BA (Hons) MUSICAL THEATRE
VALIDATED BY THE UNIVERSITY FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS
ADMISSION TO THE COURSE
Entry criteria:
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Minimum entry criteria of 200-240 UCAS tariff points - Minimum entry criteria of 80 – 96 points.
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OR pass at Foundation course/ Access programme (Level 3) or BTEC
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OR pass at 2 A-Levels or 4 AS Levels
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GCSE English, Grade C or above, or equivalent
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BTEC
Students are required to pass a practical audition.
Minimum English language requirements:
Level 2 English or equivalent. Overseas students are required to pass the IELTS at 6.5 or the TOEFL equivalent.
Please apply directly to Millennium Performing Arts via website, rather than through UCAS.
SUMMARY OF THE COURSE
The Course is a three year full time course designed to give high quality professional level practical training for Musical Theatre performance, delivered at Millennium Performing Arts and validated by University for the Creative Arts. On successful completion of the course the student will receive the University for the Creative Arts Degree Certificate. The key subject elements are dance, singing and acting. These are taught by highly experienced professionals, who also have a gift and the expertise for teaching and developing skills in students, meeting the demands of professional practice at the highest levels. This is the primary aim of the Course. MPA is renowned in the professional world for the level of skill and professionalism of its graduates and their versatility in a wide range of performance work in Musical Theatre, Dance and Drama. The Course centres on an exacting programme of professional work-based practice designed to ensure graduates are fully prepared for their chosen career.
In order to support their professional career students have extensive opportunities to develop knowledge and understanding of the genre and its context. Practical work is enhanced by effective reflective practice and theory thereby underpinning professional development. Not only do MPA students become finely tuned practitioners, but they also gain considerable contextual understanding. This enables them to become critically aware of the components which indicate quality in Musical Theatre performance and how to, in turn, define themselves as artists within that context. MPA produces graduates that have the knowledge and confidence to make a significant contribution to whatever they undertake either as performers or in later life, as teachers, directors or producers.
The training and study at MPA focuses on the full development of each individual student. Their talent and aptitude is nurtured and developed by a very committed and supportive staff team. MPA devotes time and energy to recognise and meet individual needs and aspirations. Comments from students and graduates indicate that they feel they are important to the College and are a significant member of the MPA family.
This is a new course but of course MPA, as a provider of training in this sector, has extensive experience and successful alumni from its Trinity Diploma have recently included:
Curtis Angus is performing in The Lion King - Lyceum Theatre - London
Delicia Belgrave is performing as Lisa in Mama Mia on Royal Caribbean Cruises
Daniel Davidson is dancing with Rambert Dance Company
Cassidy Janson is performing in Beautiful – Aldwych Theatre - London
Jasmin Dunlop-Colangelo is performing in Mama Mia –Novello Theatre - London
Serina Mathew is performing in Bend it Like Beckham – Phoenix Theatre - London
Kimball Wong is dancing with Australian Dance Theatre and was awarded for the Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer in Australia, 2013 and the Robert Helpmann Award for Best Male Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre work, Australia 2016.
This is just a small selection of recent graduate employment and indicates that graduates gain wide variety of professional employment. An average of over 90% of graduates each year find professional work within six months of graduation which is an exceptional outcome for any performing arts college.
LEARNING, TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT
Learning and Teaching Strategy (of the course)
The majority of teaching and learning is studio-based. Technique in dance, singing and acting is taught in regular daily sessions throughout the week in order to sustain the ‘training’ element of the practical work. This is accompanied by sessions in body and voice maintenance. Understanding how to maintain good health during a physically demanding training and career is a key feature of the provision.
Performance studies are taught throughout the three years of study and the work becomes increasingly sophisticated and challenging as the students’ progress. Repertoire from major shows both past and current are staged and performed publicly throughout the three years of study and students become confident and proficient in a wide variety of performance work. Major directors, choreographers and producers from the professional world are involved in staging performance works at MPA and thus students are constantly linked to the profession and its chief protagonists. This is supported by a contextual understanding so that students not only know the ‘what’ of their performance work but also understand the ‘why’. Creativity is promoted though student-led performances where students are entirely responsible for realising their own pieces both for in house and public performances.
Supporting Professional Studies include reflective practice, production techniques, self-management and specific subjects in preparation for professional work such as audition techniques, working with theatrical agencies, administrating income tax and Equity membership. An understanding of arts practice in general with exploration of philosophical views from performers and creators is also included to enhance the depth of expression and interpretation in performance. This teaching is lecture and seminar-based and includes a considerable amount of private study and autonomous learning.
Employment rates in the profession are exceptionally high for MPA graduates (see above: an average of over 90% professionally employed each year). Students leave the College totally equipped with the professional skills and knowledge to manage their own careers and promote themselves effectively.
Assessment Strategy (of the course)
Assessment of practical work is undertaken formatively and summatively. Technique has on-going informal assessment and a formal formative assessment point in November of the first and second year. Summative assessment takes place at the end of years one and two to ensure adequate achievement to proceed to the next level of study. In year three there is a summative assessment only, half way through the year to take into account the intensive performance work, auditions and professional placements which are a feature of the final period of study. The 60 Credits per year allocated to Technical studies reflect its importance and students must gain these credits in order to pass the year of study. The Unit is assessed in genre based tasks which are weighted according to their significance to the achievement of the Unit. In years two and three a 10% weighting is given to elective study in a particular genre and this additional study gives the student the opportunity to build on strength and aptitude in a particular genre to a high degree of expertise.
Performance work is assessed through on going assessment of rehearsal processes and final assessment of both solo and group performances at designated points throughout the study. Again assessment tasks are weighted within the 40 Credits allocated to the Unit. There is also a contextual study component in this Unit.
A professional studies portfolio is assessed at the end of years one and two and evidence of lectures, assessment tasks, reflective journal and autonomous learning activities is included. The Portfolio carries 20 Credits each year. A final project in the 3rd year is designed to give the student the opportunity to research, develop and evaluate a ‘signature’ performance piece demonstrating individual strengths and artistic identity.