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The Arden School of Theatre and Performing Arts
Performing Arts (Musical Theatre)
HNC
Leaflet Code:
Overview
The course offers high quality practical and intensive training to expand, unleash and develop musical theatre skills providing students with the core skills required to be successful within this exciting industry.
The course aims to give students of all ages, backgrounds and experience the tools to excel as musical theatre performers exploring a range of genres and practitioners. This exciting and career focused course will introduce you to all aspects of musical theatre in the performing arts industry.
You will refine your technique in a variety of dance such as ballet, jazz and tap, and you will develop the employability skills that are an essential part of being in this industry.
In acting there is a strong focus on naturalism and allowing the students to build their own tool box of skills and techniques to draw upon when they perform. This will include studying practitioners such as Stanislavski, Strasberg,and Uta Hagen. There is a strong focus on text analysis and how the actor creates a life by mining the text and drawing out the clues within to develop a role which is detailed.
In singing, you will focus on the Estill Method which is universally taught in Higher Education. Lessons will focus on audition preparation, ensemble work, building repertoire, acting through song and application of technique.
Additionally the course provides guidance on audition technique both industry based and preparation for Drama School. Students will learn how to market themselves as a performer and be given guidance on Equity, Spotlight etc from industry professionals.
- Location
- Shena Simon Campus
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Duration
- 1 year
- Start
- September 2021
Staff profile
Lucy Oldham : Head of Department Performing Arts
BA Hons Class 1 University of Leeds, Post Graduate Certificate Shakespeare & Theatre The Shakespeare Institute Stratford upon Avon / Birmingham University. Professional actress for over a decade prior to moving into education, working internationally in theatre. Specialism in classical theatre, audition technique, voice.
Anna Clayton- is a Voice Coach/Singing Teacher and trained performer with over 10 years’ experience helping students develop their voices and performance skills. Working within educational establishments and my private studio. Mentored by Anne-Marie Speed, Anna is training to become a Certified Master Teacher of Estill Voice Training and will be one of only a few qualified practitioners based in the North of England.
Charlotte Swindells - danced since a very young age and at 16 attended a full time vocational dance college, Kate Simmons Dance. Here she gained all her advanced dance and teaching qualifications in Cecchetti Ballet, ISTD Tap and ISTD Modern.
Rebecca Tonye - trained on a full scholarship at The London Studio Centre vocational school, she graduated from there in 2003. Rebecca has worked with many choreographers and practitioners within the industry in Contemporary, Jazz, Bollywood and musical theatre, and has experience of both stage and screen. She has also choreographed numerous dance numbers in many styles over her career.
Helen Cheung - trained at the Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre. She has worked on several contracts, working at sea as production dancer for Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises. Helen has worked in both USA and Italy creating with choreographers for Cruise lines and Variety Shows.
Celia Lee- LRSM in Vocal Performance-ABRSM, Post Graduate Certificate in Education- University of Huddersfield, MusB (Hons) second-class honours, upper division in University of Manchester.
BA Hons Class 1 University of Leeds, Post Graduate Certificate Shakespeare & Theatre The Shakespeare Institute Stratford upon Avon / Birmingham University. Professional actress for over a decade prior to moving into education, working internationally in theatre. Specialism in classical theatre, audition technique, voice.
Anna Clayton- is a Voice Coach/Singing Teacher and trained performer with over 10 years’ experience helping students develop their voices and performance skills. Working within educational establishments and my private studio. Mentored by Anne-Marie Speed, Anna is training to become a Certified Master Teacher of Estill Voice Training and will be one of only a few qualified practitioners based in the North of England.
Charlotte Swindells - danced since a very young age and at 16 attended a full time vocational dance college, Kate Simmons Dance. Here she gained all her advanced dance and teaching qualifications in Cecchetti Ballet, ISTD Tap and ISTD Modern.
Rebecca Tonye - trained on a full scholarship at The London Studio Centre vocational school, she graduated from there in 2003. Rebecca has worked with many choreographers and practitioners within the industry in Contemporary, Jazz, Bollywood and musical theatre, and has experience of both stage and screen. She has also choreographed numerous dance numbers in many styles over her career.
Helen Cheung - trained at the Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre. She has worked on several contracts, working at sea as production dancer for Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises. Helen has worked in both USA and Italy creating with choreographers for Cruise lines and Variety Shows.
Celia Lee- LRSM in Vocal Performance-ABRSM, Post Graduate Certificate in Education- University of Huddersfield, MusB (Hons) second-class honours, upper division in University of Manchester.
