Drama: Musical Theatre
Musical theatre is a performing arts form that brings together singing, acting, and dance in the service of dramatic storytelling. From its origins in the operettas and early musicals of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to the sophisticated productions of the contemporary Broadway and West End stages, musical theatre has developed into one of the most popular and commercially significant forms of live performance in the world. Studying it at degree level means not simply training as a performer but developing the analytical, historical, and creative understanding to engage with the form as an artist.
Goldsmiths has a distinctive approach to performing arts education that emphasises critical thinking and creative exploration alongside performance training, and this three-year full-time programme in drama with a focus on musical theatre reflects that approach. You will develop your performance skills in singing, acting, and physical performance through studio practice, and you will build the theoretical and historical frameworks to understand musical theatre's development, its relationship to social and cultural context, and the creative and collaborative processes through which new work is made. Goldsmiths' location in London, one of the world's great centres of musical theatre production, provides an exceptional professional environment in which to study.
Graduates pursue careers in performance, music direction, choreography, stage management, arts administration, casting, and producing within the musical theatre industry. London's West End and the regional touring circuit offer a large number of professional opportunities, as do television, film, theme parks, and cruise ship entertainment. Some graduates move into education, teaching performing arts in schools, colleges, or private training providers.
Others combine performance with community arts work, youth theatre leadership, or arts project management. For those who wish to develop their craft further, postgraduate study in performance, directing, or arts management is an option.