Musical Theatre - HNC* | Blackpool and The Fylde College

Summary

Step into the spotlight with the Pearson BTEC Level 4 Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Musical Theatre, delivered by Blackpool School of Arts in one of the UK’s most iconic performance towns. Surrounded by the vibrant energy and rich heritage of Blackpool’s entertainment industry, this programme offers aspiring musical theatre performers a dynamic and immersive training experience.

Set within state-of-the-art facilities, students will explore a wide range of musical theatre techniques - from classical techniques to contemporary musical theatre piece practices - through a curriculum shaped by current professional standards. The course blends practical workshops, rehearsals and vocal coaching, lectures, and live musical theatre performances, ensuring students develop the technical, creative, and professional skills needed to thrive in the musical theatre sector or progress to further study. As well as being a discrete qualification, this HNC also represents the first year of a full three-year BA (Hons) degree programme comprising the HNC, a HND and a BA(Hons) Top Up.

Whether you're drawn to the stage, musical theatre venues, or emerging musical theatre platforms, the HNC Musical Theatre programme places you at the heart of a town built on showmanship, giving you the tools, confidence, and industry insight to launch your career.

Why Choose Us – HNC in Musical Theatre:

Explore a wide range of acting techniques and musical theatre styles—from classical to a contemporary musical theatre piece—designed to develop your versatility and creative confidence.
Work alongside students from other disciplines, encouraging cross-arts collaboration, innovation, and shared learning in a supportive environment.
Benefit from expert tuition by experienced practitioners and visiting artists who bring real-world insight and current industry knowledge into the studio.
Access professional-standard rehearsal spaces, musical theatre venues, and technical equipment that reflect the demands of the modern musical theatre sector.
Small class sizes and dedicated tutorial guidance ensure your learning experience is tailored to your individual goals and development.

What You’ll Learn:

A range of musical theatre techniques and musical theatre techniques to produce compelling, industry-ready work across stage and screen.
Professional practice skills including audition and performance review preparation, character and vocal development, and reflective performance analysis.
Project and production management skills to support your work in ensemble and solo contexts.
Enterprise and career development strategies, including portfolio building, self-promotion, and networking within the creative industries.
Collaborative working practices that prepare you for team-based roles in theatre, film, and emerging musical theatre platforms.
How to stay current with industry trends and continuously evolve your craft for long-term career success.

Course code DA1HE0017
Duration 1 Year
Day/s of week Wednesday to Friday
Time 09:45 - 16:30

Next course dates

Start date	Location	Duration
07 Sep 2026	University Centre	1 Year	Apply now

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

The Level 4 Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Musical Theatre provides a strong foundation in musical theatre practice, preparing students for a wide range of opportunities in the creative industries. Whether you choose to continue your studies by progressing to a Level 5 Higher National Diploma (HND) or an honours degree in acting or related disciplines, the HNC equips you with the essential skills and experience to take the next step.

Musical Theatre and performance open doors to diverse career paths, including work in theatre, film, television, vocal performance, immersive performance, and digital media. Graduates may pursue roles as freelance musical theatre performers, join theatre companies, or work as in-house talent for creative organisations. The programme also supports the development of transferable skills that are highly valued across the wider creative and cultural sectors.

Next steps at B&FC

On successful completion of the Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Musical Theatre, you’ll be ideally placed to progress onto the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Musical Theatre, deepening your skills and experience in musical theatre practice. From there, you may choose to continue your journey by advancing to the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre degree, where you can further refine your craft and explore interdisciplinary approaches to performance.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates of the HNC in Musical Theatre can pursue a wide range of roles within the creative and cultural industries, including:

The programme also supports the development of transferable skills that are highly valued across education, media, and community arts sectors.

Key information

Entry Requirements

Grade 4/C in both GCSE Maths and English, or L2 equivalent
A minimum of 48 UCAS points in an appropriate discipline or
2x A Levels in appropriate discipline or
Level 3 Extended Diploma or Merit from Level 3 Diploma in an appropriate discipline or
Level 3 Access to Higher Education Diploma or Foundation Diploma or
An international equivalent of the above qualifications

Anyone who can demonstrate relevant work/life skills or knowledge can also be considered on an individual basis. Recognised prior learning may also be considered in accordance with the awarding body's regulations.

As part of your application to the HNC in Musical Theatre at Blackpool School of Arts, you’ll be invited to take part in an audition and performance review designed to showcase your talent.

