MFA Musical Theatre

Term 1-2

Acting Techniques 

As part of your actor training, you’ll take part in dynamic classes and workshops designed to help you develop and apply the skills needed to approach text and build character across a range of styles, periods, and genres. You’ll explore acting techniques from influential practitioners such as Stanislavski, Hagen, Meisner, and Laban, while investigating both inner psychology and outer expression. Through guided reflective practice, you’ll deepen your understanding of process and preparation, applying this to the creation of rich, detailed characters. Throughout, you’ll be taught and supported by leading acting practitioners with extensive industry and teaching experience. 

Vocal Techniques and Musicianship  

You will take part in classes and workshops focused on developing the vocal instrument to be fit, strong, and flexible—liberating the voice as a fully expressive and responsive channel for the emotional and intellectual demands of the actor, the character, and the text. Through group sessions and regular one-to-one singing lessons, you’ll explore singing technique in depth, guided by industry specialists. You'll also develop your own independent vocal warm-up routine and strengthen your musicianship through practical exploration of music theory. Throughout your training, you’ll work closely with expert Musical Theatre practitioners to refine your acting through song skills and deepen your connection to vocal performance. 

Dance & Movement Techniques  

You’ll develop a responsive and expressive movement practice through classes and projects that focus on physical availability, alignment, expression, and transformation. You’ll explore a wide range of movement techniques and approaches to movement theatre, gaining strength, stamina, and physical discipline along the way. Training includes the practical study of dance and Musical Theatre repertoire—supporting your versatility and confidence as a dynamic performer. 

Musical Theatre – Creation and Performance for Stage & Screen  

You will draw together skills across dance, singing, and acting to rehearse and perform as a confident and versatile Musical Theatre artist. With a strong foundation in acting, you'll develop as a true ‘triple-threat’ performer, able to meet the demands of a wide range of roles and styles. Alongside your practical training, you’ll deepen your understanding of the historical and political contexts that have shaped Musical Theatre and strengthen your research skills. You’ll also develop the technical expertise needed to perform Musical Theatre across a variety of media, preparing you for the full breadth of the industry. 

Term 3-4 

The Professional Repertoire & Public Performance 

The aim in this term is to ensure you will graduate as a confident, ‘audition-ready’ performer with a clear understanding of your own Musical Theatre practice. Through these terms you’ll develop a bespoke set of solo songs tailored to your strengths and casting potential. You’ll deepen your independent research skills and build the knowledge to expertly navigate the professional landscape. Performance opportunities include an industry-facing Showcase in London—and in the New York if you are eligible to work in the United States—as well as a public-facing musical production and participation in a project at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 

These two terms combines tutor-led seminars with a high level of self-directed study, offering you the opportunity to work independently under the guidance of an expert supervisor. You’ll extend your understanding of teaching theory and practice within a specialised area of study, while conducting an investigative project into a topic not previously explored in depth on the course.  

The scope and format of your portfolio assignment will be agreed with your supervisor to ensure it’s both ambitious and achievable, with appropriate resources in place. As part of the module, you’ll also receive an LSPP-accredited qualification in teaching for LAMDA Examinations. In addition, you’ll critically explore key trends in the contemporary presentation of Musical Theatre, examining the work of current directors, choreographers, and theatre-makers, as well as the use of new media and technologies in shaping audience experience.  

Drawing on this research and reflection, you will create and present your own artistic proposal for a new staging of either a classical musical adaptation or a twentieth-century Musical Theatre work. 

This course is designed for applicants who wish to pursue and commit to a professional career as a Musical Theatre actor.

Applicants will have professional or amateur acting, and/or singing, and/or dance performance experience and knowledge and interest in Musical Theatre. 

You may wish to consider this course as opposed to the MA Musical Theatre*, if you would like to remain in London for longer or if you wish to consider teaching or directing with a widely recognised MFA qualification.

Assessment on this course is integrated into your everyday learning. Rather than being limited to traditional exams or set pieces, your progress will often be evaluated through your involvement in regular classes, rehearsals, and creative projects—making assessment feel like a natural part of your training journey. 

Each module has its own set of expectations, which will be clearly outlined as you go. Your growth will be measured by how you approach your work, how you develop over time, and how you apply yourself in both practical and collaborative settings. 

Feedback is a continuous conversation. The advice and insights you receive during sessions, rehearsals, and productions are key to your development—not just academically, but also in preparing you for professional life in the industry. 

