Masters in Musical Theatre
Master in Creative Performance Practice (Music Theatre)
Overview
Programme Name
Master of Arts in Creative Performance Practice (Music Theatre)
Duration
1 Academic year
Language
English
Programme Leader
Validated by UK University
Challenging your artistic and creative voice through music theatre
A new and exciting programme that synergises traditional musical theatre training with entrepreneurship, artistic research and innovation
Programme availability
- Applications closed
The Masters in Creative Performance Practice: Music Theatre is a one-year programme with a focus on realising artistic potential, creating your own work, and academic study, as well as further develop their technique in dance, voice and acting.
It offers a unique programme that combines academic study, creating new work, and artistic development with practical training in all areas of performing arts practice.
Our expectation is that those applying for the Masters have an interest in the creative aspects of Musical Theatre as well as an artistic will and openness.
What is creative performance practice?
“Creative Performance Practice is an open artistic discipline that emphasises not only the final product or production but also places equal importance on the creative processes, personal and individual growth of the artist. It focuses on helping artists find their unique voices, fostering experimentation, pushing boundaries, exploring new languages, driving innovation, and encouraging collaboration and interdisciplinarity across various fields, including acting, theatre, MT, music, audiovisual arts, literature, and writing.
At the same time, it remains conscious of the importance of repertoire and the ability to work within traditional frameworks as a in interpreter, director, singer, writer”.
Our master in musical theatre is part of one of the two specialised pathways that form part of the Master in Creative Performance Practice. The other specialism is Acting. The masters is made up of 120 core credits which are the shared modules. The specialism musical theatre credits are an additional 60 credits and are made up of Creative Lab and Specialists Skills modules.
- Creative performance practice
- Research skills
- Performance theory
- Arts entrepreneurship
- Final project
- Specialist skills: Voice
- Specialist skills: Acting
- Specialist skills: Dance
- Creative Lab
*These modules are shared with the acting specialism
Skill based and exploratory workshops and lectures centre around devising and creation of solo and group performance projects that reflect the studies of Anthropology and Ethnography; Structuralism and Semiotics; Modernism and Postmodernism; Cultural Studies; Literary Studies; Psychoanalysis; Feminism and Queer Theory; and Post-colonial studies.
This creative and expressive element of study is supported by a series of technical classes that focus on the integration of creativity, spontaneity and interpretation to deliver an embodied, physical performance.
This programme will not only challenge and enhance the individual but develop culturally engaged and refined approaches to practical performance.
Specialist Skills
This module seeks to further refine existing skills in Dance, Voice and Acting that underpin all aspects of musical theatre performance. Central to the module is a series of taught technical classes with each focused on a particular aspect to enhance the quality of performance within that discipline for example:
- Voice – will focus on the integration of spoken and singing techniques, accent diversity, diction, voice maintenance with individual technical corrections.
- Acting – will focus on engaging with the dynamics and relationships within an ensemble and advanced integration of text, voice, and physicality.
- Dance – will focus on application of stylistic detail and the ability to analyse, interpret, and pick up choreographic ideas from multiple practitioners.
Skills are required to be developed, not built from the ground up. Applicants are expected to have a level of existing skill that can be developed upon in technical lessons.
Specialist Skills take place in term one, and for parts of terms two and three, as the schedule makes way for Creative Lab and Final Project. The Masters in Creative Practice is not designed to give a comprehensive technical music theatre training, as one might expect in a Foundation or Bachelors training. It is designed to explore the artist and assist this exploration with some expansion of technical ability.
The telling of a personal narrative or simple story will be used as material to deconstruct meaning/intention and explore the opportunities to translate different moments in time from spoken description into lyrics, a cast of characters, a dance interlude and to then reconstruct the material as a piece of fully formed musical theatre. The creative decisions will be aligned and referenced to theoretical frameworks/practitioners.
Creative collaborative practice and critical analysis of how research is used in the development of new work and professional standards of performance will form a backdrop to all the learning activities.
Creative Lab
Who is this MA AIMED AT?
This programme is designed for those ready to immerse themselves in a rich, dynamic, and collaborative environment, contributing to and benefiting from a diverse community of artists and creators.
- Profile of the ideal artist
Passion for Acting and Musical Theatre
While you should have a strong interest in Acting and MT, we are not looking for someone whose focus is limited to these areas. You should also have diverse interests such as literature, cinema, film, music, the arts, politics, and beyond.
Artist-in-Training Mindset
Be prepared to approach the programme not just as a student but as an artist-in-training, with the willingness to work independently and collaboratively under the guidance of mentors or team leaders.
Engagement and Networking
Be enthusiastic about interacting with professionals through curricular and extracurricular activities, including workshops and seminars.