Select two out of the three options to present

1. Acting Piece
Prepare a monologue from a published play (contemporary or classical) lasting no longer than 2 minutes. Choose a character and material that showcases your strengths.

2. Singing Piece
Prepare one musical theatre song (up-tempo or ballad) from a published musical. Backing tracks are permitted or you can present this acapella.

3. Choreographed Piece

Prepare a dance piece no longer than 2 mins

Qualification obtained

BTEC Higher National Certificate in Musical Theatre

Fees and funding

Visit our Tuition Fees page and Financial Support for Degrees page for more information about fees and funding, including additional financial support for those on low incomes, with dependent children or adults or with disabilties.

Extra costs and equipment

All resources such as rehearsal space and library facilities are included in the programme cost itself and you have the opportunity to engage in a professional enrichment programme.

Students may wish to purchase a laptop to facilitate their work at home, however computers are available across campus, in the Learning Resource Centre and college laptops are accessible through the library loan system.

You will not be required to purchase any additional equipment to undertake this programme as the college has resources available to students. However, there may be some opportunities that will not be a requirement of the programme but will be available to students at an additional cost.

What will I learn?

While the HNC in Musical Theatre does not include a formal industry placement, studying in Blackpool - one of the UK’s most iconic performance towns - offers unique opportunities to engage with the creative sector in meaningful and practical ways.

Throughout the programme, you’ll develop a wide range of transferable and industry-relevant skills, including:

Spoken, written, and visual communication for musical theatre and professional contexts
Creative problem-solving and adaptability in rehearsal and production environments
Project-based learning for both collaborative and independent work
Reflective musical theatre practice to support your growth as a musical theatre performer and creative thinker

All assessments are designed in collaboration with industry professionals, ensuring that your learning is rooted in real-world scenarios and current musical theatre practices.

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

At Blackpool School of Arts, we believe in learning through doing. You’ll benefit from a range of work-related learning experiences that connect you directly with the creative industries, including:

Field trips to local theatres, venues, and cultural landmarks
Guest lectures from musical theatre performers and creatives working in the region
Live briefs and judged presentations with input from industry professionals

Our teaching team includes working professionals who bring current industry insight into the classroom, and we regularly collaborate with local employers and creative organisations to enrich your learning experience.

Modules at level 4

Module title	Code	Credits	Optional
Concept and Development	DA4MD0019	85	No
Creative Project	DA4MD0020	35	No

How will I learn?

At Blackpool School of Arts, learning is hands-on, collaborative, and rooted in real-world practice. As a student on the HNC in Musical Theatre, you’ll take an active role in shaping your development through a blend of practical workshops, rehearsals and vocal coaching, musical theatre performances, and reflective learning.

You’ll work closely with fellow students, lecturers, and visiting professionals in a creative partnership that encourages ownership of your personal and professional growth. Through peer review, class discussions, and seminars, you’ll build your confidence, analytical thinking, and ability to evaluate your own work.

Collaboration across disciplines is a key part of the experience at BSoA. You’ll have opportunities to engage with students from other creative programmes - such as design, production, and media -enriching your understanding of the wider creative industries and supporting a discursive, exploratory approach to learning.

Your sessions will include:

Tutor-led demonstrations to introduce new techniques and approaches
One-to-one development workshops tailored to your individual goals
Group work and ensemble projects that mirror professional rehearsal processes
Live briefs and industry-informed tasks that prepare you for real-world musical theatre scenarios

You’ll also gain valuable insight into the industry through guest speakers, field trips, and live projects, helping you bridge the gap between student and practitioner.

Expert tutors

All tutors involved in the delivery of courses and apprenticeships within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.

Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and a familiarity with professional practice. The aim of this is to enrich students’ learning experience, giving them an insight into what working in the industry is really like.

Learning Methods

Learning Method	Level 4	Level 5	Level 6
Scheduled	480	0	0
Independent	720	0	0
Placement	0	0	0
Total	1200	0	0

How will I be assessed?

Module A: Process and Practice

A1: Concept and Development (340 GLH – 85 credits)

A2: Creative Project (140 GLH – 35 credits)

How will I be assessed?

Assessment Method	Level 4	Level 5	Level 6
Coursework	100%	0%	0%
Exam	0%	0%	0%
Practical	0%	0%	0%