MA Musical Theatre Performance (Associated Studios)
Gain highly practical musical theatre training with Associated Studios
Gain highly practical musical theatre training with Associated Studios
- Train at Associated Studios in London
- Learn from some of the top industry practitioners in London
- Gain an MA degree on this intensive and practical one year course
- Feel prepared for your future career in the performing arts industry
Overview
Expand your musical theatre performance skills on an industry-leading course
This vocational MA offers one year of intensive practical training in dancing, singing and acting, as you develop the professional-level skills required to become an outstanding musical theatre performer.
Apply without needing a prior degree
Please note that advanced performers who have an appropriate level of skill across at least two of the major disciplines will be considered, even if they do not hold a prior degree.
Train at Associated Studios in London
This course is delivered at Associated Studios, a leading British Drama school in Kensington, London, dedicated to providing top-level training in musical theatre for aspiring performers who have the potential and ability to pursue a professional career.
Associated Studios takes pride in developing performers of the highest calibre, with graduates going on to perform in shows in the West End, national tours, regional theatre, film and TV, cruise ships and more.
Learn from top industry practitioners
Teaching staff at Associated Studios hold prominent positions in the world of musical theatre with award-winning producers, directors, vocal coaches, musical directors, agents and choreographers working to听prepare you for today’s diverse and challenging performing arts business.
Build professional skills and experience ahead of your career
Throughout the course, you will develop your technical performance skills and implement them in a number of public performance opportunities in London.
You will also be given the opportunity to perform for numerous agents and casting directors throughout the end of your course, to help you secure representation and generate work as you take the next steps into your career.
The Course
Develop your technique and performing skills in acting, dancing and singing
This one-year course is split into four different terms.
- The first three terms take place full-time at Associated Studios.
- The fourth term (July/ August/September) is a time of preparing for your Extended Independent Study, which takes the form of a public cabaret.
Acting
- Scene Study
- Text
- Monologue
- Character work
- Shakespeare
- Voice
- Improvisation
- Movement
- Screen Acting
- Production of full-scale play.
Dance and Movement
Streamed Dance classes focusing on:
- Jazz
- Ballet
- Technique
- Tap
- Musical Theatre Routine
- Mock Dance Auditions
- Yoga
- Pilates.
Industry Classes and Masterclasses
Performance and mock audition classes with Agents, Casting Directors and other Industry luminaries including eminent West End performers.
Marketing and Business Seminars
Classes covering the entrepreneurial aspect required of a professional performer, including:
- An introduction to Marketing and Accounting
- How to construct a Cabaret
- How to write a good industry standard CV
- Getting your headshots right
- Writing to agents
- Self-tape skills
- Understanding theatre terminology.
Singing and Music
- Individual 1-1 Singing Lessons
- Ensemble Singing
- Acting through Song
- Professional Resilience
- Pop/Rock Workshops
- Repertoire Classes to build a comprehensive Audition portfolio covering all genres of song required for professional Musical Theatre auditions.
Projects
There are many projects that aim to build the other tools you will need to succeed in the professional musical theatre industry, including:
- New Writing: Work with leading contemporary theatre composers on new musicals.
- Public Production: You will take part in a full-scale musical that will be performed in a professional, central London theatre, after a production period of approximately eight weeks. In this time, all regular classes will be suspended and replaced by company rehearsals.
- Swing/ Song & Dance Project: You will be cast in a large section of a show as both ensemble and lead/swing. You will learn how to create a swing map and cover both lead and ensemble tracks and choreography.
- Public Play Performance: A rehearsed play working with an industry-leading director and performed in a London theatre.
- Industry Panel Week: The MA culminates in an industry panel week, where you will perform each day in front of a group of some of the top agents and casting teams in the industry. Associated Studios is thrilled to have an exceptionally high success rate of students being offered representation from this event.
- Extended Independent Study: As an MA student, you will create your own cabaret show as part of your final module. This project enables you to self-direct a cabaret performance, as well as produce the show in full. You will book venues, arrange rehearsals and apply the gained skills and repertoire. The subject of your piece will be decided by you and which areas of theatre you wish to explore further.
Teaching and Assessment
Feel the support of expert and experienced tutors and practitioners
Smaller class sizes for better learning and support
Associated Studios is a prestigious, boutique school, committed to taking on a small cohort, treating students as individuals and artists in a 鈥榝amily鈥� atmosphere.听
Our smaller class sizes ensure that we can get to know each one of our students, so every student receives personal attention and rigorous training. 听
All our classes are geared towards creating environments that nurture the individual artist, as well as providing the expert tuition needed to get into the highest levels of the industry.
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Build your wider skills as a performer
You will sing and perform solo several times a week, as you build a repertoire of songs and monologues suitable for auditions.
Outside scheduled classes, you have a responsibility to build on your skills and practice implementing the feedback from tutors. You will be required to complete reflective journals for a number of the modules and projects.
Experience
Study in the heart of Kensington and Chelsea
Associated Studios is based in London, Kensington W10, a stone鈥檚 throw from vibrant Notting Hill.
Situated between Notting Hill, Portobello Road and Westfield’s Shopping Centre in Shepherd’s Bush, students will work within our home venue which includes three beautiful studio spaces, the dance studio space in the Westway Sports Centre, the Harrow Club and the Playground Theatre, which includes a 100-seat venue for public performances.
Careers
Prepare for a rewarding career within the performance industry
This MA Musical Theatre Performance course has proven its pedigree in terms of producing graduates who have built successful careers within the industry.
The intensive nature and level of attention spent on each discipline means that graduates have wider career aspirations including going on to screen work, teaching, producing, writing, cabaret artistry and much more.
Graduates have continued to perform in
- West End shows
- National tours
- Regional theatre
- Film and TV
- Cruise ships
See an in-depth list of alumni and their achievements on .
Course Costs
Course Fees 2025/26
UK fee
For further details about fees, please see our听Tuition Fees听page.
For more information about funding options, please see our Funding Options page.
Entry Requirements
Applicants should either have a BA (Hons), DipTCL or equivalent qualification, or should be able to show the skills and experience which would be equivalent to this level of achievement.听
Students without official qualifications, but extended previous experience, should definitely apply. Please contact Associated Studios via info@associatedstudios.co.uk if you would like more information. Alternatively, you can call them on 020 7385 2038 if you have any further questions.
Currently, only students eligible to study in the UK (UK resident, Pre-settled or Settled EU status) are able to apply for this course.听
Interviews and Auditions
Auditions for this MA course are run by Associated Studios throughout the year, and have three components:
- First round is a self tape containing two contrasting songs and one monologue.
- Second round is an online interview with the senior management team at Associated Studios.
- Last round is an in-person audition at Associated Studios in London. This day will include the opportunity to sing songs from your repertoire to the audition panel, take part in a dance/movement audition, take part in an acting workshop, and get to tour the school and observe classes, whilst being able to speak with senior management and students about the course.
Associated Studios believe that auditions are a learning opportunity, and will seek to give you as much feedback as possible throughout the process.
Associated Studios want to hear from people with different backgrounds, and believe diversity leads to better stories being told.
