Your voice.
Your character.
Your story.

For the performer who wants to put singing and acting at the centre of their training, Singer-Actor offers intensive conservatoire training focused on developing compelling, expressive and individual musical theatre performers. The programme prioritises advanced vocal and acting craft, supported by dance skills for musical theatre.

Register to Apply for BIRD!

About the BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre: Singer-Actor

Award……………….. BA (Hons)
Duration……………. 3 years, full-time
Start date………….. September 2027
Location……………. BIRD Conservatoire, Sidcup, South-East London
Validation………….. Delivered in partnership with and validated by the University of Greenwich
Application fee….. £45 total; applicants may be considered for up to two of BIRD’s three performing arts degree programmes
Application stage.. Applications open in mid-October 2026; register your interest now

September 2027 Applications Opening Soon

Applications for September 2027 entry will open in mid-October. Register your interest now to receive an update when applications open and start preparing for your audition using our Video Audition Guidelines.

Why apply?

Who is this programme for…

You’ll develop your craft through acting, individual and ensemble singing, voice and accents, acting through song, repertoire and musicianship, alongside movement and dance for musical theatre. You’ll learn to dig deeper into text, music and character, bringing technical confidence and emotional truth together in performance.

If you want to lead with your voice, your acting and your ability to tell a story – this is your programme.

Course Overview

The BA (Hons) Musical Theatre: Singer-Actor is a three-year conservatoire degree for aspiring professional performers who want advanced singing and acting training at the centre of their development, supported by movement and dance for musical theatre.

The programme develops vocal technique, stamina and stylistic versatility alongside acting craft, text analysis, character development, voice and accents, musicianship and acting through song. You’ll learn to connect technical confidence with truthful, detailed storytelling, while developing the movement skills and physical awareness required of a contemporary musical theatre performer.

Across studio training, collaborative performance projects and major production work, you’ll develop interpretive depth, artistic individuality, resilience and professional readiness for careers across musical theatre and the wider performing arts.

This course is changing my approach to performance – I feel so much more confident and have clear goals that I know I am going to achieve.

Second Year Student

Why study Musical Theatre: Singer-Actor at BIRD?

  • Put advanced singing and acting craft at the centre of your conservatoire training.
  • Receive regular individual singing training alongside acting through song, ensemble singing, musicianship and technical vocal development.
  • Develop acting through text, character, voice and accents, movement and physical awareness, and a range of approaches to theatre-making.
  • Build supporting dance skills for musical theatre through technical jazz, ballet, tap and commercial work.
  • Apply your training through musical theatre performance workshops, projects and major production work.
  • Prepare for professional practice through audition training, portfolio development, self-presentation and a final-year Capstone Performance process.

What You’ll Study

Singer-Actor training is built around the relationship between voice, text, music and character. Singing and acting remain central throughout the degree, with movement and dance training supporting the versatility and physical confidence expected of professional musical theatre performers.

Year 1 – Build Reliable Vocal, Acting and Movement

Year 1 establishes the core techniques of the singer-actor. You’ll train in acting fundamentals, voice and accents, individual singing, acting through song and musical theatre technique, supported by technical jazz and ballet for musical theatre. Expanded practice introduces movement and physical awareness, different approaches to acting and theatre-making, technical singing, musicianship and ensemble singing, tap and commercial dance.

  • Core Techniques for Singer-Actor
  • Expanded Practice for Singer-Actor
  • Musical Theatre Performance Workshops
  • Personal Development and Wellbeing

Year 2 – Deepen Interpretation, Versatility and Performance Craft

Year 2 develops greater technical sophistication, interpretive detail and independence. Singing and acting work becomes more advanced, while supporting movement and dance training continues to build versatility. The Musical Theatre Performance Project gives you a sustained opportunity to apply voice, text, character, music and movement within a professional-style creative process.

  • Refining Techniques for Singer-Actor
  • Developing Practice for Singer-Actor
  • Musical Theatre Performance Project
  • Professional Development and Employability
  • Reflective Practice and Research

Year 3 – Bring Your Craft Into Professional Production

Your final year consolidates advanced singer-actor technique with major production work and professional preparation. The Capstone Performance is designed to mirror professional musical theatre practice, including audition and casting, company-style rehearsals, technical production and public performance with external creative teams. You’ll graduate having developed the vocal, dramatic and interpretive craft to lead with story while responding confidently to the wider demands of the profession.

