The 1 Year Acting (Musical Theatre) Training at Italia Conti offers a foundation in professional actor training and results in a Certificate of Higher Education.
Students work with experienced tutors in a disciplined, supportive environment, gaining skills in monologue preparation, singing and acting through song, interview techniques, and audition readiness. The course fosters creativity, confidence, and independence, emphasising respect and collaboration in the rehearsal room.
Workshops cover essential acting techniques and introduce students to broader opportunities in the performing arts, encouraging exploration of potential career paths. Through reflective practice, students develop the ability to evaluate their work, articulate ideas, and grow as artists.
CertHE Acting (MT) (Foundation)
ertHE Acting (Musical Theatre) is a one-year, full-time course for students aged 18+ who want focused hybrid actor-singer training and preparation for further study or early professional work across stage and screen, and musical theatre performance. You build core skills in acting technique, voice, movement, singing, and acting through song. Core classes include Singing Technique, Singing Ensemble, Repertoire Studies, Acting Through Song, Scene Study, Acting Skills, improvisation, Voice, Movement, Ballet, Jazz, and Musical Theatre Workshop.
The course will provide students with an introduction to conservatoire-style vocational training, including a greater understanding of what is required of both actors and musical theatre performers in training, as well as a solid understanding of what the industry demands from contemporary performers. This will enable students to make a truly informed decision about pursuing acting, musical theatre, or other creative pathways within the performing arts, with insight into the courses best suited to your individual goals.
Validated by the University of Chichester. Eligible Home students can access full government funding through Student Finance England. Designed as a foundation for entry to three-year actor training at drama school or university, with targeted audition preparation.
As an Associate College of The University of Chichester, Italia Conti delivers the Certificate of Higher Education Acting (Musical Theatre).
This one-year (two terms), full-time vocational course is for anyone aged 18+. The course is organised into modules with various modes of assessment.
Full government funding is available through Student Finance England for Home students.
Students learn the fundamentals of Stanislavski’s system, which focuses on creating and communicating believable characters, situations, and relationships through work on text and improvisation. They also receive training in voice, singing, dance and physical performance technique through both musical theatre and skills of the actor vocational training classes. Audition practice sessions help students select and prepare appropriate monologues and songs for future auditions for three year training courses.
During the second term, students build upon their skills from the first term, refining and polishing their speeches and songs for drama school auditions and participate in mock auditions and develop interview skills. In addition, a series of workshops and tasters help students develop their understanding of the contemporary performance industry – these may include Meisner Technique, Acting for Camera, Stage Combat, and Clowning. The remainder of the term is focused on continued skills classes and rehearsing an in-studio sharing which is performed at the end of the term.
All students on the CertHE course will have an inbuilt opportunity to audition for Acting, Acting (Musical Theatre) and Musical Theatre three-year programmes for the following year. However, it should be noted that attendance on the CertHE course does not guarantee a place on the BA (Hons) & AVT programmes.
Degree Tuition Fees | £9535 per academic year, (paid in advanced termly instalments). Student finance is available, which includes access to a Tuition Fee Loan and Student Maintenance Loan. These payments are made to directly to the University of Chichester. Scholarships and Bursaries | Available for our AVT fees. Scholarships are awarded upon outcome of audition. You may apply for a bursary here by contact admissions@italiaconti.co.uk
Audition Fee | £45 (non-refundable) Deposit | £275 (The deposit is refundable within 14 calendar days of the payment being received by Italia Conti but will not be refunded thereafter for non-enrolment. It will be held by Italia Conti and will be refundable on completion of the course, without interest, less any outstanding sums owed by the student to Italia Conti.)
For further information, please see our International Applications page.
Italia Conti welcomes applications for audition fee waivers for those who are eligible.
Terms and conditions apply upon acceptance to Italia Conti.
HE & AVT Terms & Conditions
“I have just graduated from Liverpool Theatre School with a Level 6 Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre. I wanted to do the BA Hons (Top Up) in Professional Arts Practice course to further develop my skills for the industry. It is the perfect balance between academic writing and creativity. I already have seen improvements, both in my academic and performing work, and I now really value the ability to critically reflect on past experiences in order to improve my current skills.”
“I have found that my first term at Italia Conti has been better than I could’ve imagined. I am working with driven, passionate, likeminded people within all different realms of the performing arts industry. I find that the course is very tailored to each individual and the content is broad enough to apply to everyone but specific enough to challenge each person within their abilities. I find the course to be a place where I can collaborate and interact with people who I’d never had met otherwise. I only look forward to what the next few months of the course bring and feel more motivated than ever.”
Current Student, Class of July 2024“The course is allowing me to reflect on my past practice, current position, and future endeavours. I really enjoy how flexible the course is, with regards to being able to tailor my studies to my own practice, enabling me to maximise the benefits of this on my future career. I expect my professional development to be impacted exponentially and I am excited to continue!”
“Italia Conti’s BA Top up course was the one for me! Creating a business in under 9 months has been a massive accomplishment! The course really helps shape your future, enables you to meet professional contacts to support your research, and gives you lots of time to understand the area of the industry you want to specialise in.”
I’m a professional dancer but have taught only ballet. These classes are EXACTLY what I was looking for to show some basics of contemp for my students !! Absolutely love every single Video
I’ve watched a lot of your videos and I love every single one that she teaches. THANK YOU. Gorgeous movement.
Amazing class, one of the best I’ve ever done. So easy to follow, thank you!
I’m a dancer in LA and can’t keep up with my peers on how often they take dance classes. This channel has been so helpful for me to keep up my training. Thank you for sharing this with the world. I feel like we are all dancing together even though we are all doing this at different times and in different spaces. 🖤
Best ballet teacher on the internet❤ Great explanation, enthusiasm and commentary throughout the exercise!
