Careers Brief - Performing Arts: Music Theatre FdA
Overview
Music theatre is highly competitive and demanding, but can be very rewarding. Successful performers are those who are multi-skilled and flexible. It is not enough to have talent and training, but you also need personality, be a quick learner, be determined, enthusiastic and have a high level of fitness and stamina. You must be able to work successfully within a team and be prepared to travel, possibly overseas.
Usually you work short-term contracts with long hours or have a 'portfolio' career with more than one job or freelance. Pay is high for a few but generally low for the level of skill and training required. Income can be erratic with maybe long periods of unemployment.
You can work in commercial theatre, fringe theatre, children's theatre, TV, films, cruises. It is essential for your career to belong to Equity, the actors union.
Apart from the performing roles in theatre, there are also the technical roles of lighting, stagecraft and sound. You can progress onto choreography, stage management, directing, teaching, dance/drama therapy, agent/manager, theatre management and arts administration.
For an overview of the industry sector, go to National Guidance Research Forum for 'LMI Future trends' and 'Sectors covered'.
To consider a wider choice of careers (matched to your interests) use Prospects Planner and other tools listed in the Career Planning section of this Careers Guide.
Go to the website links below to find out more.
Further Study
You may be able to apply for a Top-up degree. Top-up degrees are designed as direct progression from Foundation degree to achieve an Honours (or Ordinary) degree, though entry may be selective.
Alternatively, you could transfer onto a related Honours degree. Entry point would depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses but could be the final year.
Progression is possible onto the 3rd year of the BA (Hons) Performance Arts at the University of Winchester. Go to www.winchester.ac.uk/ for course information.
Institutions offering Top-ups for 'music theatre', include: Bath Spa University; Buckinghamshire New University; University of Chichester; Hull College; University of the West of Scotland.
Other Top-ups in 'Performing Arts', include: University of Bolton; Brooksby Melton College; University of Cumbria; University of Gloucestershire; University of Huddersfield; Hull College; Leeds Metropolitan University; Leicester College; New College Nottingham; Sheffield Hallam University; Teeside University; University of the West of Scotland.
To search degree courses go to www.ucas.com/ (UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK). Use the university/college links for course details.
You will need to use UCAS to apply for courses. Contact the Course Tutor of your chosen course to find out your position, before you make your formal application.
Find out how much this will cost you. Where is the funding coming from? Go to the university/college links for information on costs and finance and to the section Financial support for additional help.
With a good Honours degree (First or 2.1), you may progress onto an appropriate higher level Masters and/or PhD doctorate. This could be to develop your area of study to a more in-depth practical and/or academic level or to gain other specialist training.
For information on postgraduate study and finance, go to the national online directory at www.prospects.ac.uk/study.htm .
Go to the main section Further Study of this Guide for more information and help.
Useful Links
http://mycareerhub.bournemouth.ac.uk/
Bournemouth University Graduate Employment Service - job news, campus events, part-time work, graduate job, ask a question, book an appointment
www.ukperformingarts.co.uk/musicaltheatre
UKP-Arts: UK performance industry training and careers
Go to 'articles' and 'Career Profiles'
Creative Choices developing your career in the creative and cultural industries - drop down sub-heading 'Choose a creative sector'
The Stage Online magazine - go to sub-heading 'Advice' for 'How to Guides'
http://nextstep.direct.gov.uk/
Next Step careers site - go to sub-heading 'Planning your career' for 'Job Profiles'
www.prospects.ac.uk/starting_out.htm
Graduate Prospects - national careers site for HE students studying in the UK:
Drop down sub-heading 'Careers advice' for 'Options with your subject'
The Sector Skills Council for the Creative Media - Careers section
www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent/ (updated until November 2011)
The British Association of Dramatherapists
Click on 'Performing arts'
www.intute.ac.uk/creativearts/
Intute - free online service (updated until July 2011) helping you to find the best web resources for your studies and research
Arts Professional - the UK's leading arts management magazine
Spotlight - the UK's leading casting resource
Equity - UK trade union representing professional performers and other creative workers across the entertainment, creative and cultural industries
BECTU - The Media and Entertainment Union
www.britishcouncil.org/arts-drama.htm
British Council Drama information source - drop down 'Art Forms'
The Council for Dance Education & Training site - comprehensive information service
Arts Council England - national development for the arts in England
Arts Council of Wales
Creative Scotland - developing the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Dance UK - for the UK-based dance professional
International site for singers - providing information, articles relating to singing and getting into the music industry
Foundation for Community Dance - online directory of dance companies
Go to the Employability section of this Careers Guide for help and advice with making applications.
