If you’re full of creativity and passion, our Performing Arts courses are the perfect way to bring your talent to life.
Whether you dream of acting on stage, appearing on screen, or travelling the world in the entertainment industry, this is your chance to shine. You’ll build confidence, develop performance skills, and explore one of the most exciting and fast-moving industries out there.
Prefer working behind the scenes?
If you enjoy organising, problem-solving, and making things run smoothly, our Stage Management course could be your ideal path.
You’ll learn how to support live productions, manage props, lighting, and sound, and become the backbone of successful performances. The entertainment industry includes everything from live theatre and musicals to film and TV, offering endless opportunities for creative and practical thinkers.
Performing Arts Pathways Explained
Acting
Our acting course helps you develop the skills to perform in front of an audience or camera. You’ll learn how to use your voice, body, and emotions to bring characters to life. Courses often include training in stage performance, screen acting, improvisation, voice control, movement, and script work. You’ll also build confidence, teamwork, and communication skills.
It’s a great choice if you love performing, storytelling, and expressing yourself creatively.
Studying acting can lead to careers such as:
- Stage Actor
- TV or Film Actor
- Voiceover Artist
- Musical Theatre Performer
- Drama Teacher or Workshop Leader
- Theatre Director
- Casting Assistant
- Screenwriter or Playwright
- Acting Coach
- Producer or Creative Director
Your course options:
Dance
Our dance course gives you hands-on experience with different dance styles such as contemporary, ballet, jazz, street, and commercial dance. You also learn how to create your own choreography, perform in front of audiences, and work with others on creative projects. Alongside the practical work, you will study topics like dance history, anatomy, and fitness to understand how dance works and where it fits in the wider world.
These courses help build confidence, teamwork, and performance skills, and can lead to careers in dance performance, choreography, teaching, fitness, therapy, or arts management. Many students also go on to study dance at university or specialist schools to prepare for professional careers in the industry.
Studying dance can lead to careers such as:
- Professional dancer (stage, film, TV, music videos)
- Musical theatre performer
- Cruise ship or theme park entertainer
- Dance company member
- Choreographer
- Movement director
- Dance teacher
- Youth arts worker
- Community dance facilitator
- Dance therapist
- Fitness instructor or personal trainer
- Movement coach or rehabilitation specialist
Your course options:
Musical Theatre
Musical theatre course is a great option if you’re passionate about singing, dancing, and acting.
You’ll learn how to perform in front of an audience, work on your voice and movement, and develop acting techniques. You’ll study different styles of theatre and musicals, learn how to rehearse and prepare for shows, and often get the chance to perform in live productions.
The course also includes theory, such as understanding scripts, character development, and the history of musical theatre.
Studying musical theatre can lead to careers such as:
- Musical theatre performer (stage, touring productions, West End)
- Actor (TV, film, theatre)
- Singer (solo artist, backing vocalist, recording artist)
- Dancer (stage, music videos, cruise ships, theme parks)
- Voice-over artist (animation, commercials, audiobooks)
- Choreographer
- Director (theatre or musical productions)
- Drama or performing arts teacher
- Youth theatre leader
- Drama therapist
- Voice or movement coach
Your course options:
Stage Management
Our stage management course helps you develop the skills to run live performances smoothly and professionally. You’ll learn how to organise rehearsals, manage props and costumes, give cues for lighting and sound, and support the cast and crew behind the scenes. Courses often include training in backstage coordination, technical theatre, production planning, health and safety, and communication.
You’ll also build confidence, leadership, and problem-solving skills, all essential for working in fast-paced creative environments.
It’s a great choice if you love theatre, enjoy organising things, and want to be part of the action behind the scenes.
Studying stage management can lead to careers such as:
- Stage Manager
- Production Coordinator
- Event or Technical Manager
- Venue Technician
- Entertainment Crew
- Production Artist
- Lighting or Sound Crew
- Tour Management
Your course options:
Our Performing Arts courses
Performing Arts – Level 2
Performing Arts
School Leaver
|
1 year
EDEXCEL
|
Age Group:
(16-18)
Performing Arts (Acting route) – Level 3
Performing Arts
School Leaver
|
2 years
Age Group:
(16-18)
Performing Arts (Dance route) – Level 3
Performing Arts
School Leaver
|
2 years
EDEXCEL
|
Age Group:
(16-18)
Performing Arts (Musical Theatre route) – Level 3
Performing Arts
School Leaver
|
2 years
EDEXCEL
|
Age Group:
(16-18)
Stage Management and Operations – Level 3
Performing Arts
School Leaver
|
2 years
EDEXCEL
|
Age Group:
(16-18)
Where your course can lead
“My advice to anyone thinking of coming to Middlesbrough College to study Performing Arts is to give it a go! Don’t be nervous and get stuck in with all the challenges and opportunities the College throws at you. Performing allows you to be whatever you want to be, and Middlesbrough College provides you with so many opportunities to be creative. “
Ethan Warren
“One of my favourite parts about studying this course has been the collaborative projects. For one project, my group and I created a show based on the League of Gentlemen. It was part skit, part musical, and an incredible experience. The opportunity to put on a show at the college and manage everything from the set to the costumes was such a fantastic learning experience.”
Charlie Dunn
