THE BOOK MUSICAL - 2019/0

Module code: MUT3019

Module Overview

This module introduces students to the demands and rigours regarding the expectations, discipline and professionalism required of the contemporary professional actor. The module expands students’ experience of and encourages further development of approaches to performance, rehearsal and auditioning for specific roles in specific productions.
The selection of material for the production modules is determined by the range, skills and dynamics of each student year group. Every effort is made to provide material which reflects the professional market and which challenges the students artistically.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

WOOLFORD Julian (GSA)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Tis a core part of the training at GSA, students undertake a full rehearsal process and full performance usually staged at The Ivy Arts Centre. Students work with and engage with the wider professional community and it is expected that at Level 6 students are expected to show a high level of understanding in the following:
Textual Understanding.
Characterisation.
Vocal technique and delivery.
Dance technique and delivery.
Integration of technique.
Sustained rehearsal work.
Teamwork.
Directors, musical directors and choreographers are drawn either from senior faculty, selected from the informal pool of professional working directors who work regularly for GSA, or invited to meet the specific demands and requirements of a particular production. We operate strict selection criteria and expect directors to comply with detailed production guidelines.
Casting for productions in the third year involves audition in order to extend the students’ readiness for the profession. Every effort is made to provide students with a range of performance experience and of directors.

Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Practical based assessment Continuous Assessment: Rehearsal Process 60
Practical based assessment Performance Assessment: Performance in Musical 40

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

Skills in rehearsal and performance, character building, physical and vocal presence, and intention in the space.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

Rehearsal Process (60%) – Teaching Block 1


  • Integration of disciplines

  • Contextual understanding

  • Character analysis and understanding

  • Understanding and application of theory

  • Ensemble work

  • Rehearsal discipline



Performance (40%) – Teaching Block 1


  • Integration of disciplines

  • Contextual understanding

  • Character analysis and understanding

  • Understanding and application of theory

  • Ensemble work

  • Performance discipline



Formative assessment and feedback  

Formative assessment is crucial to this module. In mirroring industry practice, students are given detailed constant verbal feedback and during classes and rehearsal, which enables students to develop and act upon notes given. Students are encouraged to create a reflective journal which encourages and develops their own reflective practice.

Student activity link to Learning Outcomes


  • Integration of disciplines

  • Contextual understanding

  • Character analysis and understanding

  • Understanding and application of theory

  • Ensemble work

  • Rehearsal and performance discipline


Module aims

  • To consolidate the skills requisite to the creating and sustaining of a character
  • To integrate Acting, Dance, Voice and Singing techniques acquired and developed at Levels Four and Five
  • To provide a working environment which adheres to professional values and codes of conduct, employing professional directors, musical directors, choreographers and designers
  • Creative and intelligent engagement with group and collective processes and the interplay between the performers in the realisation of performance

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
001 Demonstrate integrated technical skills in acting, singing and dancing to a professional level K
002 Evaluate the relationship between the performer, the narrative, the rehearsal, and performance context. C
003 Develop a performance, imagination and understanding of style and genre. C
004 Demonstrate effective skills in a collaboration. T
005 Develop and demonstrate the effective application of learned practices. P
006 Demonstrate creative, original and imaginative approaches to work in performance. P

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Place an emphasis on the practical development of skills that are required for imminent entry into the profession. The module provides students with practical experience of a rehearsal process that integrates various points of study from Level 4 and Level 5, providing valuable experience that enables them to enter the industry at the end of Level 6 study.
The learning and teaching methods include:


  • Group rehearsals

  • Individual rehearsals and tutorials (where appropriate)

  • Group and Individual research sessions

  • Feedback (Notes) sessions



The module is vocational in intent and delivery and encourages students to participate in reflection on their own practice, independent study and research and embeds the concepts of peer to peer feedback within the rehearsal room.
Students receive regular verbal feedback individually and as a group during each class which they are encouraged to journal within the reflection time which is built in to the schedule.
Students are encouraged to self-assess and peer-assess within the class structure which becomes a valuable strategy for visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning.

The module is delivered over 150 hours study across the term including, class, seminar and self-study.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MUT3019

Other information

Under the three term structure that commences from academic year 2019/0 – this module’s delivery falls in Semester 1 due to the teaching occurring in Teaching Block 1.

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Musical Theatre BA (Hons) 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2019/0 academic year.