Programme overview
Our BA Actor-Musician course is run by Guildford School of Acting (GSA), one of the most highly regarded theatre schools in the UK. You’ll be taught by industry-leading professionals, and join a vibrant community of talented individuals.
We’ll develop your combined talents as an actor and a musician, including the versatility to work professionally as an actor or actor-musician in a wide range of theatrical contexts.
Surrey is ranked in the top three for drama and dance in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2020 and top five by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019.
What you will study
On our BA Actor-Musician course, you’ll develop performance skills in acting, musicianship, dance and singing, alongside essential critical and evaluative skills.
In your first year, you’ll strengthen core skills in acting, dance, singing and music. In your second year, you’ll work on texts as diverse as Shakespeare, Lloyd Webber, Sondheim, Chekhov and Ibsen, with musicianship skills integrated within your studies. In your third year, you’ll work on three main projects: a play, a musical and a devised piece, alongside a showcase for industry, performed in London.
By developing your skills as an actor-musician, you’ll be able to take advantage of the ever-growing demand for versatile professional performers who can combine superb acting ability with a high standard of musicianship.
The University operates a credit framework for all taught programmes based on a 15-credit tariff. Modules can be either 15, 30, 45 or 60 credits.
The Guildford School of Acting (GSA) delivers its provision across three teaching blocks, within the University of Surrey’s existing semester structure.
Our BA Actor Musician Course received 100% overall satisfaction in the recent National Student Survey 2020. Over the last decade or so we have seen a great increase in productions that integrate the skills of the actor with the skills of the musician in performance. Through this programme we aim to produce strong actors and strong performers with excellent skills as ensemble players and musicians. It’s an exciting time in the industry to be looking at how the role of the actor-musician can be developed and defined by the students.
Nicholas Scrivens, Programme Leader
Read graduate Persia Babayan-Taylor's take on life at GSA on the Actor-Musician course