37th
UK University
The Guardian University Guide 2023
7th
in the UK for teaching quality
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Top 10
for student satisfaction
Complete University Guide 2023
Join us at our upcoming Open Afternoon!
Wednesday 13 December
Wednesday 13 December
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Overview
Internationally-respected musical theatre training with guaranteed performance opportunities
With an international reputation for excellence, our BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (Triple Threat) course provides you with strong industry links, guaranteed performance opportunities, and the ability to work with professional practitioners as you study dance, acting and singing.
Gain a highly-practical musical theatre training
You will receive training in every aspect of Musical Theatre and focus on developing your technique and skills in acting, singing and dance equally.
You will access vocal masterclasses, one-to-one singing lessons, ensemble, singing and acting through song. Dance will include tap, jazz, contemporary, body con, ballet, and Matt Mattox. Your acting classes will include technique (Meisner and Stanislavski), improvisation and devising, script work, dialect, acting for camera, and Shakespeare.
Guaranteed performance opportunities in fully-staged productions
You will join a cohort of over 400 student performers across the University of Chichester Conservatoire and showcase public performances with professional production teams for regional tour and major art festivals as well as premiering new commissions.
At the end of your first year, you will take part in an ensemble showcase presentation assessment and an informal audition to be placed into one of two companies during your second year. These auditions lead to a public performance in The Alexandra Theatre, Bognor Regis in your second year.
Learn the fundamentals of theatre production
For those interested, the course also offers optional stage management, technical and producing routes in a range of backstage and front of house activities, giving practical experience in stage management, sound, lighting, design, costume, and arts management and producing.
Star in your professional showcase and kickstart your career
In your third year, you will perform one of three shows, performing in professional venues across the South East region, audition at an agent panel day and at the end of the year have the chance to perform in a Graduate Showcase in London.
You will graduate with a professional showreel, headshots and a vocal rep folder, giving you everything you need to start your career within the performance industry.
Mark Ward
Spotlight accredited
Our Spotlight accreditation offers you discounted graduate membership to largest casting resource in the United Kingdom, inclusion in a dedicated ‘graduate’ section of their website, access to their dedicated one-to-one career advice sessions, and much more.
On this course you will:
- Gain a comprehensive and internationally-renowned musical theatre training
- Perform in multiple fully-staged productions as you become part of your own company
- Have the opportunity to learn the key aspects of theatre production and management
- Star in a professional showcase as you develop connections with industry professionals to boost your career.
- Learn from expert and experienced teaching staff
The Course
Develop your acting, singing and dance skills as you experience company life
Year One
In your first year you will develop your acting, singing and dance skills through technical classes and build you foundational knowledge for the rest of your degree.
Year Two
Become part of a company
Alongside your technical development classes, you will be placed in two companies and over the course of the year will engage in a fully-staged performance at The Alexandra Theatre, a professional 350-seater theatre venue in Bognor Regis, and will participate in a series of practical research projects (MT Lab) in the University’s own studio space, The Assembly Theatre.
Explore additional specialisms
In addition, can start to specialise in either Stage Management or Arts Management. You will undertake additional practical tasks as part of the chosen specialism and choose complementary contextual or theoretical modules to support your work. You will receive professional mentoring and hands on experience in your chosen specialism to enhance your training.
Year Three
In your third year you will be placed into one of three companies. You will continue to complete technical classes in acting, singing and dance and undertake a weekly specialist workshop programme run by external practitioners covering a range of areas in preparation for the industry. There are also two Teaching modules available to take as an option open to all students on a selection basis.
If you are studying the stage or arts management course route you will study affiliated contextual modules. You will continue to gain hands on experience under the mentoring of professional practitioners.
Select a year
Acting Development
You will develop fundamental skills in theatre performance, connection to and understanding of self, truthfulness and character. You will achieve this through acting exercises and techniques, for example, Stanislavski, Meisner, improvisation as well as through narrative and script work as an individual and ensemble performer.
Dance Development
This module focuses on the development of ensemble skills, with an additional examination of the different performance styles of jazz, tap, contemporary and ballet.
You will begin with a focus on the correction and development of alignment, posture, core, and upper body strength through the regular engagement with dance tutors and choreographers. You will then move on to prepare for fully staged production.
Training is in a range of styles which will develop versatility in performance to include specific knowledge of dynamics, use of space and the stage space and the relationship with other dancers.
Introduction to Musical Theatre
The module introduces you to key skills in examining repertoire drawn from succeeding periods of musical theatre history, supporting an examination of musical structure with a parallel focus on developments in dance and drama within the genre.
Musical Grammar 1
This module will introduce, reintroduce and familiarise you with a range of aspects of musical structure and its notation. Alongside this, you will present and discuss your work, both individually and in groups – enhancing skills in teamwork and presentation, and building confidence.
Musical Grammar 2
This module builds on the knowledge you have accrued on music grammar and deepens your understanding of key elements of musical structure. You will continue to present and discuss your work, both individually and in groups – enhancing skills in teamwork and presentation, and building confidence.
