Musical Theatre and Acting -Gap Year - Level 3

Accredited full time gap - year and vocational prep performing arts training for musical theatre performers who have completed year 13.

Totally FREE* (funded) if you are still aged 18 or younger on 1st September in the year you start your course. If you are older, you have the option to self-fund.

In 2020 & 2021 - 100% of our Musical Theatre Gap Year students passed, and 98% gained a Distinction or Distinction star grade!

*If you are older than 18 on 1st September - fees of £4500 will apply.

RSL Level 3 Diploma in Performing and Creative Arts (Musical Theatre Pathway)

Each term has a different focus - giving you the chance to stretch and improve your skills. It is intensive and requires a full commitment. The 2024 year ends in a big public show at the Wilde Theatre in Bracknell with a production of ‘Our House’.​ You will also appear in two additional full scale productions (Christmas, Spring) and have the chance to appear in multiple others with South Hill Park, Arts Centre Hounslow, Three Dot Theatre and other partners (subject to audition).

If you join Artemis Medusa Young Company (Musical Theatre, Saturdays 2-6pm) as part of your free enrichment options, there are additional performance opportunities there too - with Annie Jr. in February 2024 in the Wilde Theatre.

You can also audition to join the college/Studios competitive Jazz Company, Studios Cheerleading senior squads (Thursdays and Sundays 6-8pm), or Legion Senior Hip Hop technique classes and Crew (Thursdays 6.30-9.30). College members can pick one for free, and get a 50% discount on all others. Competition and costume fees are not covered by free places.

In addition there are the Artemis Singers - a show choir who perform at public events. Places are free, but there is a tough audition process.

The course specialises in Musical Theatre, but the course is blended and also offers Acting, Singing, Screen Acting, Dance and technical aspects.

Taught by industry professionals including Sam Spencer Lane - West End choreographer and former head of musical theatre at Mountview and Billy Callum who is part of the casting directors team for major West End musicals. We will prepare you for the next level of your training!

Units will include (and have some other options);

• Musical Theatre techniques

• Vocal techniques

• Singing techniques

• Conditioning

• Ballet (beginners and company class)

• Screen Acting

• Movement for performance

• Physical Theatre

• Ensemble Dance

• Acting Techniques

• Performance Preparation (including Acting Skills)

• Planning for a Career in the Creative and Performing Arts (including running your own business and brand).

• Study Skills (including UCAS applications if needed)

• Audition Preparation

• Agency application

• Tap

• Conditioning

• Hip Hop/Street (optional, by audition, regional and national competitions)

• Audition Techniques

• Graded exams (acting and musical theatre)

• Show Choir (optional with public performances)

• Jazz Company (optional, by audition, regional and national competitions)

The work is vocational and practical - but you will also have to undertake written coursework and homework as part of the evidence needed for the course. As far as possible this takes place during the college day, and supervised study periods are timetabled to help get this done.

In addition to the qualifications there are dance and show-choirs you can audition to join as part of the college week. These companies perform for the public and attend competitions and events. Outside college time - you can join our Acting company Medusa Pro, Musical Theatre Company, Cheer squads and senior Hip Hop.

This course is accredited (you will get a L3 RSL qualification if you complete it, worth 2 A Levels at UCAS), and it is for students who want to prepare for vocational drama/musical theatre university courses, or have a university place already but would like a years intensive vocational training first.

The course is taught at second year Level 3/professional prep. It is designed for young people with experience of performing who would like to re-apply to vocational higher education, but do not feel prepared or ready currently, or who have maybe chosen a different pathway at uni and would like one last full year doing what they love.

Our graduates have gone on to Russell Group universities, Mountview, GSA, Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, UAL, PPA, and more (including scholarships!).

The course runs across Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10am-6pm (you will have a bespoke timetable and will be put in classes to suit your ability, but also push you) plus work experience and optional extra dance, acting and singing companies to perform more.

The course lasts one full academic year (September to July). Please see the Term Dates for details.

The course is held at South Hill Park Arts Centre - an immersive arts space with studios, three theatres, a cinema and a dance studio.

In addition to a 21 core hours a week - class members can opt to undertake additional enrichment classes with Medusa Young Company, Medusa Pro (for producers), and by audition Artemis Elite Cheer or Legion Dance Company! The main course and one enrichment class is funded for learners 16-18.​

Who can apply?

• You must have 5 or more GCSE’s at grade 4 or higher - including Maths and English.

• You must have completed A levels or equivalent in school or college (but NOT a Level 3 Btec or UAL in the Performing Arts as this is not fundable).

• To be government funded - you must still be 18 or younger on 1st September. If you are older, you have the option to self-fund.

• You must also meet our ability criteria (through workshop or video auditions).  

Support

At Artemis, we pride ourselves on offering support to all of our young people throughout their programme.

We have a number of learners who have a range of support needs from specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia), or autistic spectrum disorders to mental health conditions, amongst others. You must be able to keep up in class however. Unlike other sixth forms, this is a mainstream high level vocational course - for experienced and ambitious performers. 

If you currently have a valid Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) or a Learning Difficulty Assessment (LDA), you may be entitled to government funded support from your local authority to ensure we help you achieve the best from your learning. Our SENco officer will need a recent copy (no more than 12 months old) of your plan as soon as possible - so we can make sure we can meet your needs. Artemis is a small college (50 students) and we will not be able to offer the same resources as a large college or school. It will take longer for us to assess your audition, as we will need to have meetings with our SENCO, who is not full time for Artemis. They will assess the plan, and discuss with the Senior Team what they believe will be needed and is possible. Only those who need to be in the meeting or see the plan will have access. This process can take two to three weeks in term time, or longer over holiday periods. If you are applying for a last minute place in summer, please ensure you do so at least two weeks BEFORE the summer holidays begin.

If we think with or without support we can meet your needs, we will then approach the LEA for their approval in principle. Please note, if support (such as a teaching assistant) is needed - students will not be able to take up a place at college until the LEA have submitted written approval from their panel. This can take between 1 and 6 weeks depending on the LEA.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of learning support, please do not hesitate to contact our office and staff will be pleased to help you.

Who can’t apply?

If you already have a full Diploma or Extended Diploma Level 3 qualification in Performing Arts (such as Btec or UAL), you will NOT be re-fundable by the government. You can either self fund (£4500).

If you are 19 or older on 1st September - you will not be fundable. You can self fund - £4500.

If you are not a British citizen (proof required), you are not fundable. You can self fund - £4500

If you do not have a minimum of 5 GCSE’s including Maths AND English at grade 4 or higher.

You will be working towards;

• RSL Level 3 Creative and Performing Arts Diploma (equivalent to 2 A-levels)

• RSL Grade (6-8 depending on ability) Musical Theatre or Dance

It is possible to extend to a 2 year Extended Diploma - you must declare an interest at your interview