At Italia Conti, we believe in providing a well-rounded training that helps students develop their skills as actors. Much of our course is devoted to vocal and physical training, as well as exploring a range of techniques for creating and developing character. Our focus is on helping students work responsively within the space.
This unique full-time course, for anyone aged 18+ (17+ from Scotland), is co-taught by our fantastic School of Musical Theatre & Dance and School of Acting specialist teams; an exciting combination that is not found in other drama schools.
As part of the 3 Year Acting (Musical Theatre) training, we encourage students to be truthful to the purpose of the work, to celebrate and utilise themselves as individuals in the work, and to continue learning and experimenting with new techniques and creative ideas through the work. We offer a wide range of ideas and training methods, so that each student can construct a personal “tool box” of techniques that work best for them. Our goal is to produce versatile performers who can thrive across a variety of styles and media.
See our other performance training options and specialisms:
BA (Hons) Acting (Musical Theatre) & AVT
Our Acting (Musical Theatre) training is a three-year, full-time course for students aged 18+ who want to work professionally across live theatre and stage productions (musicals and plays), as well as in screen and audio performance.
Training develops acting, singing, voice, movement and dance in an integrated way, preparing students to become versatile, industry-ready performers. Students progress from building core skills in their first year, to applying and refining those skills in projects and rehearsals in their second year, before performing in public productions with professional directors in their final year.
Alongside this, students receive regular input and support from specialist practitioners in voice, movement, singing and intimacy co-ordination. In the third year, they also complete a Practical Dissertation to explore their own creative voice and storytelling, while professional preparation workshops, talks and tutorials help them transition into the performing arts industry.
Italia Conti has been training performers for over a century. Our programmes are continually shaped by industry needs and teaching practice, giving students the tools and confidence to fulfil their potential as creative artists.
As an Associate College of The University of Chichester, Italia Conti delivers the BA (Hons) Acting (Musical Theatre) programme. This three-year, full-time vocational course 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 on the degree course are eligible to enrol on Italia Conti’s Advanced Vocational Training (AVT) alongside their degree course.
Students focus on the fundamentals of the core disciplines and skill integration to ensure students can begin to employ the required of the separate genres of Acting and Musical Theatre. Level 4 focuses upon traditional musical theatre material and stimuli to appreciate historical performance contexts and lyrical and traditional singing styles.
The first year of the course also provides a solid foundation in acting principles. Students are introduced to core principles of Stanislavski’s system, as interpreted by various 20th-century and contemporary practitioners such as Uta Hagen, Michael Chekhov, Meisner, and Max Stafford-Clarke, alongside non-traditional processes including Viola Spolin, Sharrell D. Luckett, and Tia M. Shaffer. Through improvisation and text work, students develop the skills and knowledge needed to create convincing characters.
These core skills are brought together in the Musical Theatre Performance Practice module where students will learn to apply the skills they have learnt holistically in a musical theatre performance, with equal emphasis placed on Acting, Singing and Movement.
Contextual Practice is developed to stimulate reflection and critical thinking and facilitate the application of contextual and historical study to practical work training the emerging thinking performer.
Typical projects in this year may include:
ore technical skills classes continue, but become more advanced and more integrated. More sustained and intensive project work is introduced to the curriculum in which the core disciplines become completely interdependent. Students are required to sustain and develop character over longer and more challenging performance opportunities to begin to hone skills for professional performance practice.
Building on the fundamentals established in the first year, students in Year 2 are introduced to non-naturalistic texts and advanced naturalistic texts.
Typical projects in this year mayinclude:
Contextual Practice is developed to stimulate reflection and critical thinking and facilitate the application of contextual and historical study to practical work training the emerging thinking performer, integrating principles of Practice-Research in theatremaking to preparation for the Independent Performance Projects in Year 3.
Students take part in exciting extracurricular activities to prepare skills for industry. This includes a weekly 1:1 singing lesson, and an end of year performance project. Students also further hone their skills by taking additional skills classes such as Acting Through Song and Ensemble Singing. Students will also perform in the Italia Conti Christmas Carol Concert.
The course draws together all previous training in preparing for a career as a well-rounded, versatile and highly employable professional Actor and Musical Theatre performer.
Students will perform in one fully staged productions and attend an Industry panel day. For their independent performance project, students will be required to create a practical piece of theatre responding to a question, theme or stimulus.
Professional Preparation and Employability workshops will hone audition technique in the core disciplines, to ensure that, when they leave, students have all the skills necessary to embark upon a successful professional career. This also extends to preparation for all wider soft-skills and supporting areas for professional practitioners including sourcing and choosing headshots, joining and populating Spotlight, creating personal showreel performance reels and meeting with leading industry creatives, agents and casting directors to begin networking.
Students will continue training in Singing and Dance for Actors to support them in implementing professional skills and performance in practice. Regular classes ensure that students graduate ‘match fit’ and ready to audition and perform in professional contracts.
Students continue to take part in exciting extracurricular activities to prepare skills for industry. This includes a weekly 1:1 singing lesson. Students also further hone their skills by taking additional classes such as Acting Through Song and Acting for Screen. Students will also perform in the Italia Conti Christmas Carol Concert.
AVT students will have an additional public performance opportunity and an Industry Showcase in a West End Theatre. These two opportunities provide networking opportunities with industry that are beyond the demands of a degree qualification in its own right.
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. Advanced Vocational Training Diploma | £2800 + VAT, (paid in advanced termly instalments). These private fees are payable directly to Italia Conti. 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 or Three Year Musical Theatre, in addition to the course directly being applied for.
All applicants are considered for the One Year Foundation Courses, by standard.
You will also be asked to indicate if you are opting out of the Additional Vocational Training (AVT) diploma, which is offered to applicants to enhance their vocational training.
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.
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……”
Othello – Act 3 Scene 3 – Othello This fellow’s of exceeding honesty,…….”
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 IV Part 1 – Act 1 Scene 2 – Prince Hal “I know you all, and will awhile uphold……”
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 Acting and Musical Theatre courses populate the performing arts industry nationally and internationally where they work on Stage, Screen, and in Audio.
On stage, our graduates have been on tour, in established regional venues, and in West End and Broadway productions. Our actors can be seen on Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, HBO, Disney, Sky, and on numerous product commercials. They can also be heard on BBC Radio 4, Audible, and many audio books and video games. Behind the scenes, our graduates have worked on some of the most prestigious film, television, and theatre projects as directors, producers, writers, and more.
The emphasis we place on the ‘artist-actor’ throughout our training, means that graduates of the course have previously transitioned their skills to working as Writers, Directors, Producers, Casting Directors, Agents, Actor-trainers, Teachers, as well as taking up roles in production, or arts administration.