PROFESSIONAL SKILLS - 2020/1

Module Overview

This Module Introduces students to a variety of professional skills required to have a successful career as a musical theatre performer. The module is comprised of:

• Two rehearsal projects which are simulations of professional rehearsal practice,


• Classes in professional audition skills and an understanding of the industry,


• Classes in the socio-political, economic and cultural influences on the industry, providing a wider contextual understanding.

Classic Musical Project

In this module students will focus on the application of practitioner study in praxis and the application of acting theory through song and scenes, and specifically Musical Theatre naturalism and ensemble work. Students will study a musical from the Golden Age of Broadway (1943 - 1967) or similar, which was designed to be sung without amplification using legit technique, in which the dance style was based in ballet technique and with naturalistic scenes. Examples include Oklahoma! Guys and Dolls or My Fair Lady.

Contemporary Musical Project

In this unit students apply technique through rehearsal to workshop performance to a key text of dramatic musical theatre. Project key texts will be drawn from the musical theatre canon, focusing on musicals that are currently playing or have recently played on Broadway or in the West End which were designed to be sung with amplification (although amplification is not used for the project), in which the dance style is based in any of the current techniques used in recent musicals. Projects may be sung-through or include book scenes.

Students are given the opportunity to apply the methodologies learnt through a rehearsal process which culminates in a performance to peers.
In both of the above projects, through a process of rehearsal/workshops students will work on extended sequences from an extant text and create a performance that demonstrates the integration of key skills in acting, singing and dancing, as both ensemble and protagonist in a truthful way in front of an audience.

Students will also begin their study of the Musical Theatre Industry, in which they will gain an understanding of the work-place they will enter. This will include a study of Audition Technique, the economic and legal structures of the industry, key creative roles and the production processes for professional musical theatre. Students will also study their role within the industry and strategies for auditioning successfully. 

Students examine and discuss the social, economic and cultural influences upon the origins and development of the genre within the United States of America and the United Kingdom and critical theory is introduced with topics covered including post-colonialism, feminism and Marxism all within the context of contemporary Musical Theatre.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

HERBERT Paul (GSA)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

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

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Student must have passed Research and Rehearsal

Module content

Rehearsal & Performance Classic Musical and Adaptation
Text Study and Analysis in practice
Physical Text and Action
Applying analysis in performance
Integration of disciplines
Simulated professional rehearsal process
Textual analysis of song

Professional Skills

Understanding the industry

Key professional roles

Understanding the ecology of Musical Theatre in the UK and globally

Audition technique

Professional Profile Building

Contextual classes

Understanding the ecology of Musical Theatre in the UK and globally

Understanding of socio-political and academic theories and their application to Musical Theatre.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

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

the acquisition of key rehearsal and performance skills

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

Rehearsal Process Assessment (Classic Musical) – 40%. Teaching Block 1

• Use of objectives within performance settings


• Integration of genre appropriate skills


• Sustaining energy and character in exercise or performance


• Creative and Imaginative solo/partner/ensemble work


• Continuous assessment of class/rehearsal based process

Rehearsal Process Assessment (Contemporary Musical) – 40%. Teaching Block 2

• Use of objectives within performance settings


• ntegration of genre appropriate skills


• Sustaining energy and character in exercise or performance


• Creative and Imaginative solo/partner/ensemble work


• Continuous assessment of class/rehearsal based process

Practical: Mock Audition – 20%. Teaching Block 2

• Contextual Understanding


• Song Choice within a given brief


• Integration of singing and acting skills


• Understanding the individual’s role in the industry

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is crucial to this module. Students are given formative feedback on their contribution to the Context classes, emphasising the role of the inquiring performer. 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 Outcome(s)

• Use of objectives within performance settings


• Integration of skills


• Sustaining energy and character in exercise or performance


• Creative and Imaginative solo/partner/ensemble work


• Continuous assessment of class/rehearsal based process


• Contribution to Context seminars

Module aims

• Consolidate the fundamentals of a range of study and practitioner theory and enabling the student to realise the theory and class based work in praxis.
• Introduce students to the process of working in rehearsal to a public performance. The module is intended to be a practical integration of all the varying skills that students have studied across Level 4 and Level 5 in a practical and supportive tutor/director led process.
• Explore dynamic systems of rehearsal, and the expectations of a professional rehearsal process.
• Introduce the integration of acting singing and dancing skills required of the triple-threat performer.
• Introduce the new performer to the structures and traditions of Musical Theatre Industry and to dynamically explore successful auditions.
• Allow the student to consider the wider contexts of the Musical Theatre canon which builds on the learning in Level 4.

Learning outcomes

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 extended and best practice in the profession.


• To enable students to acquire skills in character building, physical presence and intention in the space all of which lead on to a firm foundation moving toward the study of acting at Level 5.


• Enable students to make sophisticated investigations into the wider contexts of Musical Theatre


• Introduce the student to the workings of the profession and understand their own place within it. 

The learning and teaching methods include:

Group Seminars

Group and individual research sessions

Project rehearsal

Across the Teaching Block this module is delivered over 300 hours study 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: MUT2025

Other information

Under the three term structure that commences from academic year 2019/0 – this module’s delivery is year-long due to the teaching occurring in Teaching Blocks 1 and 2.

Programmes this module appears in

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 2020/1 academic year.