion of the course, graduates will automatically be given a free audition for Bird College’s vocational courses through either the FE or the HE route. Developmental advice is provided throughout the course, together with guidance on suitability of other vocational colleges.
Our full-time Foundation Acting course offers a student-centered approach to learning with a strong focus on the individual and their formative journey into training and beyond.
Led by Sam Gibbs, a Theatre Maker and Actor Trainer, the course, based in specialist studios at the Lyric Hammersmith, provides rigorous training that prepares students for the next step in their professional career.
Regular sessions with industry professionals ensure that the intensive actor training is blended with invaluable insights into the demands and opportunities in the performing arts sector. Recent visiting tutors have included Mike Bartlett (Earthquakes in London, King Charles III), Noma Dumezweni (Disney’s The Little Mermaid Live, The Undoing, Harry Potter & the Cursed Child), Sean Kempton (Cirque du Soleil), Matthew Xia (Artistic Director of Actors Touring Company) and Morgan Lloyd Malcolm (Emelia, The Wasp).
The variety of the material used in classes and projects initiates discussions on relevant topics in today’s world, that promote students’ personal development and understanding. Tutors cultivate a safe, but challenging, environment to encourage students to experiment, explore and embrace their training journey, its failures, and successes. Students are supported in choosing, and discovering, a path that is right for them at the conclusion of the course.
Our full time foundation course in Musical Theatre develops your skill and confidence in all three of the essential disciplines required for this demanding training. Delivered by tutors from our BA course, this is an excellent foundation for progression into a full-time training course.
Ensuring that you excel in all three disciplines our Full Time Foundation includes intensive one-to-one singing tuition, ensemble dance training in jazz and ballet and bespoke audition preparation. Throughout the course you will be working with our highly experienced ArtsEd tutors, who have a very thorough understanding of what drama schools are looking for in auditions.
This programme is validated by City, University of London and you will receive a City, University of London award on successful completion.
We want to strengthen your music skills in musicianship, music writing and producing music.
This means you’re able to build on your existing music skills while developing a working knowledge of songwriting and music production. You also receive one-to-one tuition in a chosen instrument (or voice). The course shares many modules and activities with our foundation year for BA (Hons) Music (Songwriting & Performance), so you learn alongside a wide group of musicians, which benefits you for ensemble work.
As an emerging dance artist, we want to strengthen your skills so that you can progress onto further study or work professionally.
You undertake intensive training in a variety of dance styles to extend your abilities as a dancer. As part of a small intake of students, you receive specific critique and feedback during classes and rehearsals, allowing you to continually develop and improve. You also develop the stamina and discipline required for higher-level training or professional work. This course helps you become a versatile and confident performer with a strong professional insight.
As an emerging actor we want to strengthen your essential skills, knowledge and audition techniques so you can improve your chances of successfully progressing to further study at one of the highly competitive drama schools/specialist Higher Education providers.
You undertake an intensive, highly practical and pragmatic 24-week course where preparation is key. You develop your individuality and authenticity as an actor, while generating a portfolio of contemporary, classical and musical material. You also put all you have learnt in to practice in a final performance project in one of our main production spaces. This course equips you with storytelling and stylistic skills, self-belief and industry knowledge to help you stand out from the crowd.
