Musical Theatre
 Musical Theatre (Major).jpg)
UCAS Code: Combined Honours only – see combinations tab|Duration: 3|Full Time|Creative Campus
UCAS Campus Code: L46
Work placement opportunities|International students can apply
About the course
Liverpool is a vibrant city, tapping into the momentum and energy of a diverse creative scene that stems from a long history as an international port city. Musical Theatre continues to play an integral role in its ever-changing theatrical landscape.
This degree allows the study of Musical Theatre from performative, as well as directorial/production points of view. With us, you will study the creative and conceptual interactions that exist between words, music and movement, that underpin the threefold performative relationships between music, dance and acting that communicate and express the art form of Musical Theatre.
You will explore core repertoire themes and historical context, and small-group practical seminars will allow you to develop dance and acting techniques. These will be underpinned by student-led tutorials and one-to-one singing lessons.
The course is led by a team of Musical Theatre specialists, who have first-hand production and performance experience - both in the West End and regional theatres - ensuring our students receive up-to-the-minute insights and guidance.
Course structure
The course will be delivered by way of lectures which will present core repertoire themes and historical context. These will be supported by small-group practical seminars to develop dance and acting technique. These will be underpinned by student-led tutorials and one-to-one singing lessons.
Assessment and feedback
Assessment will be by way of creative projects, performances and contextual essays. These will grow in complexity as the course progresses.
Curriculum overview
This programme of study will expose students to the:
- Complex relationship between words and music and how this has evolved over the last century; dictating the emergence of the many sub-genres of Musical Theatre
- Threefold balanced relationship between music, dance and acting, where each inform the other in terms of the communication and expression of the artistic vision of a work of Musical Theatre
- Analysis and composition of Musical Theatre works, which will eventually lead to the composition of original works by students
- Techniques of Directing and Producing a Musical Theatre work
- The historical evolution of Musical Theatre and its sub-genres
- The business management, marketing and administration of Musical Theatre.
These areas of study will increase in complexity and challenge as the programme advances.
Year One
Introduction to Musical Theatre
In your first year, you will develop the skills that will form the core of your degree, in short these are creative/practical (singing, acting, dancing and to some extent directing); academic research and critical thinking.
You will study singing in one-to-one lessons with your vocal teacher as well as in small group settings. Dance and acting techniques are also taught in small group seminars and workshops to cover a broad range of styles and techniques.
You will be introduced to the technology (i.e. sound, lighting and projection) that lie behind every professional Musical Theatre production. You will also study the business of Musical Theatre production.
The historical development of the Musical Theatre genre will be introduced to develop your understanding of its development and importance within given cultural contexts.
Year Two
Explorations in Musical Theatre
In your second year of study, your critical explorations of the genre of Musical Theatre deepens. You will become more profoundly acquainted with key practitioners (i.e. performers, composers, writers and directors) as well the key social and contextual matters that key works have focussed upon in the development of different styles.
You will be encouraged to embody this knowledge to more fully develop your performance potential across singing, dance, acting.
You will study, both critically and physically in much more depth the interrelationships that exist in musical theatre between words, music and movement. You will also be encouraged to work towards the creation of your own musical theatre extracts as you develop your practical expertise across performance, composition, choreography and directing.
Your expertise with respect to the technology of musical theatre will be further refined to develop your own production values. Your knowledge of the business behind Musical Theatre production will be further enhanced.
Year Three
Advanced Musical Theatre
In your third year of study, you will advance your knowledge and performance abilities significantly within Musical Theatre. You will be able to focus upon the development to advanced levels of the particular creative and performance approaches that are of special interest to you – whether singing, dancing, acting, composing, writing or directing – towards the realisation of your own original extended work(s) in the genre.
You will also focus upon certain academic and critical aspects of the Musical Theatre genre that attract your focus, through the realisation of extended projects or a dissertation.
You will be strongly encouraged to engage with the advancement of your knowledge of the business behind Musical Theatre production through potential professional placements.
You will study through seminars and workshops to advance your skills with respect to the technology of Musical Theatre performance and production to aid the realisation of your particular creative and performance vision – as a creator, performer or producer.
By the end of your programme of study with us in Musical Theatre we want you to have advanced studies in the creative, performance and academic aspects of the subject area along with those pertaining to the business and technology of its professional realisation and production.
Entry requirements
2024 Entry
Clearing is now open, over this period we can offer some flexibility on our entry requirements for courses that still have vacancies.
We are also offering a Foundation Year on many of our courses for students who have the ability and enthusiasm to study for a degree, but do not yet have the qualification level to enter directly into our degree programmes.
Whether you already have your results or are waiting for them please call us to discuss the options available to you: 0151 291 3636
Careers
Musical Theatre is a fast-growing area of employment regionally and nationally – whether as a stage or pit performer, MD, Composer or Arranger. The performance, composition and business management of Musical Theatre involves many transferable skills that will strongly encourage the development of a portfolio creative career.
Enhancement opportunities
Work Placement Opportunities
Work placement opportunities will be sought from the many Liverpool-based cultural organisations that Liverpool Hope University already has good working relationships with: Everyman & Playhouse, Tate Liverpool, Liverpool Sound City, etc.
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2024/25 academic year are £9,250 for full-time undergraduate courses.
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,250.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2024/25 are £13,000.
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course combinations
This course is only available as a Combined Honours degree with the following subjects:
| Degree Title |
|---|
| Musical Theatre and Acting |
| Musical Theatre and Contemporary Craft |
| Musical Theatre and Dance |
| Musical Theatre and Drama |
| Musical Theatre and Stage Design & Scenography |