AN OVERVIEW

The BA Musical Theatre programme is for progressive and talented students who are dedicated to developing their skills in acting, singing, dance and music. We’re looking for the next cohort of students who want to train with us alongside industry professionals, and who aspire towards a career in the competitive musical theatre industry.

This programme is distinctive in that it offers conservatoire-level tuition in four disciplines – acting, singing, dance and music. We want to work with people who are original, talented, committed and inspired by collaboration; performers of the future who will celebrate and share their skills in a wide range of professional contexts.

Perform

Your education here will begin with a focus on process, leading to high quality performance opportunities alongside industry workshops and showcase. Our aim is that you will graduate from this programme as a confident, versatile artist ready to work in the profession.

Collaborate

RCS is the only conservatoire in Europe to offer programmes in dance, drama, music, production and film. We encourage collaboration between all art forms and as a student here, you will regularly enjoy opportunities to work with those from other disciplines and programmes. You will also have the opportunity to learn with industry professionals during your studies, benefiting from the Royal Conservatoire’s close relationships with Scotland’s national artistic companies, alongside UK and International creatives.

Our graduates consistently gain industry representation and continue to work across the arts and entertainment sectors. Graduates can currently be seen performing in the West End, on Broadway, in national and international tours, with national companies, regional theatres, and in a variety of television and film projects. Many of our graduates also go on to create their own companies and produce work, effecting changes within the industry in positive and meaningful ways.

Apply now

Institution Code:

R58

Programme Code:

202F

UK Deadline:

25 January 2023

International Deadline:

25 January 2023

Programme structure

This is a skills focused-year as you work to identify areas of development within acting, music, dance and voice. Underpinning this is a focus on self-reflection and goal-setting, as you develop your practice through performance classes, workshops and tutorials. You will also broaden your knowledge and understanding of musical theatre history, context and repertoire.

This year offers a blend of skills classes and projects, as you focus more on integration of practice. You will broaden your awareness of industry practices and consider your potential as an artist within it, as well as contributing to the continued evolution of the form.

The final year provides the bridge between training and the profession, offering performance opportunities in a variety of contexts. Skills classes and seminars are focused on industry engagement including audition techniques, self-employed business management and professional practice activities. Industry showcase and/or the creation of digital portfolio materials will ensure you have opportunities to meet and be met by industry professionals.


Singing Lecturers
  • Marjory Watson
  • Arlene Rolph
  • Claire Thomas
  • Phillip Shades
Dance Lecturers
  • Rowan MacGregor
  • Courtney Bailey Alan
  • Dr Lucy Weir
  • Alan Greig
  • Giullia Montalbano
  • Suzanne Shanks
  • Salma Faraji
  • Freya Jeffs
  • Michelle MacIsaac
Acting Lecturers
Music Lecturers
Voice Lecturers
  • Hilary Jones – Lecturer in Voice and Voice for Media (SDDPF) and the Centre for Voice in Performance (CViP)
  • Melanie Drake – Lecturer in Voice (SDDPF) and the Centre for Voice in Performance (CViP)
  • Bill Wright -Lecturer in Voice (SDDPF) and the Centre for Voice in Performance (CViP)
Artist in Development/Practice Lecturers
  • Melanie Bell
  • Susie Dumbreck
  • Eu Jin Hwang
Regular visiting lecturers and industry professionals
  • Louise Shephard (Associate Artist – Directing & Performance)
  • Sarah Wilkie (Associate Artist – Choreography)
  • Aaron Lee-Lambert
  • Tom Cooper
  • Andy McGregor
  • Becky Hope-Palmer
  • Alexandra Spencer-Jones
  • Ken Alexander
  • Urbanix Choreography

The Pajama Game: Truths, Challenges and Fresh Looks

Read the blog post of how Theatre Director and MA Classical and Contemporary Text graduate (2013), Becky Hope-Palmer led the BA Musical Theatre Class of 2021 through The Pajama Game under Covid-19 restrictions, delivering a fresh take on the show whilst still retaining all the 1950s Golden Age magic with the timeless story of capital vs labour at the heart of it.

