Musical Theatre degree – BA (Hons)

Program Overview

The BA Drama (Musical Theatre) program at Bath Spa University offers a unique blend of theoretical knowledge, practical performance skills, and collaborative experiences in drama and musical theatre. Through a diverse range of modules, students explore the history, techniques, and cultural significance of these art forms, developing their creative, collaborative, and critical abilities. The program prepares graduates for careers in the creative industries, teaching, or further specialized postgraduate study.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

BA Drama (Musical Theatre) is designed for students interested in exploring theatre and performance in its many forms. It will give you a strong grounding in the traditions and debates that inform contemporary performance, while also providing you with the tools to perform, interpret and create a wide range of work. The program aims to:

• Develop your performance skills, knowledge, and understanding of both Drama and Musical Theatre.
• Prepare for a career in a range of employment contexts including theatre, creative industries, and education.
Over the three years, the musical theatre modules will develop your understanding of the history of the art form and the place of musicals within popular culture, while building your technical and interpretive skills in singing, staging, and acting through song.

Outline:

Year One (Level 4) Modules:

• Investigating Theatre and Performance: This module introduces students to the history and theory of theatre, exploring key concepts and movements that have shaped contemporary performance.
• Musical Theatre Repertoire: This module introduces students to a range of musical theatre styles and genres, exploring the history and development of the art form.
• Theatre Project: This module provides students with practical experience in creating and performing original theatre work, applying the skills and knowledge gained in other modules.
• Performance Practices: This module explores different approaches to performance, including physical theatre, voice work, and movement.

Year Two (Level 5) Modules:

• Making Performance 1: This module focuses on developing students' skills in devising and creating original performance work.
• Acting and Directing: This module explores the techniques and practices of acting and directing, providing students with practical experience in both roles.
• Applied Theatre: This module explores the use of theatre techniques in community settings, including education, healthcare, and social work.
• Creative Production Skills: This module builds on the skills introduced in "Introduction to Theatre Production," providing students with more advanced technical skills.
• Writing for Performance 1: This module introduces students to the principles of playwriting, exploring different genres and styles.
• Shakespeare and his Contemporaries: This module examines the works of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, exploring their influence on contemporary theatre.
• Musical Theatre Workshop: This module provides students with practical experience in performing and staging musical theatre pieces, focusing on vocal interpretation, acting, and dramaturgy.
• Puppetry: This module explores the art of puppetry, providing students with practical experience in creating and performing with puppets.
• Performance and Media 1: This module explores the relationship between theatre and media, examining how performance is used in film, television, and other media.
• Musical Theatre Workshop 2: This module provides students with further practical experience in performing and staging musical theatre pieces, focusing on specific styles and genres.
• Professional Placement Year: This optional year allows students to gain practical experience in the theatre industry, working in a variety of roles.

Year Three (Level 6) Modules:

• Theatre and Social Engagement: This module explores the role of theatre in social change, examining how performance can be used to address social issues.
• Staging Gender: This module examines the representation of gender in theatre, exploring how performance can challenge and subvert traditional gender roles.
• Musical Theatre Project: This module provides students with the opportunity to create and perform a full-scale musical theatre production, drawing on the skills and knowledge gained throughout the program.
• Writing and Directing for Performance 1: This module focuses on developing students' skills in writing and directing for performance, providing practical experience in both roles.
• Performance Project: This module allows students to undertake a research-based performance project, exploring a specific area of interest.
• Puppetry Lab: This module provides students with advanced training in puppetry techniques, exploring different styles and genres.
• Staging Shakespeare: This module examines the works of Shakespeare, exploring different approaches to staging his plays.
• Drama Independent Study: This module allows students to undertake an independent research project, exploring a specific area of interest in drama.
• Podcasting: This module introduces students to the principles of podcasting, exploring different genres and formats.
• Modern American Drama: This module examines the works of contemporary American playwrights, exploring their influence on contemporary theatre.
• Musicals as Cultural Politics: This module explores the role of musicals in shaping and reflecting cultural values, examining how they engage with social and political issues.

Assessment:

The program uses a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Public performance: Students are assessed on their performance skills in a variety of contexts, including public performances, workshops, and rehearsals.
• In-class performance of devised or published work: Students are assessed on their ability to interpret and perform both original and published work.
• Playwriting: Students are assessed on their ability to write original plays, demonstrating their understanding of dramatic structure and character development.
• Devising: Students are assessed on their ability to create original performance work through collaborative processes.
• Performance of backstage/technical roles: Students are assessed on their ability to perform technical roles in theatre productions, demonstrating their understanding of lighting, sound, set design, and costume.
• Oral presentations: Students are assessed on their ability to communicate their ideas and research effectively through oral presentations.
• Critical reflection: Students are assessed on their ability to critically reflect on their own work and the work of others, demonstrating their understanding of theoretical concepts and performance practices.
• Working as part of an ensemble: Students are assessed on their ability to work effectively as part of a team, demonstrating their collaborative skills and communication.
• Script and song analysis: Students are assessed on their ability to analyze scripts and songs, demonstrating their understanding of dramatic structure, character development, and musical interpretation.
• Individual and group research projects: Students are assessed on their ability to conduct independent and collaborative research, demonstrating their critical thinking and analytical skills.

Teaching:

Students are taught through a range of activities, including:

• Lectures: Lectures provide students with an overview of key concepts and theories in drama and musical theatre.
• Workshops: Workshops provide students with practical experience in developing performance skills, including acting, singing, staging, and technical skills.
• Seminars: Seminars provide students with the opportunity to discuss and debate theoretical concepts and performance practices.
• Skills classes: Skills classes focus on developing specific performance skills, such as voice work, movement, and improvisation.
• Rehearsals: Rehearsals provide students with the opportunity to practice and refine their performance skills in preparation for public performances.
• Tutorials: Tutorials provide students with individual guidance and support from their tutors.
• Work placements: Work placements provide students with the opportunity to gain practical experience in the theatre industry, working in a variety of roles.
• Theatre visits: Theatre visits provide students with the opportunity to experience live theatre performances, gaining insights into different styles and genres.

Careers:

The program equips students with creative, collaborative, writing, presentational, and communication skills that are invaluable in many professional and vocational areas. Many graduates pursue careers in the creative industries and teaching. Others use it as the basis for specialized postgraduate study - either academic or vocational training. Recent graduates have won places at Central School of Speech and Drama, Yale Theatre School, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Guildford School of Acting, and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Other:

• The program offers the opportunity to study abroad at one of Bath Spa's partner universities.
• Students benefit from partnerships with local performance venues, schools, and community groups, as well as visits from industry professionals.
• The program is one of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, providing students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite.
• Students can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which they can study alongside their degree.
• The program is highly regarded, ranking #10 in the UK and #1 in the South West for Student Satisfaction in Drama, Dance, and Cinematics (Complete University Guide, 2024).

2024 entry Student Annual tuition fee UK full time £9,250 UK part time £4,625 International full time £16,905 Professional Placement Year During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee. This applies to UK and EU/International students. UK: £1,850 International: £3,381