Professional Resilience
This module will explore a range of different strategies designed to offer support to the emerging arts practitioner and will introduce students to a number of different models of successful self-development.
Singing Development
This vocal development module focuses technical study where you will explore a variety of skills particular to the students’ individual voice. Your skills and technique are strengthened and nurtured to support stylistic and dramatic choices which are expressed in solo and ensemble repertoire.
Stage Management
This module will begin by setting out the basic requirements, skills and techniques applicable to stage management. You will explore the production planning process, the nature and function of the rehearsal environment, and the roles and function of the personnel required for running a range of productions.
Contemporary Musical Theatre
This module builds upon the first year modules British and American Musical Theatre by relating an historical overview of the development of the genre to an examination of current trends and practices in musical theatre both here and in the USA.
Events Management
This module explores the legal and logistical aspects of planning a range of different musical events and will experiment with presenting ideas to tutors and peers.
You will explore the relationships between stakeholders in event production, including artists, venues, audiences and funders, a range of models of event and festival production, and the diversity of approaches taken by different organisations and promoters.
As part of this, you will explore the input of artists and artist’s agents within event production and effective forms of operational and human resources management in the realization of festivals and events.
You will gain an understanding of the varying technical requirements related to promoting different types of musical events in distinct venues and locations, and a familiarity with licensing laws and health and safety considerations when related to festival and event production.
Production 1: Ensemble Practices
This module provides you with extensive performance and production experience, as you explore the devising process rooted in character narrative, specifically in relation to dance theatre.
You will be given insight into the way that characters can define (and hinder) a clear making process and, in the process, will consider structural processes, such as narrative as a key determinate to the progression of the piece.
Musical Theatre Industry
In this module, you will develop your knowledge of a variety of professional roles both in the commercial musical theatre industry and in publicly funded performance contexts.
Musical Theatre Technical Skills
This module develops the key technical skills in acting, singing and dance required to become a successful a musical theatre professional.
Production and Stage Management
This module will explore the skills and techniques required in production and stage management.
The production planning process, logistics and transport and organisational planning will be considered alongside issues of Health and Safety.
You will develop a role in which you are in a position to inform other team members on the specific safety requirements for a practical project.
Props and Costume
This module will begin by setting out the basic requirements, skills and techniques applicable to props and costume. Information will be detailed on the production planning process, and the nature and function of the rehearsal environment.
Budgeting and Financial Planning
This module will focus on the realistic and accurate budget management of an identified performance project. You will explore a range of strategies designed to ensure successful delivery of the project and within identified budget constraints.
Musical Theatre Commission
This module allows you to undertake more ambitious personal development in performance as you work as a member of a performing company. You will discuss repertoire building and the nature of the performance context, leading to a clearer view of the achievement outcomes that are possible for each individual beyond undergraduate study. the module works towards a stage production.
Managing Teams and Processes
This module looks at specific areas of leadership and management. You will develop competency in project planning and in developing leadership, co-ordination and management skills.Â
Musical Theatre Ensemble
This module allows you to undertake more ambitious personal development in performance as you work towards an ensemble musical theatre piece.
Musical Theatre Festival
This module allows you to undertake more ambitious personal development in performance across two venues and under different performance conditions, as you work towards a staged performance for the festival circuit.
Musical Theatre in the Community
You will explore contemporary and recent examples of musical theatre, with a particular focus on transferring that knowledge into a practical community-based project, culminating in you working both on and off campus with children from local schools.
Musical Theatre Tour
This module allows you to undertake more ambitious personal development in performance as you work in different venues and under different performance conditions.
You will strengthen your vocal and dance techniques and explore performance skills in narrative and script work, as you work towards a staged production in semester 2 to perform at off-campus venues across the region.
One to One Teaching
This module introduces a range of techniques in structuring lessons, communicating expressive and performance based concepts and problem solving designed to create an exciting and stimulating learning experience for individual singers, dancers and actors embarking on the early stages of study.
You will set your own goals in teaching and develop skills in analysing and measuring the outcomes of lessons, using this information to inform planning for effective teaching practices.
Personal Study
You will have an opportunity to select an area of study of your choice over an extended period, to research and present their findings in written form.
Ophelia
Teaching and Assessment
Feel the support of our expert and experienced staff
Our expert and experienced musical theatre practitioners get to know you as individual so you can feel more confident to develop your technical skills and explore your creative ideas in a supportive environment.
Typical study weeks include:
- Performance technique classes
- Supplemental training classes
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Studio-based workshops
- Application of practice classes
Outside of scheduled classes you will complete independent study including developing repertoire, researching texts, individual solo practise, completing individual or group tasks and working on your assignments.
Jordan
Experience
Discover industry-standard spaces and equipment to support you learning
Alexandria Theatre
Our 350-seat performance venue gives you experience of working in a working theatre space.
Expert staff
Learn from industry experts with extensive experience of the performance and entertainment sectors..
