Musical Theatre HND

Course overview

HND Musical Theatre is a diverse course designed to push you towards your performing potential. This multi-faceted course will test your skills in acting, singing and dancing with a view to progressing to a career in the exciting industry of musical theatre. 

Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS) has a range of exceptional professional facilities including the Pass studio theatre as well as dance, acting and aerial studios

You will gain essential experience through practical and theoretical studies, which include varied acting techniques, vocal training using Estill and other practices, jazz, tap dance, musical theatre repertoire, and production. Opportunities to visit theatres and take part in industry-run workshops will be available through PASS industry connections. As part of this course, you will participate in exciting projects and musical theatre productions.

Upon completion, you will be qualified for further study of musical theatre at a university level. This course also offers exciting opportunities for collaboration with other students at Edinburgh College including make-up artists, costume designers and technical theatre designers. You will meet previous PASS students who have become theatre professionals at our inspiring PASS It On sessions throughout the year. 

You will leave this course having learned how to take a simple idea, and expand and explore it until becomes a final product; bringing it to life in musical form.   

Please see the audition information below.

What you will learn

• Acting Skills
• Practical Singing Skills
• Practical Dance Skills
• Audition Skills
• Performance Skills
• Personal Skills

There will be a multitude of masterclasses with visiting artists from current West End musicals and an optional trip to New York.

Placement information

• no placement but projects and performances take place that mirror professional practices to build student's experience and prepare them for progressing into employment. 
• Additional performances in previous academic years have been at : Royal Yacht Britannia, College Development Network Awards Ceremony, National Portrait Gallery, tour of High Schools in Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife, New York Tartan Week. 
• Students have also participated in Cultural Exchange Trips with Edinburgh Festival Carnival to South Africa, Brazil, Costa Rica and Cuba where they have worked with arts organisations in a variety of contexts. 

How the course is assessed

• You will be assessed through practical demonstrations of singing, dancing and acting skills  
• You will be tested on your theory through assignment work (actor’s logbooks or Vlogs and through theoretical/research assignments) 

Number of days per week

• 4 days per week  
• You will be expected to work out with College class hours 

Entry requirements

• Entry on to this course is mainly based on the audition process but you will ideally have one or two Highers in Drama, Dance, Music or Musical Theatre
• English at SCQF Level 6 is recommended but not essential 
• Strong personal statement on the application 
• Successful audition demonstrating strong acting through song/movement skills 

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

Personal statement

Please complete the personal statement as part of your application answering the following questions:

• Why have you applied for this course?

• Tell us a bit about your previous experience of musical theatre & performance

• why did you choose your monologue/songs?

• What's your strengths and areas for improvement been over this last year?

• On completion of the course, what do you hope to go on to do?

• What theatre have you seen in the last 12 months (online/ in-person) that's inspired you?

Guidelines for song: 

Candidates are required to perform the verse and chorus a musical theatre song (max 2 minutes of singing), try to make sure you know it and your songs by heart in order to make the most of your performance. 

Guidelines for monologue:  

You will be required to perform an acting monologue lasting 1-2 minutes in length which should be from a contemporary published play or musical from 1990 onwards.  This monologue should be in your own accent. It is advisable to choose something that is appropriate for your age and is suitable for a family and friends audience. 

Remember we are looking for potential, not perfection so please do your best. 

Dance workshop:

Is a practical workshop where you will explore the styles of dance taught on the MT course, you will participate in warm-up activities and be taught short sections of the Musical theatre dance repertoire. During this time you will be observed by members of the Musical theatre staff team who will be assessing your potential, technical ability, willingness to participate and enthusiasm. 

Audition workshops will take place at our Granton campus in 

• January 2025
• February  2025
• March 2025
• April 2025
• May 2025

Further Dates will be added if needed in June.

Interview: 

You will be interviewed by two of the Musical Teaching staff who will ask you a series of questions to further assess your suitability for the course.   

It is worth noting that you may be offered a place on a course of a different level, the staff team will place you on the course that they believe will best suit your needs and allow you to develop and progress within the department. For more information on these courses please refer to the Edinburgh College website. 

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Progression and Articulation Routes

Our HND offers a progressive, nurturing and developmental curriculum, to hone your skills and advance on to further training at the degree level.

We have links and relationships with the following London Theatre schools;

• Laine Theatre Arts,
• Italia Conti,
• Chichester Conservatoire,
• Guildford School of Acting,
• METFilm school - Ealing studios,
• Birmingham Royal Conservatoire 
• Mountview.

Career options

• Working in the theatre using singing dancing and acting skills  
• Work as a cast member on a cruise ship 
• Job as entertainment at a holiday camp  
• Commercials  
• Videos  
• Pantomimes and many other performing arts jobs