It has been a transformative few years for Leeds Conservatoire. Between 2019 and 2020 the institution – then known as Leeds College of Music – launched three undergraduate degrees in Acting, Actor Musicianship and Musical Theatre. The success of these courses, and the immediate impact in the region, has led to the introduction of a suite of four full-time postgraduate programmes.
New postgraduate programmes
All one-year, full-time:
- MA Dramaturgy
- MA Musical Direction
- MA Musical Theatre Company
- MA Musical Theatre Creatives
An overview
MA Dramaturgy
Delivered in partnership with Leeds Playhouse, this course focuses on the development of new work and individual artistry through collaborative practice. Students will work closely with Leeds Playhouse on three of five modules, developing their theoretical understanding of theatre making and the role of the dramaturg in practice. Through project and placement, collaborating with practitioners in the North, students will learn the key components of theatre making, storytelling, character and structure. The dramaturg's role is determined by the needs of the project, the artists making it and the audience. Students will be encouraged to explore the widest possible range of approaches and define the value of their contribution to a new work room. The ambition of this programme is for graduates to leave with a comprehensive understanding of how things have been done and a vision for how they can change the way we make live performance in the future.
MA Musical Direction
This course is designed to fully prepare highly skilled, adaptable musicians to embark upon a career as a musical director. With tailored one-to-one lessons and group classes, students will hone their musicianship in a variety of contexts and be exposed to a wide range of working practices, learning alongside key practitioners, companies and industry professionals from across the region. This MA encourages students to interrogate the role of the musical director in all its forms and redefine it for themselves, through the continued collaborative, student-led development of new work across the year. Students will leave this course not only fully equipped to move with the changing face of theatre and its needs, but also with the skill set and tenacity required to drive that change.
MA Musical Theatre Company
MA Musical Theatre Company combines rigorous conservatoire training with continued, collaborative, student-led development of new work, preparing students not only to gain employment in the musical theatre industry, but as artists creating their own work. With weekly classes in a range of dance styles, voice, acting, and singing (including audition technique), students will form a company and use these skills to engage in continued and collaborative development of new work (alongside students from the other MAs), guided by leading directors and practitioners working in the industry today. Working towards public performances at the end of the year, students will leave prepared for auditions, the rehearsal process and the life of a working actor, having developed the knowledge, skills and contacts necessary to succeed in this highly demanding industry.
MA Musical Theatre Creatives
MA Musical Theatre Creatives is an individually tailored MA for anyone interested in creating new musical theatre and a professional career as a creative in the industries, whether as a composer, writer, choreographer, lyricist or something that has yet to be defined. This unique course focuses on students’ particular needs to develop their skills in their field (composition, dance and dramaturgy and so on), while simultaneously generating work as a collective with other creatives across the MAs. Working with leading institutions from across the North and with practitioners that include composers, lyricists, and book-writers (the creative team of a musical), students will leave the course with a portfolio of work to take into the industry, peers to build a creative team with, and a unique artistic voice to shape the theatre of tomorrow.
Application method and additional information
Applications for postgraduate programmes are made via UCAS Conservatoires or direct application. The admissions process involves the submission of a portfolio, followed by a round of interviews and auditions. Visit Leeds Conservatoire's website for further information, including entry requirements, accommodation options, fees and funding.
Senior lecturer and postgraduate programme lead Victoria Gimby says, ‘We absolutely welcome applicants who have just graduated from undergraduate courses, but we also welcome people that have already spent some time in the industry and are looking to develop their skills, or people who are just entering the industry and have the attitude and ability they need to succeed.’
Email hello@lcm.ac.uk