Identify your backstage specialism with this programme. You’ll gain an understanding of backstage theatre and will work on live productions delivering shows that excite and delight audiences. In your second year you’ll choose from the following pathways:
- Video
- Lighting
- Sound
- Stage Management
- Hair and Makeup
- Costume
- Set and props
This diploma is devised for talented students of 16 years and over who want to be successful in Musical Theatre and is a level six qualification validated by Trinity College, London.
The aim of the course is to develop our students into triple threats that can make it in the West End. We instil the versatile and dedicated work ethic into our students so they are able to achieve in the extremely demanding musical theatre industry.
We make sure students get the attention they deserve by making sure none of our class sizes exceed 16 students. This works in tandem with our intensive, exciting and extensive teaching of singing, acting and dancing.
Students will have weekly performance workshops, audition preparation and career development sessions. Every week students will take part in individual singing lessons that will develop their technique and repertoire. Keeping fit is an important aspect of performing at the highest level we ensure you have an excellent level of health and fitness through diagnostics, body conditioning, Pilates and nutrition sessions.
Expert teaching staff, guest lecturers and visiting directors ensure you continuously strive to meet your personal challenges. To help you maintain your high standards, individual progress is closely monitored. Regular tutorials and assessments ensure you receive continual feedback and support.
As a Stage Management and Technical Theatre student, you will learn hands-on skills and techniques that will prepare you for a career in theatre production; whether you are aspiring to become a multi-skilled theatre maker, or build specialist abilities such as rigging, prop sourcing, technical drawing or show-calling. Building on core knowledge of stage management, stage technologies, lighting, and sound, the flexible course structure then enables you to tailor your learning experiences to suit your ambitions.
- Intensive training in stage management and theatre technology
- Career preparation for backstage work in theatre, with extensive transferable skills for the live events industry
- Collaborate with teams of designers, makers, performers, technicians, engineers and artists
- Discover the theories, processes and practices that underpin contemporary performance and production arts
READ College’s full-time, vocational Sixth Form Course in Musical is unique in its approach, and graduate destinations have included Arts Ed, Mountview, Urdang, Bird, Laine, Central, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and many more. As a registered charity, we support students from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds with bursary funding towards tuition fees through our Access to The Arts ™ programme.
Students benefit from at least 27 hours of contact time per week, and study the full range of skills required in Musical Theatre under the guidance of leading industry tutors. Dance styles taught include ballet, jazz, commercial, tap and contemporary. Acting classes include improv, classical theatre, audition repertoire and physical theatre, and our singing training is made up of weekly one-to-one classes, ensemble singing, music theory and vocal tech. Students in their second year also benefit from regular masterclasses with guest tutors from all of the major degree-level courses, to prepare them for auditions.
A full 100% of our Musical Theatre Sixth Form graduates have been offered places at leading degree-level courses since the college opened, and our alumni can now be found working throughout the industry. Courses run from September to July, and applications are now open for our 2021 intake. Open days take place throughout the year, and we also run regular taster courses in the school holidays.
To find out more, please visit the link below or contact admissions on 0118 9666275.
READ College’s full-time, vocational Foundation Course in Musical Theatre is now entering its 13th year, and graduate destinations have included Arts Ed, Mountview, Urdang, Bird, Laine, Central, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and many more. As a registered charity, we support students from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds with bursary funding towards tuition fees through our Access to The Arts ™ programme.
Students benefit from at least 27 hours of contact time per week, and study the full range of skills required in Musical Theatre under the guidance of leading industry tutors. Dance styles taught include ballet, jazz, commercial, tap and contemporary. Acting classes include improv, classical theatre, audition repertoire and physical theatre, and our singing training is made up of weekly one-to-one classes, ensemble singing, music theory and vocal tech. Students also benefit from regular masterclasses with guest tutors from all of the major degree-level courses, to prepare them for auditions.
Our Foundation students graduate with the Level 4 ATCL Diploma in Performing, awarded by Trinity College London.
