Musical Theatre

Musical theatre is one of the most demanding and technically complex of the performing arts, requiring performers to combine singing, acting, and dancing at a professional level in a single integrated performance. It is a form with deep roots in popular culture and a global commercial reach, but at its best it is also a serious art form concerned with storytelling, character, emotion, and the human capacity to communicate through music and movement in ways that go beyond what speech alone can achieve. Training in musical theatre is rigorous and comprehensive, developing three distinct performance disciplines alongside the resilience and collaborative skills that professional theatrical work demands.

At Portsmouth, this three-year degree acknowledges that musical theatre has been one of the most popular forms of entertainment for over a century, generating stories of hope and optimism while engaging with the challenging issues at the heart of being human. You will develop your singing, acting, and dance skills to a high professional standard through intensive performance training and production work, alongside modules that develop your understanding of the history, theory, and industry of musical theatre. The degree includes a sandwich year in industry, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, giving you direct professional experience in theatrical settings and an international perspective on a form that is practised and celebrated globally.

Building a professional portfolio and network during your studies is an important part of preparing for a performing career in this competitive field.

Musical theatre graduates pursue careers as performers in the professional theatre, including West End, touring, regional, and cruise productions, as well as in television, film, and commercial entertainment. The training is also valuable for careers in musical direction, choreography, teaching, and community arts. Many graduates combine performing with teaching in stage schools, youth theatre, and musical arts education.

Postgraduate training at drama schools and conservatoires is an option for those who wish to develop a specialist performance focus further after their degree.