Musical Theatre Performance

Musical theatre is the most collaborative of performing arts disciplines, demanding that performers combine vocal technique, physical storytelling, and acting skill into a single coherent performance. It has a history stretching from the operettas of the nineteenth century through to the Broadway and West End traditions of the twentieth century and the diverse contemporary scene that now encompasses everything from intimate fringe productions to large-scale commercial spectaculars. Studying it at degree level means developing all three performance disciplines simultaneously while also learning to understand the genre's traditions and how productions are put together.

At the University of Chichester, this three-year full-time BA (Hons) combines rigorous practical training across all three key disciplines of musical theatre with a heavy focus on performance work. You will spend a significant proportion of your time in studios and rehearsal rooms, training your voice, developing your movement and dance technique, and refining your acting skills in the specific context of the musical form. Alongside practical work, you will engage with the critical and historical frameworks that allow you to understand the genre and make informed creative choices.

The typical tariff for entry is 136 UCAS points. You will build a body of performance experience throughout the programme, graduating with the skills and the professional outlook needed to work in the industry.

Musical theatre graduates pursue careers as performers in professional theatre, touring productions, cruise ships, and themed entertainment. Many also move into related areas such as choreography, direction, stage management, arts education, and community arts. The vocal and performance skills developed through this degree also transfer to roles in teaching, casting, and arts administration.

Those who wish to continue developing their practice can pursue postgraduate training at specialist drama schools or academic research in theatre studies and performance practice.