The Experience of Authenticity for the Musical Theatre performer: Considerations, Challenges and Opportunities
Tuesday 15th October 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
This short course explores the role that authenticity plays in the training of the musical theatre performer by looking at its history, its influence on actor training and its impact on speaking and singing voice pedagogies. Challenges related to the use of this fascinating and elusive ideal are explored, as well as opportunities for a revised practical approach geared towards musical theatre vocal work.
The course is structured in three parts: the first will explore the concept of authenticity by placing it in an historical context that will help us identify its privileged relationship with theatre and actor training. The second will outline the results of a research project investigating how young performers experience ideas such as authenticity, individuality and truthfulness in their practical day-to-day studies or professional work. The third will propose exercises and activities aimed at bringing a revised approach to authenticity into the classroom.
At the end of the course, you will have been exposed to ideas and reflections on authenticity ranging from the philosophical to the practical, as assumptions at the heart of actor training that have shaped the dualism between voice and singing pedagogies will be presented and discussed. As a result of these discussions, musical theatre will emerge as an art form needing a specific framework that refuses dualistic polarities in favour of difference and complexity existing without a need for conflict or resolution.
🏷️ Price £30 (UK VAT inclusive)
🎥 Recording automatically sent to all who book (even if you cannot attend live)
▶️ Rewatch as many times as you like
📜 Certificate of attendance available
Marco Morbidelli
Marco Morbidelli holds a master’s degree in voice studies from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and works at Mountview as Course Leader for the BA Performance programme (Acting, Actor Musicianship and Musical Theatre pathways) as well as Joint Head of Singing.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Wednesday 22nd October 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
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Professor Stephen Clift
Join Professor Stephen Clift for an international overview of recent and current research initiatives in singing for health research. A focus will be on the value of randomised controlled trials for assessing the contribution that group singing for the wellbeing and health for people affected by mental health challenges, dementia, Parkinson's, chronic obstructive lung disease, aphasia and long Covid.
Wednesday 22nd October 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)
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Beatrice Szczepek Reed
In this course, we will take an introductory look at what prosody is and consider its functions in natural everyday dialogue. Prosody refers to the rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech. It's the musicality of language that helps convey meaning, emotion, and emphasis in conversation!
Thursday 23rd October 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Vowel Modification and Authenticity in Classical Singing
Dr John Seesholtz
This presentation and discussion is an introduction to Sound Spectrum, Amplitude, Formants, Overtones, the Overtone Series, Vowel Formants, and how they work together (Formant Tuning) to create acoustic boosts in classical singers.