Hello and welcome to Musical Theatre, part of Reigate College’s thriving Performing Arts Department!
My name is Zoe Dunkley and I’m the course leader for Performing Arts (Musical Theatre), BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate. I’m really excited you’ve chosen to study Musical Theatre at Reigate College and I’m looking forward to welcoming you to our friendly, close-knit department at the start of the academic year.
Before you join us, I’d like you to complete a series of tasks and activities over the coming months in preparation for the start of the course. These tasks should all be completed independently at home by the relevant date – and don’t forget, as well as these tasks, you should also be making the most of all the opportunities to watch and listen to the many fantastic performances of musical theatre currently available on-line.
The tasks are organised in three distinct steps and should all be completed by Choices Day on 27 August 2025. This is to give you the best insight into what the courses will be like and/or help prepare you for them.
Please note, some Course Leaders (for example for Music) may release their tasks earlier, as they may form part of the College’s audition process. If this applies to you, you’ll be notified separately.
New Starters Course Tasks and Activities
| Release date | Suggested Completion Dates | |
| Explore your Subject | 1 June | 1 July |
| Get Going | 1 June | 1 August |
| Aim High | 1 June | 1 September |
Welcome back to the Performing Arts Department!
Taking one of our Performing Arts courses here at Reigate College is a great way to start your journey towards your chosen career in performing arts. During your two years here, you’ll develop and improve your performance skills, as well as the skills and attributes needed to run a successful performing arts company.
For those who are thinking of a different career path, you’ll find that the confidence, creativity, team-working and presentation skills you’ll gain through studying Performing Arts will be hugely valuable whatever you do.
Get ready!
Download the app – Audition Ready
The world of Performing Arts is vast! The following are some activities you should be exploring now in preparation for studying any of our Performing Arts courses – in order to be successful, it’s important you stay up to date on how the industry is progressing, as well as having an understanding of its foundations.
Understanding live theatre today
To get an insight into theatre today, you should be reading newspaper articles and reviews as widely as possible.
When reading the newspapers and websites suggested below, you’ll find a lot of interesting material relating to issues that are affecting the Performing Arts, such as funding and royalties. Also look at jobs offered, openings, closings and training.
Become a theatre critic
For this activity, we would like you to consider 2 plays/musicals you’ve seen – and make some notes!
Consider the points below:
- Acting skills
- Genre
- Set design
Experience live theatre for yourself
In order to understand live theatre, there’s nothing like watching it for yourself! There are so many live stage performances available to watch through YouTube and elsewhere, so watch them – and as many as you can!
As you watch more performances in a variety of genres (plays, musicals, classical productions etc.), you should begin to build up an understanding of contrast in live theatre.
Here are some websites to get you started:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=live+theatre+performance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8rvV1mXtOo&list=PLsa_IB3EW2g0W7u6Yx6hPefJyx9keQQ5M
Developing repertoire
Reading a play/musical/libretto is an important part of the understanding and development of performance. The text indicates the movement of the actors, their tone, position etc. which all adds an extra level of detail. It may also include the lighting and setting of the furniture, as well as the sound effects required for the full assessment of the play.
Task 1: Read/watch and research plays and musicals
Here are some tips to make the most out of reading a play:
- Read with a pencil in your hand so you can make notes if necessary
- Visualise the characters
- Contemplate the setting
- Research the historical context
- Sit in the director’s chair (can you find an equivalent chair at home to sit in?)
It’s also really important to read the play aloud:
- Plays are written to be heard
- If you can, ask your family to read it with you – reading in a group is more fun!
- Listen for how characters use language that sets them uniquely apart
Plays and musicals we’ve explored on Musical Theatre Performing Arts courses include:
- Heathers
- Chicago
- Spring Awakening by Steven Sater
- The Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol
- Blood Brothers by Willy Russell
You may like to take a look at the Performing Arts photo galleries section of the Reigate College website to see photos from some of these performances:
Don’t forget to keep making the most of the many opportunities to watch plays and musicals online for free.
Learning a Monologue
Each year, our Performing Arts students put on an evening of solo performances in the College’s Dramatic Arts Studio Theatre. You can watch the highlights from this year’s performances at:
https://www.reigate.ac.uk/videos/headshotz-performing-arts-audition-pieces/
In preparation for the BTEC Level 3 course in Performing Arts: Musical Theatre, you will need to learn and perform a set monologue. This will improve your rehearsal, line knowledge and performance skills, which are all essential for the course.
TASK 1: Please learn the below monologue from Newsies
Newsies: The Musical is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and a book by Harvey Fierstein. The show is based on the 1992 musical film of the same name, which in turn was inspired by the real-life Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City, with Fierstein’s script adapted from the film’s screenplay by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White.
Newsie leader, JACK KELLY, pleads with the scabs who are threatening to work during the newsie strike:
Listen fellas…I know somebody put yis up to this. Probably paid ya some extra money too. Yeah? Well, it ain’t right. Pulitzer thinks we’re gutter rats with no respect for nothin’, includin’ each other. Is that who we are? Well, we stab each other in the back and, yeah, that’s who we are. But if we stand together, we change the whole game. And it ain’t just about us. All across this city there are boys and girls who ought to be playin’ or going to school. Instead they’re slavin’ to support themselves and their folks. Ain’t no crime to bein’ poor, and not a one of us complains if the work we do is hard. All we ask is a square deal. Fellas…for the sake of all the kids in every sweatshop, factory, and slaughter house in this town, I beg you…throw down your papers and join the strike.
Remember to consider the context behind the piece.
Performing Arts at Reigate College
Throughout the course, Performing Arts students at Reigate College have many exciting opportunities to take part in performances, workshops, masterclasses and trips.
If you’ve not already seen it, take a look at the College’s annual review, Rewind, to get a flavour of some of the things you might be involved with.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to another exciting year of Performing Arts at the College!
Course Leader – Performing Arts (Musical Theatre)
