Middlesbrough College

Middlesbrough College’s Performing Arts & Theatre pathway offers vocational training and hands-on performance opportunities for learners aged 16–18, specializing in acting, musical theatre, and stage management. Located in its newly rebuilt £120 million campus, students receive expert instruction in contemporary performance styles—including acting, singing, dance, and technical theatre—to support progression into higher training or creative careers.

Students participate in approximately 11 live shows per year, ranging from festive pantomimes and musicals to devised performances and cabaret evenings. These shows are held in the college’s own MC Theatre, a 142-seat commercial venue with professional-grade lighting, sound, and backstage facilities. Each production provides opportunities onstage and behind the scenes for all course levels.

The curriculum mixes practical workshops with theoretical content throughout Level 2 and Level 3 study. Core modules include Acting Techniques, Voice for Performance, Physical & Devised Theatre, Musical Theatre Styles, and context-based classes. Level 3 students specialize in Acting, Musical Theatre, or Stage Management & Operations—with practical projects and public showcases reinforcing skill development.

Facilities at Middlesbrough College are industry-standard: in addition to MC Theatre, students access multiple rehearsal spaces, modern sound and lighting control suites, music studios, and recording labs—equipping learners with the tools and environment of professional theatre and performance settings.

Graduates often progress directly into higher-level performing arts training—at drama schools and universities—or into regional theatre, production roles, and creative industries. Middlesbrough College reports that past students have progressed into institutions such as East15, LIPA, LAMDA, and Central School of Speech and Drama. Partnerships with Middlesbrough Theatre and local companies further support live-work exposure during study.