Career guidance and support
Gain vital career materials, support and guidance through our industry partnerships, connections, and Spotlight accreditation.
Close community
Our commitment to a friendly and close-knit student community allows you to collaborate with students from other courses.
Learning Resource Centre
The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) contains the library, a café, IT/teaching rooms, and the Support and Information Zone (SIZ).
Library
Our campus library holds more than 200,000 books and over 500,000 eBooks.
Kody
Ellie
Careers
Prepare for a rewarding career within the performance industry
High-contact hours with industry experts, focus on performance skills and experience, and strong professional links with the sector help prepare you for your future career, as you develop a broad range of skills to enhance your CV and your employability.
Many past graduates are now working in some of the principal producing houses. Join our alumni group on Facebook to see what do after finishing their studies.
As performers, alumni have gone into:
- West End productions
- Major touring productions throughout Europe
- Major cruise ships including Disney
- UK and International small-scale touring theatre
- ​Film and TV in both the UK and US
- Edinburgh Festival
- Cabaret
- Stage managers, arts managers and producers picking up contracts in the UK and around the world.
Further Study
You could choose to continue your studies at postgraduate level.
Study options at the University of Chichester include:
- MA Music Performance
- MA Music Teaching
- PGCE
- PhD/MPhil
University of Chichester alumni who have completed a full undergraduate degree at the University will receive a 15% discount on their postgraduate fees.
Course Costs
Course Fees 2024/25
UK fee
International fee
For further details about fees, please see our Tuition Fee page.
For further details about international scholarships, please see our Scholarships page.
To find out about any additional costs on this course, please see our Additional Costs page.
Tia Kenrick
Mark Ward
Entry Requirements
Typical offers (individual offers may vary):
UCAS
A Levels
BTEC
IB
IELTS
Auditions
You will need to demonstrate your ability in dance, acting and singing in a performance audition. Applicants with high levels of performance skills may be considered for a lower academic offer.
Interviews and Auditions
Auditions and interviews usually run from January until March/April.
We aim to offer you a genuine dialogue during your application process. This gives you a sense of worth and achievement from the audition process itself; a sense of ownership for you during the process and, ultimately, is an opportunity for us to get a clear understanding of who you are, what you need, and how we can best prepare you for your degree.
We judge you on your skills, your potential, and your personality, not your background.
If you are invited to audition you will receive an email asking you to book your audition date on ChiView. If you are unsuccessful we will email you to let you know.
You can usually choose between multiple days on ChiView at one time. If none of the current dates suit you please contact admissions@chi.ac.uk.
Once you have booked your audition, you will be able to access the audition guidance document on ChiView – just log into the ChiView portal, click on ‘Events schedule’ and then ‘View details’ to access the document, which will tell you how to prepare for your audition, what to expect on the day, etc.
If your situation changes and you can no longer attend your audition date, you should cancel your booking in ChiView by visiting your ‘Event Schedule’ and clicking ‘Cancel Attendance’. You also need to inform the admissions team by emailing admissions@chi.ac.uk, so we can send you a new audition invitation.
Sometimes if you are viewing your ChiView portal on a phone you will not be able to see the page correctly. If this happens you should try again on another device.
You may need to clear your browser history.
If you are still unable to see the ‘View details’ button, please check that you have successfully booked your audition by clicking ‘respond to interview invitation’.
If all else fails please email admissions@chi.ac.uk with your query and applicant number.
Once you have booked your audition, please log into the ChiView portal, click on ‘Events schedule’ and then ‘View details’ to access the audition guidance document, which will tell you (amongst other things) what will happen at the audition itself, a basic itinerary of the whole day, parking information, etc.
In brief, there should be an introductory talk by the department, the chance to meet lecturers and other applicants, as well as your opportunity to perform for the audition panel.
After your audition, the panel will discuss your performance and pass our decision onto the admissions team, who will update UCAS and email you with the outcome, whatever it might be.
- We make bespoke offers: Your offer is specifically for you. If we offer less than your predicted grades, this will reflect the potential and quality of your audition and we’d like to take a bit of pressure off of you heading into your exams.
- We don’t do unconditional offers: Unless you already have your grades (you are a mature student), we will always insist on certain grade achievements because we want you to succeed in all aspects of your academic life including your A levels, BTEC, etc.
- If you do not get the grades you wanted: Don’t panic. You received an offer because you were good enough for the department at audition. On Results Day, just ring us on the clearing hotline, so we can discuss things with you.
- We may offer you a different course: We may offer you a place on an alternative, relevant course within the department, rather than offer you the course you applied for. If this is the case, we will state this in your offer letter/email and update your course on UCAS. We will explain our reasoning, which will revolve around placing you on the most appropriate course where we think you will thrive.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Click the ‘Apply now’ button to go to relevant UCAS page.
Many qualifications have a UCAS Tariff value. The score depends on the qualification, and the grade you achieved.
Head to the UCAS Tariff Points web page where you can find a tariff points calculator that can tell you how much your qualification and grades are worth.