Academic Entry requirements
• GCSE English Language and Mathematics A* to C or 9 to 4 where numeric grades are being awarded
• Ideally you will have a Level 3 Extended Diploma at grade Pass, Merit, Merit in a performing arts-related area
• Prior practical experience in all disciplines essential
• 48 UCAS points
Non-academic entry Requirements
Applicants are required to attend an interview and audition consisting of a practical class participation and solo performance.
You will also be required to submit a short written task.
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.
You will also be required to submit a short written task.
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.
What will I be studying?
Unit 1 The Performing Arts Industry (15 credits)
Unit 12 Singing 1 (15 credits)
Unit 13 Acting 1 (15 credits)
Unit 15: Ensemble Singing (15 credits)
Unit 16 Vocal Repertoire (15 credits)
Unit 2 Professional Development (15 credits)
Unit 3 Jazz dance 1 (15 credits)
Unit 7 Tap 1 (15 credits)
Reading List
Bordman, G (2001) American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle
Green, S (2014) Broadway Musicals, Show by Show
Kantor, M and Maslon, L (2004) Broadway: The American Musical
Stempel, L (2010) Showtime: A History of the Broadway Musical Theatre
McMillin, S (2006) The Musical as Drama
Miller, S (2006) Strike Up The Band: A New History of Musical Theatre
Deer, J (2008) Acting in Musical Theatre
McWaters, D (2009) Musical Theatre Training: The Broadway Theatre Project Handbook.
Green, S (2014) Broadway Musicals, Show by Show
Kantor, M and Maslon, L (2004) Broadway: The American Musical
Stempel, L (2010) Showtime: A History of the Broadway Musical Theatre
McMillin, S (2006) The Musical as Drama
Miller, S (2006) Strike Up The Band: A New History of Musical Theatre
Deer, J (2008) Acting in Musical Theatre
McWaters, D (2009) Musical Theatre Training: The Broadway Theatre Project Handbook.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed in a variety of ways and may be asked to research theatre companies, practitioners, choreographer, and employment methods and present your work in ether written format or presentations.
Additionally, you will be assessed in performance / demonstration of your practical skills.
Additionally, you will be assessed in performance / demonstration of your practical skills.
What are the careers that this will lead to?
Our students have successfully gone on to professional work within the Dance & Musical Theatre industry including:
• Commercial
• West End & Regional Theatre
• Cruise Ships
• Disney
Other potential career paths include:
• Choreography
• Dance Therapy
• Teaching
• Running you own Dance School
• Commercial
• West End & Regional Theatre
• Cruise Ships
• Disney
Other potential career paths include:
• Choreography
• Dance Therapy
• Teaching
• Running you own Dance School
Fees, Finance and Funding
There are two main costs you will have whilst studying and if you are a home student studying on a full-time course, you can apply for student finance to cover both of these:
Your tuition fees for each year of your course.
Help with your living costs e.g. rent, food, clothing, course materials, entertainment.
You can find more details, including the actual tuition fee charged on our Fees, Funding and Finance Page.
Learn more
Your tuition fees for each year of your course.
Help with your living costs e.g. rent, food, clothing, course materials, entertainment.
You can find more details, including the actual tuition fee charged on our Fees, Funding and Finance Page.
Course Associated Costs
All of the books required for the course are available from the library. However, many students choose to buy some of the core textbooks for the course and/or a laptop. Students may also need to print their assignments and other documents. Campus printing costs start from 5p per page. Estimated costs are £300 for a laptop up to £100 each year for books and printing.
• Theatre Blacks £50
• Core Textbooks for Acting & Voice- £100 (world of books online website)
• Maximum of £250 Professional dancewear kit list provided in advance
• Approx £100 for theatre tickets- discounted Lowry and Manchester fringe theatre tickets
• You will need to purchase digital storage device up to 1TB at an approximate cost of £20-50
• Optional participation in residential trips for an addition costs theatre trip to West End London
• Theatre Blacks £50
• Core Textbooks for Acting & Voice- £100 (world of books online website)
• Maximum of £250 Professional dancewear kit list provided in advance
• Approx £100 for theatre tickets- discounted Lowry and Manchester fringe theatre tickets
• You will need to purchase digital storage device up to 1TB at an approximate cost of £20-50
• Optional participation in residential trips for an addition costs theatre trip to West End London
All students are subject to UCEN Manchester’s Terms and Conditions from the date they accept an offer to study here, full details of which can be found here. The UCEN Manchester Admissions Policy and Procedure can be found here.
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