Qualification | Diploma
Course Leader | Andrew Waldron
Validated by | Trinity College London
Location | Woking
Course Length | 3 Years, Full-Time
Start Date | September 2024
The Level 6 Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre at Italia Conti, is a three-year, full time vocational course, for anyone aged 16+ wishing to become a professional Musical Theatre performer
The Level 6 Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre is awarded by Trinity College London and regulated by Ofqual. It is Level 6 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework.
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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.
The course covers the key disciplines required for aspiring musical theatre performers, with various modes of assessment through the three years of training.
Students focus on the fundamentals of the core disciplines and skill integration to ensure students can begin to employ the required triple threat skills of the separate disciplines in unison. Year 1 focuses upon traditional musical theatre material and stimuli to appreciate historical performance contexts and lyrical and traditional singing, acting and dance styles.
The work covered is concerned with the acquisition of core technical skills in Acting, Singing, Dance and Voice and provide the foundation for their training as a Musical Theatre Performer. These core skills are brought together in the Musical Theatre Performance Practice workshops where students will learn to apply the skills they have learnt holistically in a musical theatre performance, with equal emphasis placed on all three.
In Dance, students study ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and commercial dance styles. In Singing, students study ensemble singing, repertoire studies, acting through song, musicianship and singing technique. In Acting, students study improvisation, acting skills and practitioners, scene study, and voice and text. Musical Theatre workshops focus upon ensemble song and dance performance, ensemble character development, featured performances and musical theatre duets.
All students attend a weekly guest workshop with an industry guest tutor from choreographers, directors and musical directors through to current professional performers, dance captains, resident creatives, script writers and dramaturgs, and much more!
Within Contextual Practice, students explore health and safety as an emerging performer in theatre. This focuses on areas such as safe practice in class, injury prevention and overall positive health and well-being. Lessons are also used to contextualise the landscape of musical theatre and materials covered in other classes.
Core 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 three 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 including the swing project, contemporary British play project and the abridged book musical project.
Within Contextual Practice, students explore the history of musical theatre. This focuses on the development of musical theatre as a social and politic influence, as well as recognising the chronologic evolution of theatrical trends. Lessons are also used to contextualise the landscape of musical theatre and materials covered in other classes.
Guest workshops also appear in Level 5 to ensure students continue to meet with current industry practitioners, performers and creatives.
In Year 3 the students’ focus shifts to three main areas: Professional Performance, Professional Preparation and Employability, and Professional Technical Skills.
The courses draws together all previous training in preparing for a career as a well-rounded, versatile and highly employable professional Musical Theatre performer.
Students will perform in two fully staged book musicals, and an Industry Showcase. Students finish the year with final skills assessments in Singing, Acting and Dance.
Professional Preparation and Employability workshops will hone audition technique in the three 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.
Within Contextual Practice, student engage with two main focuses:
Employability skills and professional practice will hone audition technique in the three 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.
Research and Reflection promotes the reflective practitioner and draws upon learning acquired across the first two year of training and placing this into a professional capacity. Students will reflect on their engagement with productions, research into characters and contexts for shows performed in, and reflect upon their training as a whole and the progress they have made.
Students will continue training in Acting, Singing and Dance 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.
Tuition Fees | £15990 per academic year, (paid in advanced termly instalments) Trinity College Fee | £220 – £250 (paid per annum, set by Trinity College London) Audition Fee | £45 (non-refundable) Deposit | £275
Terms and conditions apply upon acceptance to Italia Conti.
The BA (Hons) course offers the following funding options:
Italia Conti welcomes applications for audition fee waivers for those who are eligible.
Italia Conti welcomes applications for deposit fee waivers for those who are eligible.
It’s fantastic. Showcases, shows, summer shows, carol concerts. It’s very full on but I don’t wake up regretting coming here. It is the best thing ever!
“The college provides you with a disciplined, yet family atmosphere that trains you to become the best of the best moving forwards into the performing arts industry.”
“Italia Conti has helped me in terms of my acting development, but also as a person and how I engage and view the world, which aids me as an actor.”
“The building and staff inside welcome you with open arms, guide you through your training and proudly push you, prepped with the best tools for the job.”
“Italia Conti allowed me to do my favorite thing, every day in a safe space amongst talented, supportive people. Being taught by skillful tutors was invaluable. The small classes ensured my voice was always heard and helped me hone my skills.”
“My training at Italia Conti has challenged, fulfilled, and broadened me as an actor and as a person. The buffet of techniques on offer will allow me to meet all challenges in any avenue.”
“The influx of inspiring people flowing through the building creates an atmosphere for greatness and I am honoured to be a part of that.”
“I couldn’t have asked for a more understanding place to spend these crucial moments. The door is always open for us to come back ‘home’ for advice, or even for a cup of tea!”
“Having the most supportive faculty (many of which are working professionals), who are always pushing you to be the best version of yourself has made my transition into the industry a seamless one.”
After completing the application process you will be invited to attend one of our audition days where you will be required to demonstrate a variety of skills. Information about auditions can be found below.
Application to the Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre course can be made using our online application form.
Applicants must complete the form and pay the audition fee (£45) in order to be considered for the course. Upon receiving your application we will contact you with your audition date.
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.
In line with our admissions policy, the Italia Conti reserves the right to alter or withdraw offers at any point.
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 Plié exercise from 8 minutes 22. Prior to this, the exercise is taught in full by our Head of Ballet. Please click here
Please record yourself performing the following Jazz sequence from 9 minutes 50. Please click here
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.
Please wear tight fitting clothing to allow the panel to see your movement fully.
Recall auditions will take place on site at one of our current campuses before our relocation to Woking for September 2022. (See relocation) Whilst Italia Conti are striving to hold face-to-face recall auditions for the musical theatre courses, should there be a change in COVID-19 regulations an alternative recall tasks may be supplied.
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.
Required dress: Please wear tight fitting clothing to allow the panel to see your movement fully.
During the day you will be invited for a short online interview with a member of the Senior Leadership/Course Management team.
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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 Showcase whereby agents are invited, and Italia Conti has connections with many of these.
Italia Conti offer’s a 1 year Top Up Degree for Diploma students.
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.
Qualification | Degree
Course Leader | Dan Fulham
Validated by | University of East London (UEL)
Qualification | Certificate of Higher Education
Course Leader | Erica Lawrence
Course Length | 1 Year, Full-Time