Qualification | BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
Programme Leader | Dan Fulham
Validated by | University of Chichester
Location | Italia Conti, Woking, UK
Programme Length | 3 Years (full-time)
Starts | September of each year
As a result of the uplift in tuition fees confirmed by the UK Government to £9,790 for September 2026, we are no longer reducing the course hours delivered in the University of Chichester degree programmes or introducing a separate Advanced Vocational Training Certificate (AVT).
Three Year training in Musical Theatre at Italia Conti is a full-time BA (Hons) vocational course for anyone aged 18+ (17+ from Scotland) wishing to become a professional performer in Musical Theatre. Musical Theatre training is truly triple threat and encourages all performers to find versatility and adaptability in their skillset to nourish their future careers with a world of opportunity.
Our BA (Hons) Musical Theatre training is designed to nurture and develop innovative and individual musical theatre performers, who embody and apply specialist skills and techniques supported by grounded knowledge of industry practices, contexts, and the emerging requirements that empower graduates for a sustainable career in musical theatre.
Our students study a rigorous training programme and are co-taught across programme streams dictated by the desired terminal qualification.
NOTE: Italia Conti Courses are not listed on UCAS. Direct applications only.
See our other performance training options and specialisms:
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
Our Musical Theatre training will fully prepare students for musical theatre performance, developing their practice and thinking in an integrated way. Through training in acting, singing and dance, students will have what it takes to become a Musical Theatre artist of the future. Consistency and creativity paired with the critical approach students need to study Musical Theatre will provide them with expertise applicable to a variety of careers in the field.
There are two pathways through the Musical Theatre training: Musical Theatre Triple Threat Pathway and Musical Theatre Dance Performance Pathway. At the point of recall audition and offer, students are advised of the pathway they are being considered for. The curriculum is tailored to suit the skillset of the performer with the Dance Performance Pathway students receiving more technical dance training to support their dance development in Year 1 and Year 2. On the Triple Threat Pathway students receive a more balanced training across the three core disciplines in Year 1 and Year 2.
Training to be a professional performer in Musical Theatre requires many things:
Training to be a professional Musical Theatre performer is one of the most exciting and rewarding journeys that students will ever take and we believe that there is nowhere better to take it, than here at Italia Conti.
There is a reason why Italia Conti is one of the most recognised names in performing arts training. For over a century we have helped students to fulfil their potential as performers and to work at the very highest level in every aspect of the performing arts industry. We provide a programme of training that responds to industry needs and current teaching and learning developments.
Italia Conti has a proven track record of nurturing talent at the very highest level; Italia Conti graduates can be seen on stage and screen in the UK and internationally. We have graduates working in the West End and on Broadway in musicals and in plays, in national and international tours, in cabarets and on cruise ships. We have graduates working in Film and in Television. We have produced some of the UK’s top recording artists – solo artists and band members.
As an Associate College of The University of Chichester, Italia Conti delivers the BA (Hons) 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.
At Level 4, you focus on the fundamentals of the core disciplines and early skill integration. You develop the triple threat skills of Acting, Singing, Dance, and Voice, initially building each discipline in isolation to establish secure technical foundations as a musical theatre performer.
These skills are brought together through Musical Theatre Performance Practice workshops, where you apply them holistically in performance, with equal emphasis on acting, singing, and dance.
Within Contextual Practice, you explore health and safety as an emerging performer, including:
You also begin to understand the musical theatre landscape and contextualise material studied across the course.
You prepare for industry through:
Additional skills classes include:
You also perform in the Italia Conti Christmas Carol Concert.
At Level 5, core technical training continues at a more advanced and integrated level. Project work becomes more sustained and intensive, with the three disciplines working in full interdependence.
You are required to sustain character across longer and more demanding performance contexts, developing professional performance practice through:
Professional development continues through:
You continue with:
Within Contextual Practice, you study the history of musical theatre, focusing on:
Learning is consistently linked to performance material and studio practice.
At Level 6, your training focuses on four key areas:
You perform:
You complete final skills assessments in Singing, Acting, and Dance.
Industry preparation continues through:
You also take additional classes, including:
You perform in the Italia Conti Christmas Carol Concert.
Professional Preparation and Employability workshops refine audition technique across all three disciplines and support wider professional practice, including:
Within Contextual Practice, you engage with two strands:
Research and Reflection develops the reflective practitioner. You draw on learning from Levels 4 and 5 and apply it within a professional context. This includes reflection on:
You complete an Independent Performance Project (dissertation). Through practice-research, you create an original piece of theatre in response to a defined research question, demonstrating independent professional practice.
Degree Tuition Fees | £9790 (26/27) 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.
Please note that tuition fees are reviewed annually. The Government has indicated that the fee cap will continue to rise in future years, including 2027/28, in line with RPIX inflation.
Scholarships and Bursaries | Scholarships are awarded upon outcome of audition. You may apply for a bursary after receiving an offer of study by contacting 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 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.
Italia Conti courses are not listed on UCAS. Therefore, 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 Dance or Three Year Acting (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 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 one speech, no longer than one and a half minutes in length, from a Contemporary British Play written after 1990.
Auditionees should prepare a song, no longer than one and a half minutes in length, that they enjoy singing and can sing well.
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.
Please record yourself performing the following Kicks and Pirouette combination & Jump combination exercises as taught on the video.
Auditionees should prepare one dance piece in your preferred style, no longer than one minute. This should showcase your strengths and highlight any special skills.
Required Dress:
Please wear tight-fitting clothing to allow the panel to see your movement fully.
Recall auditions will take place at our Woking campus.
Auditionees should prepare an additional speech that is contrasting to their first audition piece. Both pieces will be seen at recall. This second speech could be contemporary (after 1990) or classical. Again, this speech should be no longer than one and a half minutes:
Auditionees should prepare two musical theatre songs, each cut to one and a half minutes in length, that they enjoy singing and can sing well:
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, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin.
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.
You will be required to participate in three dance classes at your recall; Ballet, Technical Centre Practice and a class where a set piece of Jazz choreography will be taught. Each class will last 30 minutes.
Required dress: Jazz shoes or trainers that are suitable for dance (i.e. no Converse or similar fashion shoes that are not designed for dance). No loose clothing or jewellery is permitted.
During the day you will be invited for a short interview with a member of the Senior Leadership/Course Management team.
Regular workshop sessions are held to give students the opportunity to work with directors, choreographers and industry professionals whilst training. Second and third year students also have to opportunity to join the Italia Conti Agency and undertake professional work should the opportunity arise. During the 3rd year students take part in their final productions and Showcase (AVT-only) whereby agents are invited, and Italia Conti has connections with many of these.
With over 112 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.