• Home
• Study
• Study Information
• Modules
• Module Information

New British Musicals: Industry, Identity, and Innovation

Module description

In this module you will examine the landscape of new British musicals, analysing their artistic, cultural, and economic contexts. You will explore the challenges of producing new work, the reliance on American imports, and how audience reception, investment, and critical discourse shape the industry. You will examine themes of race, gender, and sexuality in musical theatre, as well as environmental sustainability in production. Through case studies, you will analyse how new musicals develop from concept to stage.

Module aims - intentions of the module

In this module you will:

• Gain an understanding of the development and production of new British musicals.
• Explore the economic, cultural, and critical challenges facing new musical theatre.
• Analyse race, gender, sexuality, and sustainability within contemporary musical theatre.
• Critically engage with audience behaviour, producer risk taking, and the role of theatre critics.
• Gain industry-relevant knowledge on funding, investment, and staging new musicals.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate an informed understanding of the contemporary British musical theatre industry and the factors that impact the creation of new musicals.
• 2. Evaluate musical theatre’s cultural and social functions, particularly in relation to identity and sustainability.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Engage effectively with a range of dramatic texts, performances, and critical writings
• 4. Apply critical frameworks to analyse theatre production processes, performance and reception.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Conduct independent research and construct coherent arguments using industry case studies.
• 6. Communicate effectively in written and verbal presentations, applying insights from theatre studies to real-world industry contexts.

Syllabus plan

 The module is structured around key themes:

• The development of new British musicals and the role of industry funding.
• West End vs. regional theatre: pathways for new musicals.
• The reliance on American imports and film adaptations.
• Representation of race, gender, and sexuality in contemporary musical theatre.
• The environmental sustainability of musical theatre production.
• Audience engagement, risk perception, and critical reception.
• Emerging trends and future directions for new musicals.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a reassessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.  

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%. 

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

•  Chandler, C 2017, ‘British Musical Theatre in the Curriculum: practices and issues’: Where Next for British Musical Theatre Research, Pedagogy and Practice? . in British Musical Theatre Research Institute.
• Chandler, C., and Gowland, G. (eds). (2024) Contemporary British Musicals: Out of the Darkness. London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama.
• Everett, W. A. (2023). The Routledge companion to musical theatre (L. MacDonald & R. Donovan, Eds.). Routledge.
• Gordon, R., and Jubin, O., (eds). (2017). The Oxford Handbook of the British Musical. New York: Oxford University Press.
• Gordon, R., Jubin, O., & Taylor, M. (2018). British musical theatre since 1950. Bloomsbury Publishing.
• Hoffman, W. (2014). The Great White Way: Race and the Broadway Musical (1st ed.). Rutgers University Press.
• Kenrick, J. (2017). Musical Theatre: A History (Second edition.). Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
• Mordden, E. (2021). Pick a pocket or two: a history of British musical theatre. Oxford University Press.
• Taylor, M. (2016). Musical theatre, realism and entertainment (1st ed.). Ashgate.
• Taylor, M., & Rush, A. (2023). Musical theatre histories: expanding the narrative. Methuen Drama.

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• Digital Theatre Plus
• Drama Online
• National Theatre Collection

Key words search

British musicals, West End, theatre industry, diversity in theatre, musical theatre studies