Dynamic and Open-Minded Approach
Demonstrate a readiness to explore your own practice as well as that of others, embrace challenges to your frameworks, and work effectively under pressure.
Creative and Flexible Perspective:
View conventional training as only one component of the MA programme while recognizing the importance of creative exploration.
Dual Interest
Be equally interested in Acting/MT and in creating performances, encompassing various roles such as writer, director, and performer.
Collaborative Spirit
Be willing to share your experiences and engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Inclusivity
Foster an attitude of embracing and respecting others’ perspectives and practices.
Creative Productivity
Be ready to generate substantial creative material across various performing arts fields, including playwriting and directing.
Resourceful and Opportunistic
Make the most of the opportunities available during your time at the Institute of the Arts Barcelona (IAB). View the facilities and venues as resources to create, akin to an artist-in-residence.
- What we do not want
Dogmatism
Those with little or no prior experience in acting who want to learn the basics of performance, voice, and movement.
Resistance to Growth
Those with little or no prior experience in acting who want to learn the basics of performance, voice, and movement.
Narrow Focus
Those with little or no prior experience in acting who want to learn the basics of performance, voice, and movement.
Testing Attitude
Those with little or no prior experience in acting who want to learn the basics of performance, voice, and movement.
How to apply
- 1. Submit your application
- 2. Attend the audition
- 3. Wait for the result
1. Submit your application
To apply for our MA in Creative Performance Practice, you must submit an application and select which audition you would like to attend.
2. Attend the audtition
What does the audition consist of?
Required videos (Prior to the audition)
Part 1: Depends on specialisation:
- Acting: One monologue + optional monologue in your own language
- Music Theatre: One monologue + one song + 60-second jazz dance piece
Part 2: Creative response to stimuli:
A creative response of about 2 minutes to one of the stimuli listed in the audition guide.
One-to-One Interview
Online interview and discussion with yourself and members of the MA teaching team.
3. Wait for the result
The audition results can take up to 4 weeks to process.
Entry criteria
Successful audition, IELTS 6.5 or equivalent and, a BA (Hons) at 2.2 or above or an equivalent academic award, or, a long-term sustained professional career as a performer or creative practitioner.Â
Find out more about our entry requirements.
Our tuition fees are made up of a number of different components and are determined by your nationality, country of residence and programme of study.
ANNUAL TUITION FEES
- €11,900
Additional annual fees:
- €500 – Non-refundable registration fee
- €80 – IAB Health Clinic membership
Fees
ANNUAL TUITION FEES
- €16,900
Additional annual fees:
- €500 – Non-refundable registration fee
- €80 – IAB Health Clinic membership
Successful audition, IELTS 6.5 or equivalent and, a BA (Hons) at 2.2 or above or an equivalent academic award, or, a long-term sustained professional career as a performer or creative practitioner.Â
Find out more about our entry requirements.
A graduation will be arranged by the IAB for all graduating students. Further information is provided directly to graduating students.Â
Degree of Master of Arts in Creative Performance Practice (Music Theatre)
After successfully completing your MA in Creative Performance Practice: (Music Theatre), you will receive a UK university certificate and transcript of studies issued by Liverpool John Moores University.
The certificate wording will state:Â
Degree of Master of Arts with (classification) having followed an approved programme of study in Creative Performance Practice (Music Theatre)
The BA (Hons) Musical Theatre programme is a three-year degree with a focus on technical training to become a musical theatre performer.
The Masters programme is a one-year programme with a focus on realising artistic potential, creating your own work, and academic study, as well as further developing technique in dance, voice and acting. Our expectation is that those applying for the Masters have an interest in the creative aspects of Musical Theatre as well as an artistic will and openness.
The course will focus on exploring artistic and creative voice, meaning students will enhance their understanding of the creative aspects of the art; learn how to devise, create and produce their own works; and gain experience from multiple productions and stage performances. There is a smaller focus on triple threat, technical training, designed to enhance existing skills, not give a comprehensive tuition.Â
The MA is suitable for those wanting to explore other options beyond traditional MT triple threat performance. Whilst still covering traditional skills, the MA allows students to explore elements of writing, research, collaboration and making new work.
Yes, regular one-to-one classes are a part of the specialist skills module. While this module is running, you will have singing classes.
75% of the programme will be practical-based teaching.
Absolutely! The focus on artistic voice means that people from all backgrounds can realise their creative potential through this course. The diversity of a cohort only strengthens the collaboration that is vital to a Masters program. A strong interest or experience in Musical Theatre or related performing arts field is, however, a requirement.
It would be helpful for applicants to have an understanding of the techniques in Jazz, specifically.
Students studying Masters are graduates and usually aged in the mid 20s to early 30s.
Given the intensity of the programme, whilst this is possible to work at the weekends, most students will instead choose to find work during the holiday periods instead.
- Applications closed
- Applications open