In addition to this day-to-day support, you’ll receive structured feedback—both written and verbal—after major projects and most technical or skills-based classes, helping you track your progress and refine your practice over time. 

Both the MA Musical Theatre and MFA Musical Theatre courses are available for funding via UK student loans and US federal loans.

None of the scholarships available to postgraduate students are able to cover both tuition fees and living costs entirely, and applicants for these courses are encouraged to consider other funding sources. 

Leverhulme Arts Scholarships created to support incoming students on any of LAMDA’s degree courses, full and partial scholarships are available for incoming students on any of LAMDA's degree courses, undergraduate and postgraduate.

Find out more

Applicants should have a Visa in place to cover their study in the UK for the entire duration of the course. The second year of the course allows time for independent study.

It might be possible to study abroad for the final part of the course, but there are Visa implications and funding implications for students which would make it unviable in many cases. If this is your intention, discuss your plans in detail with our Admissions team before accepting an offer.

Essential

• Basic black sweatshirt
• Basic black T-Shirt
• Black sweatpants/Jogging bottoms
• Black dancewear (including black leggings, yoga pants, or footless tights)
• Yoga mat – for hygiene reasons, we recommend that students purchase their own
• Canvas ballet shoes
• Tap shoes
• Dance belt or jockstrap as needed
• Sports bra as needed
• Trainers
• Stationary: notebooks, pens & pencils.
• A4 display folder (for sheet music)

Highly recommended

For rehearsal/character work

• Black trousers and/or skirt. Skirt should be floor length and loose. Skirts may also be needed for certain dance lessons.
• White shirt
• Black shoes with a solid heel (not trainers) or Black character shoes
• Laptop/tablet
• Wi-Fi

Additional recommended equipment

• Resistance band
• Steam Inhaler Cup
• Vocal Tube
• Phone with video camera

Books

Your recommended reading lists will be sent out separately ahead of you starting at LAMDA. Most of these books can be found in the LAMDA library therefore there is no need to purchase them. These books are for reference and additional learning.

Other

It can be useful to have a recording device, so that you can record accents, music etc. It is sufficient to have a phone with the facility to record sound.

• Applicants are expected to have an undergraduate degree or relevant professional experience that has prepared them for advanced Musical Theatre studies. They must demonstrate the ability to study at Masters level.  

• No minimum degree classification is required, since admission is based on audition performance rather than past award classification.

• The audition process is thorough and seeks to engage those candidates that show an aptitude for the vocational nature of this practice based Masters programme. 

• Applicants who are not native English speakers are required to provide a valid IELTS test report. Applicants are expected to achieve an Overall Score of 7.0 (with 7.0 in each sub-test – listening, academic reading, academic writing and speaking). If a candidate has recently studied successfully for an academic qualification taught in English, they may not be required to submit a language test. If this is the case, they will be required to provide copies of certificates that show graduation from institutions in English speaking countries. 

Tuition fees
Fees are reviewed annually.
Tuition fees for 2026/27 will be shared soon.

Previous 2025/26 entry:
UK applicants: £31,024
International applicants: £37,636

Application fees

• £88 for US-based applicants for in-person auditions. 
• ​​​​​£27.50 UCAS fee (for 6 choices) for UK & International applicants, plus £15 first-round audition fee. Recall fees to be confirmed.  

If you’re interested in applying to two or more LAMDA courses, please let the Admissions team know by emailing [email protected]. There is no need to apply to more than one LAMDA course in your UCAS application choices.

Course fees confirmed in an offer letter may be increased in further years of study by an inflationary amount determined in accordance with measures set by government.

Find out if you qualify for a fee waiver here.

The MFA Musical Theatre* course offers a world class actor training for Musical Theatre performance and aims to provide a route into professional performance work as an actor in Musical Theatre. Not only will graduates leave having performed in a public production and in at least one showcase, they will be supported by professional careers advice, at every stage of their training.

The additional elements of the MFA qualification provide a route into teaching or research in musical theatre.  If they wish, students they can opt to complete a CPD accredited qualification to teach LAMDA Examinations.

Find out more about how LAMDA support you beyond your training here.

Eligible to work in USA?

LAMDA's training will culminate in a series of professional development and industry events to support your growth as a professional artist and the start/continuation of your career in North America. This may include digital or in-person events to help graduates gain exposure and will be tailored each year to best suit the current industry.