 

Read The Pajama Game blog

Graduate Destinations

Graduates are working in London’s West End, regional theatres, film and television productions and with major companies including the National Theatre of Scotland, Citizens Theatre, Dundee Rep and the BBC. Following showcase, the majority of our students are signed by agents from the UK and overseas.

Recent graduate successes include:

  • Nina Gray (Class of 2021) – Girl (Feature Film – BBC, BFI, Screen Scotland)
  • Michael Ahomka-Lindsay (Class of 2021) – Legally Blonde : The Musical (Regents Park Open Air)
  • Zweyla Mitchell dos Santos (Class of 2021) – Once (The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield)
  • Marc McMillan (Class of 2021) – Underwood Lane (The Tron, Glasgow)
  • Caitlin Forbes (Class of 2021) – The Stamping Ground (Eden Court, Inverness)
  • Joy Tann (Class of 2020) – The Crucible (National Theatre)
  • Georgie Buckand (Class of 2020) – Bedknobs and Broomsticks (UK tour)
  • Julia McMurray (Class of 2020) – Underwood Lane (The Tron, Glasgow)
  • Isaac Savage & Jonathan O’Neill (Class of 2020) – Writing & Producing own work (‘O-Neill and Savage’)
  • Harry Mills (Class of 2019) – Wicked (West End)
  • Fergus Dale (Class of 2019) – Wicked (West End)
  • Hannah Visocchi (Class of 2019) – Peter Gynt (National Theatre)
  • Duncan Shelton (Class of 2019) – Harry Potter & the Cursed Child (West End)
  • Charlie McCullagh (Class of 2018) – Bonnie & Clyde (West End)
  • Lydia White (Class of 2018) – The Last Five Years (off-West End)
  • Meg Forgan (Class of 2018) – The Worst Witch (UK Tour)
  • Grace Galloway (Class of 2018) – Blood Brothers (UK Tour)
  • Barney Wilkinson (Class of 2017) – Into the Woods (Theatre Royal, Bath)
  • Emma Mullen (Class of 2017) – Mamma Mia (UK and International Tour)
  • Liam Vincent-Kilbride (Class of 2017) – Son of a Preacher Man/Honk (UK tour)
  • Julian Capolei (Class of 2017) – Aladdin (West End)

Why choose us?

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is consistently ranked in the World Top 10 for performing arts education (QS World Rankings 2023)

  • Intensive musical theatre training with actor-musician specialism
  • Industry showcase
  • Excellent staff-student ratio. Including one-to-one lessons and tutorials.
  • A high level of one-to-one contact including lessons in singing, repertoire and instruments
  • Excellent industry connections
  • Experienced staff, who continue to work professionally as creatives. performers and leaders in their field
  • Learn in a unique conservatoire environment alongside musicians, dancers, actors, filmmakers and production students
  • Public performances in state-of-the-art facilities and external venues

Chanson from The Baker’s Wife

As part of RCS at Home, BA Musical Theatre performed Chanson with a special introduction by Stephen Schwartz.

Virtual Tour

Explore the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in our 360 virtual tour. You’ll be able to see our rehearsal and practice rooms, professional performance venues, production workshops, editing suite, ballet studios and more.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Admissions process

Our admissions processes are designed to be fair, transparent and efficient. The audition/interview approach serves the dual nature of allowing the panel to assess first-hand an applicant’s suitability for their chosen programme and it also affords the applicant the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the nature of that programme and the opportunities offered by the RCS.

In arriving at its recommendation, the audition/interview panel will take account of all aspects of the applicant’s profile i.e.:

  • Performance at audition/interview
  • Commitment to the particular programme
  • Potential to benefit from the programme
  • Academic qualifications
  • Personal statement
  • Performance qualifications
  • Performance/practical experience
  • References
  • Contextualised data
General academic entrance requirements

 

  • Scottish Highers — 3 passes (grade C or above)
  • A Levels — 2 passes
  • International Baccalaureate — minimum score of 24 with 3 subjects at Higher Level
  • Recognised equivalences (EU and International Entry Requirements)

We welcome the Scottish Baccalaureate and will accept combinations of Highers and Advanced Highers.

