Drama: Musical Theatre
Entry requirements
A level
Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 45 Level 3 credits including 30 Distinctions and a number of merits/passes in subject specific modules
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
With three Higher Level subjects at 655
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Scottish Advanced Higher
Scottish Higher
T Level
Each application will be considered on its individual merits. Where the T Level subject area does not directly match the degree programme being applied for, the personal statement and reference will be particularly important in demonstrating interest, enthusiasm and suitability for the subject.
UCAS Tariff
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About this course
**Recently named one of the top 50 institutions in the world for studying the performing arts QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, Goldsmiths prepares you to create musical theatre and to find work in the performing arts sector.**
Our programme encourages you to develop your talents not only as a performer, but also in other areas of musical theatre: as a director, choreographer, musical director, stage manager, writer, dramaturg, publicist, designer, or arts administrator.
Rather than training as individual performers, we train as a company, where you’ll be part of a close-knit community of creators and collaborators sharing the responsibilities of producing theatre – from acting to choreographing to publicising to ticketing. We believe that this maximises your artistic experiences and your professional opportunities once you leave.
You'll take one-on-one singing lessons with our lecturing vocal coach, who has trained performers who have worked in many West End shows.
You'll study movement fundamentals, jazz, and tap. Our tap teacher brings their West End experience to the classroom as they teach all levels of students.
We supplement our dance courses with dance workshops and we regularly supplement our singing courses with master classes with visiting artists.
Goldsmiths has a range of studios from the George Wood Theatre, where we produce mainstage musical theatre productions; to several black box studios; to the dance rehearsal studio; to the outdoor stage. These facilities are regularly available for student booking as you develop your own work.
The programme focuses on a series of performance benchmarks that involve different genres of professional musical theatre performance. Your first year culminates in a cabaret, usually held at an off-West End venue; your second year involves actively developing a new piece of musical theatre; and the third year involves a major production of a licensed show.
You will have the opportunity to develop your own work. The department offers competitive grants and associate artist positions, as well as our rehearsal studios, to help facilitate student work.
Modules in musical theatre history and theory will help you to think critically about musical theatre, performance, and representation. At Goldsmiths, we think through the ethics of musical theatre and understand where musical theatre has been so that you can take it to new places in the future.
We are proud partners with IRIE! Dance Theatre, whose work embodies many African Dance traditions and contemporary dance styles and with whom we share workshop experiences.
As a university in London, Goldsmiths is a 15-minute tube journey from the heart of theatre in Britain, not to mention a range of museums, concert halls, cabaret and jazz clubs, and other cultural venues.
Modules
Year 1 - In the first year you study the following compulsory modules:
Critical Dialogues A
Introduction to Movement and Dance
Musical Theatre: Dramaturgy A
Introduction to singing and music theory
Musical Theatre-making 1
Performance Praxis 1A: Action
Performance Praxis 1B: Acting, Voice, and Text
Year 2
In your second year, you'll study the following compulsory modules. In addition to these modules, you'll also choose to study either
The Goldsmiths Social Change Module or Global Theatre Histories: Musical Theatre.
The Goldsmiths Elective
Performance Praxis 2A: Acting and the Song
Performance Praxis 2B: Dance and Musical Staging
Musical Theatre-making 2
Year 3
In your final year, you will study the following compulsory modules.
Culture and Performance A
Culture and Performance B: Musical Theatre in a Multicultural Society
Performance Praxis 3: Working in the Industry
Musical Theatre-making 3: Collaborative Project
Devising Project: the Professional Showcase
Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
Assessment methods
We incorporate a range of assessments into our curriculum. Performance assessments include a licensed book musical, an excerpt of a new musical in development, a cabaret show, a musical revue, as well as individual scenes and songs. Other courses culminate in a tap routine, a choreographed jazz dance, and written essays. Extensive support is provided in the first year to help students prepare to write essays.
The Uni
Goldsmiths, University of London
Theatre and Performance
What students say
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Music
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£14k
£21k
£21k
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