MASTERS IN Musical Theatre

Master in Creative Performance Practice (Musical Theatre)

A new and exciting programme that synergises traditional musical theatre training with entrepreneurship, artistic research and innovation

Master Name

Master of Arts in Creative Performance Practice (Musical Theatre)

Duration

1 academic year

Validated by

Liverpool John Moores University, UK

Start Date

18 September 2023

Language

English

Programme Leader

Armando Rotondi

Request information about our programme

Structure of the master

Our Master in Musical Theatre is part of one of the three specialised pathways that forms part of the Master in Creative Performance Practice. The others include Acting and Choreography. The masters is made up of 120 core credits which are the shared modules. The specialism musical theatre credits are an additional 60 credits and are made up of Creative Lab and Specialists Skills modules.

Skill based and exploratory workshops and lectures centre around devising and creation of solo and group performance projects that reflect the studies of Anthropology and Ethnography; Structuralism and Semiotics; Modernism and Postmodernism; Cultural Studies; Literary Studies; Psychoanalysis; Feminism and Queer Theory; and Post-colonial studies.

This creative and expressive element of study is supported by a series of technical classes that focus on the integration of creativity, spontaneity and interpretation to deliver an embodied, physical performance.

This programme will not only challenge and enhance the individual but develop culturally engaged and refined approaches to practical performance.

Shared Modules

Creative performance practice

Research skills

Performance theory

Arts entrepreneurship

Final project

Musical Theatre

Musical theatre Modules

Specialist Skills

This module seeks to develop and refine techniques in Dance, Voice and Acting that underpin all aspects of musical theatre performance. Central to the module is a series of taught technique/in context classes delivered in a Masterclass style with each focused on a particular aspect to enhance the quality of performance within that discipline for example:

Voice – will focus on the integration of spoken and singing techniques, accent diversity, diction, voice maintenance with individual technical corrections.
Acting – will focus on engaging with the dynamics and relationships within an ensemble and advanced integration of text, voice, and physicality.
Dance – will focus on application of stylistic detail and the ability to analyse, interpret, and pick up choreographic ideas from multiple practitioners.
All sessions will have a focus on the integration of creativity, spontaneity, technique, and interpretation to deliver an embodied, physical performance.

The telling of a personal narrative or simple story will be used as material to deconstruct meaning/intention and explore the opportunities to translate different moments in time from spoken description into lyrics, a cast of characters, a dance interlude and to then reconstruct the material as a piece of fully formed musical theatre. The creative decisions will be aligned and referenced to theoretical frameworks/practitioners.
Creative collaborative practice and critical analysis of how research is used in the development of new work and professional standards of performance will form a backdrop to all the learning activities.

Creative Lab

Students will work as part of a company to perform a piece of music theatre comprising solo and ensemble performance. The focus of this module is the synthesis of acting, movement, and vocal work in a staged, live performance environment. Initial research workshops will critically analyse and explore the context of the work and provide students with an informed and detailed perspective. Students will then take part in an intensive rehearsal block followed by a tech/performance week.

Whilst existing models or excerpts of music theatre may be used, the module could engage in new or devised works dependent upon the skills and dynamics of the student cohort.

How To Apply

AUDITION PROCESS

The first step would be to submit an application.

Note: You don’t need your videos until after you have submitted your application form.

Play Video about master performing arts

Video Submission

Part 1: Depends on specialisation:

Acting: One monologue + optional monologue in your own language
Musical Theatre: One monologue + one song + 60-second jazz dance piece
Choreography: Video of your technical and creative skills as a dancer and choreographer

Part 2: Creative response to stimuli:

A creative response about 2 minutes to one of the stimuli listed in the audition guide.

One-to-One Interview

Online interview and discussion with yourself and members of the MA teaching team.

Your Interview

After you have submitted your application and video audition, we will arrange your online interview at a mutually convenient time.

Entry criteria

Successful audition, IELTS 6.5 or equivalent and, a BA (Hons) at 2.2 or above or an equivalent academic award, or, a long-term sustained professional career as a performer or creative practitioner.

Find out more about our entry requirements.

Fees and Funding

European & UK Students

€10,900 tuition fee

With an additional €500 registration fee and €80 health clinic membership.

International Students

€15,400 tuition fee