We offer a flexible approach to students taking Higher over more than one academic year and/or who achieve their qualifications in more than one sitting.

Language of study

The language of study is English. Applicants who first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. We accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Level 7.5 (with no component below 5.5) is required.

Direct entry

Applications for direct entry beyond Year 1 will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Royal Conservatoire’s Recognition of Prior (Experiential) Learning policy. If you wish to apply for direct entry, please mark the point of entry on UCAS Conservatoires application as 2 or 3.

Non-standard entry

We welcome applications from individuals whose academic qualifications or English language qualifications do not match (in terms of equivalence) or fall short of the normal entrance requirements, where specified*. Having satisfied the Audition Panel that they meet the selection criteria and demonstrated that they have the capacity to pursue the proposed course of study, such applicants will be considered through examination of contextualised data provided in accordance with the Non-Standard Entry Policy. The appropriate Head of Department/ Programme will make a case in support of the applicant for consideration by the Directors of the Schools and Convener of the Quality and Standards Committee.

*Note that UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) imposes minimum English Language qualifications in respect of international (non-EU) applicants who require a Tier 4 Visa to study in the UK.

Mature students

RCS welcomes applications from mature students, i.e. students over the age of 21 at entry to the programme. Whilst the selection procedures will still be applied, consideration will be given to appropriate artistic experience not normally expected in school leavers, which is deemed to compensate for any lack of traditional entrance qualifications.

Successful mature applicants, as for all other applicants, must convince auditioning panels that they have the ability and potential to cope with the demands of the programme. Their progress, especially in the early stages of the programme, will be closely monitored and appropriate advice and support given.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply via UCAS Conservatoires

Applications are made through UCAS Conservatoires website. The UCAS Conservatoires application system is separate from the main UCAS undergraduate application system. If you wish to apply to conservatoires and universities within UCAS, you will need to register for both services.

There is a UCAS application fee of £26.50 to register to use UCAS Conservatoires.

To begin a new UCAS Conservatoires application, you will need to register. You can read the UCAS Conservatoires’ advice on completing the UCAS Conservatoires application.

If you need assistance with your application, you can contact UCAS Conservatoires team by telephoning (Monday to Friday, 8.30 — 18.00). Phone 0371 468 0470 from within the UK or +44 330 3330 232 if you are calling from overseas.

The deadline for all applicants is 25 January 2023. If you submit your application after this date, we cannot guarantee that it will be reviewed.

Once you submit your UCAS Conservatoires application, please then upload your audition recording to Acceptd – https://app.getacceptd.com/rcs.

If you submit your application after this date, we cannot guarantee that your audition recording will be reviewed by the audition panel. If you do want to submit a late application, you must contact admissions@rcs.ac.uk in the first instance to check we are accepting late applications

We do not offer deferred entry. If you wish to commence in 2024, you must apply next year.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland institution code is R58.

You will also require the following programme code to apply:

BA Musical Theatre: 202F — Drama Performance

Application fee

There is a UCAS Conservatoires application fee of £26.50. In addition to the application fee, each conservatoire charges an audition assessment administration fee. For RCS, the audition assessment administration fee is £55 per programme applied for. Fees are not refundable. The fees are paid via the UCAS Conservatoires website and not directly to RCS.

Audition Assessment Administration Fee

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland charges an audition assessment administration fee of £55 per course.

We recognise that auditioning and interviewing for conservatoires, drama and ballet schools can be costly. The audition assessment administration fee charge allows us to offer a thorough and positive experience to all applicants and we encourage you to get in touch to ask the panel questions and find out more about the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to see if it is the best place for you.

We are committed to ensuring fair access to a conservatoire education for students who have the talent and potential to benefit from it, regardless of their background. In support of this, audition fee waivers are offered to applicants whom financial hardship may be a barrier to auditioning. Please see the audition fee waivers document for more information.

References

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