Evidence in hard copy of all the above must be provided at enrolment.
Applications to Italia Conti are made by direct application via the link below only.
Applicants DO NOT need to complete a UCAS application for Italia Conti.
Applicants must complete the application form and pay the audition fee (£45) in order to be considered.
Audition fees are non-refundable. These fees act as both an administration fee for processing your application as well as a non-refundable deposit for a place on an audition day.
Applicants are encouraged to express on the form interest in any other courses/streams they would like to be considered for e.g. Three Year Acting (Musical Theatre), in addition to the course directly being applied for.
All applicants are considered for the respective Three Year Courses, by standard.
In line with our admissions policy, Italia Conti reserves the right to alter or withdraw offers at any point. Places on our courses are limited; it is usual for drama schools to make more offers than there are places. Acceptances are dealt with on a first come first serve basis and so early acceptance is advised.
After completing the application process, you will be invited to submit an audition tape where auditionees will be required to demonstrate a variety of skills. Successful applicants will be invited to a recall audition on site. Information about auditions can be found below.
If there’s something that might shape your experience with us – such as access requirements, a disability, being neurodivergent, something related to a protected characteristic, or anything else you’d like to share – please let us know. This kind of information isn’t always obvious from an application.
You can contact:
We’re here to listen and discuss what support or reasonable adjustments could help you feel confident and supported throughout the process.
CertHE Acting (Foundation)
First round applicants will receive the result from their audition submission within 3-4 weeks of receipt. This is to ensure that every submission deserves our full time and attention.
Auditionees should prepare two speeches:
Speech 1 – Shakespeare Speech from the list below Speech 2 – Contemporary Speech – A piece from a modern play (1970-present day) of your choice
We require applicants to perform a Shakespeare speech from the below list and audition pack (of any gender), please note that we annually review these.
Measure for Measure – Act 2, Scene 4 – Isabella “To whom should I complain?… And fit his mind to death, for his soul’s rest.”
Macbeth – Act 3 Scene 1 – Macbeth “To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus……Who’s there!”
Romeo & Juliet – Act 2 Scene 5 – Juliet “The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse………”
Romeo & Juliet – Act 3 Scene 3 – Romeo “Tis torture and not mercy………”
Othello – Act 4 Scene 3 – Emilia “But I do think it is their husbands’ faults…..”
Othello – Act 1 Scene 3 – Iago “I hate the moor……”
Midsummer Night’s Dream – Act 3 Scene 2 – Helena ”Lo she is one of this confederacy …….”
Merchant of Venice – Act 3 Scene 2 – Portia “You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand…….”
King John – Act 4 Scene 1 – Arthur “Have you the heart? When your head did but ache………”
Hamlet – Act 3 Scene 4 – Hamlet ”Look here upon this picture ….. would step from this to this?”
Julius Caesar – Act 2 Scene 1 – Portia “Is Brutus sick? and is it physical…….. who did hide their faces Even from darkness ”
Henry VI – Act 1 Scene 4 – Queen Margaret “Brave warriors…….. may sing and dance”
King Lear – Act 1 Scene 2 – Edmund “Thou, nature art my goddess………”
King Lear – Act 1 Scene 3 – Goneril “By day and night he wrongs me………Prepare for dinner”
King Lear – Act 2 Scene 3 – Edgar “I heard myself proclaim’d………”
Much Ado About Nothing – Act 2 Scene 3 – Benedick [Prose] “This can be no trick: the conference was sadly borne… I do spy some marks of love in her”
Auditionees should prepare two songs, no longer than one and a half minutes in length, that they enjoy singing and can sing well.
1. One Golden Age Lyrical song (c. pre-1965)
Suggested composers/lyricists can include: Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, Learner and Leowe, Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Weill, Jerome Kern, Frank Loesser, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin.
2. One Traditional or Contemporary Musical Theatre song (c. post-1965)
Suggested composers/lyricists can include; Stephen Schwartz, Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Alan Menken, Boubil and Schonberg, Jason Robert Brown, Lin Manuel-Miranda, Kander and Ebb, Jule Styne, Cy Coleman, Marvin Hamlisch, Tom Kitt, Laurence O’Keefe, Jerry Bock.
In a minority of instances panel may require a further tape responding to direction from our Head of Music & Singing
Please ensure that the recording is a true reflection of your acoustic singing voice. Do not edit the audio or add any effects to the recording in any way. Please record the audio using the video camera device so you capture an accurate and unaltered recording of how the voice sounds in a room.
Recall auditions will take place at our Woking campus.
The Acting and Singing recall audition will include:
Applicants are encouraged to use the same songs and speeches as their first-round digital audition, but are welcome to prepare additional material which can be offered to the panel (although they may not hear these).
The recall audition may also include:
Jazz shoes or trainers that are suitable for movement calls (i.e. no Converse or similar fashion shoes that are not designed for dance). Alternatively, applicants can take part in bare feet. No loose clothing or jewellery is permitted.
Graduates of Italia Conti’s CertHE Introduction to Acting course either continue their actor training at Italia Conti or other established drama schools, change performance course and pursue Musical Theatre or Dance, or move into other creative fields such as Writing, Directing, Producing, and production roles. Some graduates pursue more formal academic routes within their chosen disciplines, and some graduates change course completely and take up other subjects and pursuits, but still continue to utilise the transferable skills gained on this course.
With over 107 years of Italia Conti history, our graduates populate the performance industries and include many famous faces. Recent graduates can be seen working on prestigious productions in all areas of the industry.
Title | Audition Ready
Pathways | Acting, Dance or Musical Theatre
Date | 29 & 30 October 2025
Time | 9am - 5pm
Age | 15+
Cost | £200