  • Capstone Performance
  • Advanced Techniques for Singer-Actor
  • Independent Research Project

BA (Hons) Entry Requirements

BIRD welcomes applications from all sections of the community regardless of ethnicity, religion or gender. The Conservatoire is committed to meeting the requirements of students with special educational needs. The following requirements must be met for entry to BIRD:

  • A minimum of 96 UCAS Tariff points, or an accepted equivalent UK or international qualification
  • GCSE Mathematics at grade 4/C or above, or equivalent
  • GCSE English Language or English Literature at grade 4/C or above, or equivalent
  • Applicants must be aged 18 by the end of the first term of study

Applicants who do not meet the standard academic requirements may still be considered where they can demonstrate relevant experience and/or alternative qualifications. Academic entry requirements may be waived at BIRD’s discretion following individual assessment.

Applicants for whom English is not a first language are normally required to demonstrate an appropriate level of English language proficiency. An overall IELTS score of 6.5 or above is required for entry to the programme.

All applicants must also successfully complete BIRD’s two-stage audition process: 1) first submitting a video audition and; 2) should the candidate be successful, they will be invited to a live audition on our campus in South-East London. Please note: a separate UCAS application will be required.

Overseas Students

BIRD Conservatoire is an approved UKVI Sponsor, with a Private Provider Status, and is able to sponsor international students via the Student Visa Route. Applicants for whom English is not a first language must sit an IELTS (International English Language) test to assess their ability in reading, writing and spoken English at an academic level. An overall result of 6.5 or more is requires for entry to the programme. Applicants should contact their local British Council office for further details.

79% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.

Data for Professional Dance and Musical Theatre (Full time) at Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts Ltd. For more official course information visit Discover Uni.

Funding for the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre: Singer-Actor

UK tuition fees for 2027/28 are to be confirmed. BIRD intends to set the UK tuition fee in line with the tuition fee level supported by the relevant UK undergraduate student finance arrangements for the 2027/28 academic year, subject to applicable regulations. For further information, please visit this link.

Eligible UK students may apply for undergraduate student finance. Further information on eligibility and the support available should be checked through the relevant student finance body.

Overseas Students

International tuition fees for 2027/28 are to be confirmed. For further information, please visit this link.

Other Costs

Course texts and other study resources are available from the Libraries at BIRD and the University of Greenwich (Stockwell Street). You may wish to purchase your own copies.

Students on this course are also required to pay the Conservatoire’s Extra-Curricular Fund (ECF).  The ECF is spread over your three years of study. A range of payment options are available.

The ECF covers multiple resource costs at the Conservatoire, including headshots/publicity photos, in-house theatre tickets, lockers and entry systems. The ECF also contributes towards an individual vocal scheme where the student contribution triggers other funding.

How to Apply For September 2027

Applications for September 2027 entry will open in mid-October 2026. Before applications open, prospective students can register their interest and begin preparing their first-round self-tape.

  • Complete BIRD’s online application when applications open; register your interest here to be notified of when the application portal opens.
  • Pay one £45 application fee. The same £45 fee allows you to be considered for up to two of BIRD’s three performing arts degree programmes.
  • Submit one self-tape link with your application, following the relevant Video Audition Guidelines.
  • If you apply for two programmes, you only need to submit one video link. Include the required sections for both programmes and do not duplicate any sections that are the same.
  • Within four weeks of receiving your application and self-tape, BIRD will let you know whether you have been invited to a live audition at our Sidcup campus.
  • Applicants invited to the second stage will receive full information about their live audition separately.

Self-tape at a glance: a maximum 90-second introduction, followed by two contrasting dance solos of no more than 60 seconds each. Choose two styles from ballet, jazz, contemporary, commercial or hip hop. Full-body framing is required for dance material.

Download the full video audition guidelines for BA (Hons) Musical Theatre: Singer-Actor here.

About Our Audition Process

For September 2027 entry, BIRD is introducing a two-stage audition process. Stage One is your self-tape, designed to give the panel a quick sense of you as a performer and as a person. We are not looking for a highly produced film: we want to see your potential, personality and performance clearly.

Applicants who are successful at Stage One will be invited to Stage Two: a live audition at BIRD Conservatoire in Sidcup. Live audition dates and full preparation information will be published on the Applications page.

Frequently asked questions

Applications will open in mid-October 2026. You can register your interest now and begin preparing your self-tape using the Video Audition Guidelines.

The application fee is £45. One fee allows you to be considered for up to two of BIRD’s three performing arts degree programmes.

Yes. You may ask to be considered for up to two programmes within the same application and £45 fee. You will submit one self-tape link containing the material required for each programme.

BIRD will review your application and first-round video audition and, within four weeks, let you know whether you have been invited to a live audition at our Sidcup campus.

Yes. Applicants to the BA (Hons) programmes will also be required to submit a UCAS application.

Potentially. Applicants with relevant experience and/or alternative qualifications may be considered individually, and standard academic requirements may be waived at BIRD’s discretion.

You must be aged 18 by the end of the first term of study.