Overview
"SUBJECT TO VALIDATION"
At The Arden, we believe that training in Musical Theatre should be as individual as the performer. While many drama schools shape students to fit a traditional mould, our BA (Hons) Musical Theatre course focuses on discovering, nurturing and realising you — the performer you want to become.
We provide rigorous, professional training across acting, singing and dance, ensuring every student graduates with the confidence, skill and industry awareness required to thrive. But what sets us apart is our commitment to listening, responding, and developing each student’s unique voice. Success in this industry depends on individuality, creativity and attention to detail — values embedded at the core of our training.
Level 4: PREPARE
You’ll begin by developing the fundamental technical and interpretative skills in all three disciplines. We encourage curiosity and self-awareness, asking you to explore the why behind every creative decision. This year is about building confidence, consistency and the foundations of professional craft.
Level 5: PURSUE
You’ll apply and expand your skills across a range of performance styles, learning to adapt to the demands of diverse material. Through exploration, experimentation and reflection, you’ll deepen your understanding of your strengths and areas for growth, becoming a flexible and expressive performer ready for industry challenges.
Level 6: PIONEER
Your final year bridges training and the profession. You’ll work on full-scale productions, take part in Manchester and London showcases, create professional portfolio material, and engage in professional development workshops. By graduation, you’ll be prepared, professional and proud — ready to step confidently into your career as both artist and entrepreneur.
The Arden’s Musical Theatre course is challenging, rewarding and rooted in curiosity, individuality and excellence — empowering you to craft the performer you want to be.
- City Campus Manchester
- Full Time
- 3 years
- September 2026
Staff profile
Our Musical Theatre teaching team brings extensive professional experience across stage, screen, composition, choreography and education, offering students training grounded in current industry practice and artistic excellence.
Programme Leader Graham Lappin is a Manchester-based writer, actor and educator whose work spans musical theatre performance, composition and pedagogy. His writing credits include Climb Way Up and the forthcoming Proud and The Rise. His broad performance experience and industry insight shape a course that champions individuality, creativity and readiness for professional work.
Acting Lecturers and Directors Michael Peavoy and Marie Mair combine active professional practice with inclusive, student-centred teaching. Michael, a RADA-trained and award-winning actor, has worked at the National Theatre, in the West End and across major regional venues, as well as producing and directing new British musicals. Marie brings experience from BBC dramas (Waterloo Road, Casualty) and UK theatre, alongside academic expertise in performance pedagogy, inclusive assessment and EDI practice.
Dance Lecturers Leonie Alcock, Jason Harrison and Natalie Maloney offer a wide range of technical and stylistic knowledge, from ballet and jazz to tap and contemporary musical theatre. Their professional backgrounds include international touring, choreography for theatre and television, and teaching at leading UK dance institutions.
Musical Director Robert Purvis contributes a distinguished career in West End and international musical direction, with credits such as Phantom of the Opera, Kiss Me, Kate and Chicago. His work spans classical composition, performance and musical theatre craft.
Students also benefit from regular masterclasses and workshops from visiting directors, choreographers, casting agents and performers, ensuring training that is current, connected and professionally focused.
Academic Entry Requirements
• 96 UCAS tariff points
• Full level 3 qualification in a relevant subject
• If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent.
• We strongly recommend that all applicants have GCSE English Language and Mathematics grades A*-C or level 9-4.
• Mature applicants (aged 21 or over) who are able to demonstrate relevant skills or knowledge gained in employment or vocational activity will be considered and may be invited to interview.
• Applicants from outside the specific subject area may be asked to submit a portfolio or attend an interview demonstrating their suitability for the programme.
Non-Academic Entry Requirements
All applicants must undertake a successful audition, comprising of a singing, dance, and acting task as well as an interview.
What will I be studying
Year 1: Acting Techniques (20 credits)
Gain a practical foundation in core acting methods that develop physical presence, vocal clarity, emotional truth, and imaginative engagement. Through scenes, duologues, and workshops, you’ll explore character, text, and ensemble work while integrating movement and voice. Reflection and safe vocal practice underpin your creative development.
Year 1: Acting Through Song (20 credits)
Explore how acting and singing combine to tell compelling musical stories. Working with tutors and a scene partner, you’ll rehearse and perform duet material with focus on character, intention, and emotional truth. Workshops mirror professional processes, emphasising vocal safety, connection, collaboration, and reflective discussion of artistic choices.
Year 1: Contextualising Musical Theatre (20 credits)
Discover the historical, cultural, and stylistic foundations of musical theatre, linking theory with practical performance. You’ll explore the genre’s evolution, analyse conventions, and reflect on how context shapes artistic identity. Workshops and seminars deepen understanding of style, storytelling, and the creative influences informing your development.
Year 1: Dance Techniques (20 credits)
Build essential dance skills in ballet, jazz, and tap through intensive technique classes. You’ll develop strength, alignment, coordination, and musicality while learning to express character through movement. Professional discipline, responsiveness to feedback, and consistent rehearsal practice help refine your technique and performance quality.
