MA Musical Theatre (Performance)

MA Musical Theatre (Performance)

This intensive, practical Masters is designed to train advanced performers for a professional career in Musical Theatre. The emphasis of the course is on training imaginative actors who sing beautifully and dance creatively - we believe that live performance requires a blend of skills rooted in solid acting technique. If you're interested, you should have a degree in the arts (or equivalent performing experience), and you will be capable of meeting the intellectual challenge of combining passion with artistry. You should have something to say about the potential of musical theatre form as an expressive medium, and see yourself as a highly individual and unique interpretative artist.

The course is an intensive blend of creative opportunities. Classes will focus on acting, singing, and dance in an environment that seeks always to combine technique with imagination. The majority of time will be spent in intensive workshops, and students will have the flexibility to focus in on areas of particular need or interest. This year, performance opportunities included - Big Band concerts in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Cabaret performances at the Arches Theatre, a full run of four new musicals at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and an Industry Showcase in Glasgow and at the Criterion Theatre in London. In addition, projects will be prepared for internal showings. Students have individual voice tutorials with some of the finest voice tutors in the UK.

Along with tutorials and project work, units will include:

• Naturalistic Acting
• Contemporary Scene study
• Style & Contextual Studies
• Ensemble singing repoertoire
• Jazz, Contemporary and Ballet dance
• Portfolio Preparation
• The Entrepreneurial Artist
• Individual Elective study.

In a rapidly changing industry, we recognise the importance of staying closely linked to industry. Our course advisor is Gillyanne Kayes (author of Singing and The Actor and Successful Singing Auditions) and students have enjoyed sessions with Stephen Crockett (David Grindrod Casting Associates); Trevor Jackson (Associate Producer, Cameron MacKintosh); Martin Lowe (Musical Supervisor - Mamma Mia); Jeremy Raison & Guy Hollands (Artistic Directors, Citizen's Theatre, Glasgow); Matt Ryan (Freelance Director); Robert Scott (Musical Supervisor - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang); Peter Woolard (MD - Cats) And of course, our President, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, takes a keen interest in our progress.

Past graduates are currenlty appearingin the West End, Broadway, Regional Theatres and for the National Theatres of Scotland, Iceland and for Scottish Opera.

We believe that the success of the course depends on small group sizes, which can ensure that every student is given adequate time and attention in order to make the maximum gains within a 12-month time limit.