CentreS of excellence for

If you were born to perform then our Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts will help you to gain the skills you’ll need to go on and add to Manchester’s rich musical and performing arts tradition. Whether you are an actor, singer, dancer or producer, you will be equipped with all the skills required to embark upon a successful career.

You will learn from tutors who are still active in the business and also perform regularly for the public. You’ll be prepared for a career in this tough but exciting industry, while benefitting from our extraordinary performance spaces, state-of-the-art technology, and industry standard equipment.

Depending on your level of study you will also complete up to 2 weeks' work experience with one or more than one employer; this can either be completed in separate days throughout your course or in a single block. You’ll also receive dedicated ‘employability’ sessions that will equip you with the skills that you’ll need to thrive in the workplace.

When you complete your journey in our Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts you will have all the skills you need to be ‘work ready’ and the qualifications you need to take the next steps towards an amazing career.

Available Courses

While studying at our Centre of Excellence you can obtain qualifications ranging from Entry Level and Level 3 certificates through to Extended Diplomas. If you haven’t already obtained a Grade 4 GCSE in English or maths you’ll also study to achieve this level of qualification, which is a mandatory requirement of your course and essential for many careers.

In our Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts you’ll develop an in-depth knowledge of this sector and gain work experience with industry leaders.

View all available courses for this subject area

Career
Outcomes

Studying in our Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts, you will learn the skills that will turn you into a critically acclaimed performer. These range from acting, with an average income of £32,000 a year, to a choreographer, with an average income of £36,000.

Partners

We aim to bring together industry professionals and our talented students to help secure the best possible future for our students. Our industry partner for Performing Arts is:

Royal Exchange Theatre

Housed in one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, you need only step inside to begin a journey into the world of the Royal Exchange Theatre.

Gallery

Explore our gallery. From our outstanding facilities to fantastic work placement opportunities, get a taste of what it’s like working in the industry and see what you can expect from studying at The Manchester College.

My tutors have given continuous support in the run up to auditions to ensure we perform to the best of our ability. They’ve also given us amazing opportunities to work with professionals within the industry. One of my highlights was performing at Manchester Arena with Jack Whitehall.
Connie Maguire.

Download subject area guide

Find out more about our fantastic courses, outstanding facilities and the career options available to you. Download the subject area guide.

Download PDF

Find out more about performing arts, join us at our online event.

Come meet the team and take a virtual tour of the facilities at our Shena Simon campus. We'll also be outlining the different courses that are available and our plans for September, as well as talking you through the entry requirements and audition process.

You'll hear from past students and their success stories as well as a short clip from actress, Sally Carman, who is our patron of Performing Arts. Sally regularly gives our students workshops and Q&A sessions about the industry.

Register now