Year 1: Ensemble Project (20 credits)
Integrate acting, singing, and dance within a collaborative ensemble setting. Through tutor-led rehearsals, you’ll combine choreography, storytelling, and musicality with professional focus and rehearsal etiquette. Working as part of a company, you’ll develop precision, confidence, teamwork, and the ability to contribute to a shared creative vision.
Year 1: Song and Voice (20 credits)
Develop healthy vocal technique through workshops, rehearsals, and solo work, focusing on breath, resonance, projection, and expressive tone. You’ll learn to connect text and song while building stylistic awareness and performance confidence. Reflective practice supports your growth, helping you understand your artistic identity and set achievable developmental goals.
Year 2: Cabaret Performance (20 credits)
Develop an individual artistic voice through an intimate cabaret-style performance. Selecting your own repertoire and shaping thematic material, you’ll explore authentic communication, vocal versatility, and audience connection. Guided feedback and reflection support sophisticated, expressive performances suited to cabaret and small-venue contexts.
Year 2: Heightened Text (20 credits)
Work confidently with classical and stylised language, developing vocal dexterity, clarity, and imaginative expression. Through rehearsal and textual exploration, you’ll engage with rhythm, structure, and imagery to create nuanced performances. Research, collaboration, and adaptability support truthful embodiment of heightened text.
Year 2: Industry Dance (20 credits)
Prepare for professional audition settings through advanced ballet, jazz, and tap training. You’ll respond to unseen choreography, demonstrating technique, musicality, precision, and adaptability under pressure. Simulated audition environments build resilience, versatility, and a confident, industry-ready dance practice.
Year 2: Original Cast Recording (20 credits)
Collaborate to create and record material for a new musical, integrating songwriting, storytelling, and character development. You’ll engage in reflective and analytical processes mirroring professional new-work creation, exploring performance style, arrangement, and ensemble authorship while developing originality and creative agency.
Year 2: The Book Musical (40 credits)
Rehearse and perform a role in a staged book musical, working with a professional creative team. You’ll integrate acting, singing, and dance across an extended narrative while applying contextual research and responding to direction. Reflection supports the development of a confident, informed performance style.
Year 3: Graduate Portfolio and Showcase (20 credits)
Create a professional portfolio and perform in a showcase reflecting your artistic identity and technical strengths. You’ll refine repertoire, develop marketing materials, and present work to industry professionals. Strategic engagement and reflection support your transition into employment.
Year 3: Industry Readiness (20 credits)
Prepare to enter the professional musical theatre industry by consolidating artistic skills in the preparation of song, acting and dance reels. This module strengthens versatility, confidence, and industry awareness, supporting informed career decisions and an effective professional approach.
Year 3: Performance Practice (40 credits)
Work within an industry-reflective rehearsal and production environment to deliver expressive, technically assured performances. You’ll develop nuanced characterisation, collaborate effectively with creative teams, and sustain professional standards. Research and reflection support informed artistic choices and readiness for professional work.
Year 3: Professional Practice (40 credits)
Apply advanced acting, singing, and movement skills in a fully realised production process. You’ll demonstrate creative autonomy, technical fluency, and resilience while responding to direction within a professional framework. Collaboration and critical reflection strengthen performance identity and long-term career development.
How will I be assessed?
Assessment reflects professional practice while maintaining academic integrity. It supports reflective learning, creativity and personal growth, helping students develop the skills and behaviours required for sustainable careers. The approach aligns with UCEN Manchester’s Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy.
Principles of Assessment Design
Authentic & Integrated – Assessments mirror industry experiences, including auditions, rehearsals, performances and portfolio creation. Acting, singing and dance are combined wherever possible.
Progressive Challenge – Tasks build in complexity:
• Level 4: Technical foundations and reflection
• Level 5: Increased autonomy and critical evaluation
• Level 6: Independent, research-informed work and professional showcase projects
Balanced & Varied – Modules include practical, reflective, collaborative and individual components.
Developmental Feedback – Regular, constructive feedback supports continuous improvement aligned to industry standards.
Fairness & Transparency
The programme values both outcome and process—discipline,problem-solving and teamwork.Fair assessment is ensured through:
• Clear marking criteria for technical skill, professionalism,collaboration and reflection
• Rehearsal observation and documentation
• Defined individual roles within group work
• Regular moderation and standardisation
• Reflective evidence such as journals,logs and video submissions
Assessment Methods
Students are assessed through a broad range of academic and professional tasks, including:
• Practical performances (solo, ensemble and productions)
• Audition simulations in acting,singing and dance
• Rehearsal observations
• Reflective writing or presentations
• Professional portfolios (CVs,showreels,digital profiles)
• Creative or research-led projects
This holistic, industry-focused approach ensures assessment is fair,developmental and genuinely prepares students for professional practice in musical theatre.
Course Associated Costs
Additional Course Costs
• Laptop: ~£300
• Books and printing: ~£100 per year
• Dancewear & footwear: ~£100 per year
• Year 3 professional costs (headshots, Spotlight and Equity membership, showcase trips): ~£500
• London showcase travel/accommodation: ~£75
Auditions
• No audition fee – Arden has removed all audition charges to ensure accessibility for all applicants
All students are subject to UCEN Manchester’s Terms and Conditions from the date they accept an offer to study here. The UCEN Manchester Admissions Policy and Procedure can be found here.