MUSICAL THEATRE - 2027/8

Module Overview

Musical Theatre is the first of six compulsory modules within the BA (Hons) Theatre. Students will explore how tradition and innovation have shaped musical theatre as an artform from its origins to the present day. Through an investigation of the development of the genre, students will identify and discuss a variety of social and cultural influences on a key musical theatre work. The coursework essay is the summative assessment.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

TRINGHAM Anna (GSA)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content for the module consists of a series of units of study and a reading list which is prepared by the module tutor and delivered via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Surrey Learn. Musical Theatre may include the following indicative topics: origins and influences, Jazz and the Great Depression, the Golden Age, and the present day. Seminars and tutorials will focus on the nature of musical theatre as an evolving form, as well as providing guidance on academic writing skills. Independent learning hours are allocated to allow the student to fully engage with this content.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

Assessment Philosophy

Assessment across the BA (Hons) Theatre (online) programme supports the development of each student as an artist and professional, as well as an academic writer. It prioritises clear thinking expressed in the student¿s own voice, evidence of process, development and decision-making, sustained reflection on learning over time, and the integration of theory with lived creative practice.

Academic language is expected to emerge from genuine understanding rather than replace it. Students are encouraged to write in the first person where appropriate and to evidence how their ideas evolve through study, practice and reflection. Assignment briefs therefore require documentation of process, including challenges and changes of direction, so that learning is visible and personal.

In a context where generative AI can produce generalised responses, assessment prioritises work that is specific, situated and grounded in the student¿s experience, attending not only to what students know but to how students think, create and develop as artists and professionals.

Summative Assessment Brief

The summative assessment will ask students to explain their ideas plainly in their own words, then translate those same ideas into academic language. The assignment brief will require students to evidence their understanding of module content, as well as their ability to move between written registers and develop an academic voice.

Students are provided with the opportunity to demonstrate:

• Knowledge and comprehension of key theatrical texts and performance conventions.
• Knowledge and comprehension of the processes by which theatre and performance are conceived and realised.
• Knowledge and comprehension of theatrical traditions and contemporary innovations.
• The ability to analyse and evaluate the relationships between dramatic texts and their social, historical, and political contexts.
• The application of critical thinking to theatrical work and articulate the written results with an independent academic voice.
• Clear communication in written coursework on a digital platform.
• The ability to synthesise of verbal and written feedback on coursework from faculty.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Coursework Essay in response to a written brief.

The formative assessment and feedback consists of:

An outline or plan for the summative assignment. This may include, but is not restricted to:

• A series of PowerPoint or equivalent slides
• A visual or graphic plan such as a mind map
• Spoken commentary recorded as audio or video.

Informal, formative feedback from tutors will be provided by, but is not restricted to:

• Personal tutorials via video call
• Question and answer exchanges via email
• News feed on the VLE.

Ongoing, informal, formative feedback from the tutor may be facilitated by, but is not restricted to, Discussion Boards on the VLE and email exchanges at the students' request.

Module aims

• Introduce students to various permutations of music(al) theatre, from ancient times to the present day.
• Enable students to develop a capacity for critical analysis of musical theatre and its component parts.
• Support students to articulate their ideas in an appropriate written format.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Actively engage the online learner with the key concepts of musical theatre.


• Unfold a structured exploration of musical theatre history and key texts from the genre.


• Enable the online learner to make a considered analysis of a selected musical theatre work.


• Support the online learner to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the key concepts.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Guided Learning in units of study and a reading list delivered via the VLE, Surrey Learn


• Independent Learning allowing the student to fully engage with the content and beyond


• Seminars delivered during intensive online study weekends.


• Tutorials delivered online by the module tutor throughout the study period

GSA delivers its provision across three teaching blocks within the University of Surrey¿s existing semester structure.

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: TDL3017

Other information

Guildford School of Acting trains students, within their chosen fields, to have an understanding and appreciation of Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow acting students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

Global & Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, Digital Capabilities, Employability

Musical Theatre contributes to achieving the educational aims of the programme by guiding students to apply critical thinking to the broader cultural contexts of a theatrical genre, promoting engagement with global, social, and ethical issues, fostering digital citizenship through the nature of online learning, and offering insight into the practical aspects of musical theatre, thus preparing students for a wide range of potential professional destinations.

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 2027/8 academic year.