Over 98% of our Musical Theatre graduates have been offered places at leading degree-level courses since the college opened, and our alumni can now be found working throughout the industry. Courses run from September to July, and applications are now open for our 2021 intake. Open days take place throughout the year, and we also run regular taster courses in the school holidays.
To find out more, please visit the link below or contact admissions on 0118 9666275.
With pathways in Stage Management, Production Management, Lighting Design and Sound Design, this course offers practical and vocational training in our professionally equipped theatre and studio space.
Key features
- The Northbrook Theatre – our on-campus professional theatre
- Studio 21 – double truss studio space for rehearsals and performances
- ETC ION Lighting Desk and extensive selection of intelligent and generic fixtures
- Digico SD Series consoles
- Counterweight, hemp, motors and truss for flying and rigging
- Prompt desk, radio comms and cue lights
- Ten on-campus rehearsal studios
- AV mixer, projectors and video mapping software
An exciting course combining strong technical training, creative opportunities and industry experience. The course programme involves the study and practice of both traditional and innovative areas of musical performance. It includes in-depth vocal training, a wide range of acting techniques and technical dance training in jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, pas de deux and commercial.
Key features
- Taught by professional performers, directors and choreographers
- 11 rehearsal studios, five with sprung dance floors and mirrors
- Professional-standard theatre with industry-level equipment, recently over-hauled with new lighting and sound systems
- Collaboration with make-up, costume and technical theatre students
- Alumni have been working in West End and UK touring shows, TV and film, and for many of the leading cruise ship entertainment companies
Recent alumni include Helen Woolf, who has been starring as Glinda on the Wicked UK tour having previously played the role in London’s West End; Alfie Parker, who has been performing in Kinky Boots having previously performed in School of Rock in London’s West End covering the lead role; and Blake Patrick Anderson who was in Starlight Express.
The Musical Theatre Company course combines rigorous conservatoire training with continued, collaborative, student-led development of new work, preparing students not only to gain employment in the musical theatre industry, but as artists creating their own work.
With weekly classes in a range of dance styles, voice, acting, and singing (including audition technique), students will form a company and use these skills to engage in continued and collaborative development of new work (alongside students from the other MAs), guided by leading directors and practitioners working in the industry today.
Working towards public performances at the end of the year, students will leave prepared for auditions, the rehearsal process and the life of a working actor, having developed the knowledge, skills and contacts necessary to succeed in this highly-demanding industry.
Our MA in Musical Direction is designed to fully-prepare highly-skilled musicians to embark upon a career as a musical director. With tailored one-to-one classes, students will hone their musicianship and be exposed to a wide-range of working practices, working alongside key practitioners, companies and industry professionals from across the region.
This MA encourages students to interrogate the role of the musical director and redefine it for themselves, through the continued collaborative, student-led development of new work across the year.
With collaboration and individual artistry at the heart of all of our Theatre MAs, students will leave this course not only fully equipped to adapt to the changing face of theatre, but also with the skill set and tenacity required to drive that change.
Set, lighting, sound, props, costume. These are a few of the considerations required to put together a production. The Production Arts Extended Diploma course programme focuses on developing the broad range of skills necessary for progression to work or further study at degree level in technical theatre. The qualification has been designed to meet the needs of the creative and cultural industries.
This course looks at each of these and more develop skills that are transferable from an arena sized concert or a theatrical production all the way to small scale touring theatre. Employment has grown alongside technology in this area and so there are job and higher education opportunities for students who complete this course of study.
The emphasis is on practical skills underpinned by theoretical understanding and industry standard health and safety practices. Much of the work will be in support of the wide range of performances in theatre, dance and music that take place each year as well as having opportunity to speak to industry professionals, take part in production workshops and visit local and regional theatres. Each project you complete is designed to be realistic to what you would expect in industry.
In addition to your main programme, you will also engage in activities to develop your English, maths and employability skills.
