Students perform what they love with Trinity Musical Theatre
“Learning truly flourishes when students are passionate about what they're doing, and the Trinity Musical Theatre syllabus allows them to perform pieces they love, making the learning experience both enjoyable and enriching.”
Nicky Young, Trinity Musical Theatre Coordinator for Eastbourne College
Eastbourne College is committed to helping students pursue their passions, creating an environment where talent and creativity thrive. Supporting this, Trinity Musical Theatre Coordinator, Nicky Young, has prepared students in Years 9 to 13 for Trinity Musical Theatre graded exams for the last eight years.
The decision to adopt Trinity exams at the College was driven by the flexibility of the Musical Theatre syllabus, which encourages students to explore a variety of musical theatre styles and perform the pieces they choose, keeping them engaged and motivated as they move through the grades.
Enriching student journeys with Trinity exams
“Trinity Musical Theatre is very vocal-led, focusing on the power of storytelling through the voice. Some students already have singing experience, but they choose to join the programme to broaden their skills and learn to act alongside their vocal talents.”
Nicky Young, Trinity Musical Theatre Coordinator for Eastbourne College
Nicky uses the Trinity Musical Theatre syllabus to develop students' dramatic and vocal skills while cultivating their aptitude for storytelling through performance. At Eastbourne College, classes are typically held as one-to-one or pair sessions, with all students working towards a graded exam. The sessions are part of the co-curricular programme offered by the drama department.
Students taking higher-level exams value the UCAS points which are earned as they achieve Grades 6-8, supporting their academic progression. Work towards the Trinity exams also counts towards the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which is run by the school, helping students gain further recognition for their achievements beyond the classroom.
Nurturing talent through Trinity Musical Theatre
“Students can choose pieces they connect with, from Dreamgirls to West Side Story. I ask, 'Who do you love? What do you enjoy singing?' and together, we shape their journey, letting their passion drive their performances.”
Over the years, since adopting the Trinity Musical Theatre, Nicky feels that the Trinity syllabus has played a significant role in the development of musical theatre skills for those students involved. She notes that her students' experience of preparing for the exams has increased their confidence, creativity and independence, with progression demonstrated through performances in productions, auditions and assessments. In the past year, one student has been accepted into Laine Theatre Arts and another to Performance Preparation Academy for performing arts degree courses. Other students have gone on to pursue performing arts degree courses and perform in the West End.
Nicky highlights how neurodiverse students, who may struggle with core subjects, can find their strength in musical theatre. One-to-one sessions provide a supportive environment where students can explore and develop the aspects of musical theatre they are passionate about. The students often discover hidden talents leading to increased confidence.
The bi-annual musical theatre show is a highlight at Eastbourne College, open to all students and encouraging a strong sense of community involvement. Many of the musical theatre students audition for and perform in these productions.
There is also a Trinity Musical Theatre performance once a year and the students’ exam preparation provides a solid foundation for these performances. For some, the opportunity to perform their Trinity pieces in front of an audience has been transformative.
Nicky reflects: “It’s fantastic to see gifted students perform in front of a large audience, but equally rewarding is watching those less naturally confident perform brilliantly. They train hard and often exceed expectations, which is incredibly rewarding for both them and me.”
Throughout the production, leadership roles naturally emerge, particularly among older students, who take on key responsibilities in bringing the show to life.
These collaborative environments encourage a sense of teamwork, where talented students gain valuable insights by supporting those who may face challenges, all while enhancing their own abilities in the process.
Encouraging growth and confidence
"Trinity Musical Theatre offers exceptional flexibility, empowering students to shape their own journey and grow from nervous Year 9s to confident performers. The Trinity exams provide the structure and motivation that drive this transformation, turning passion into achievement."
Nicky believes that preparing for the Trinity Musical Theatre exams provides students with the flexibility to play to their individual strengths, whether in acting, singing or dancing. This allows students to become well-rounded performers, while the exam tasks encourage students to interpret their performance pieces creativity.
She values how the Trinity syllabus provides teachers with a clear framework, making it easier to deliver engaging lessons that can be tailored to meet the needs of all students. She appreciates the ongoing support from the Trinity team, noting their responsiveness and genuine commitment to helping both teachers and students succeed. Nicky concludes:
"I've witnessed student growth firsthand. The Trinity Musical Theatre syllabus encourages development that helps students truly succeed, not only in their qualifications but also in their confidence, self-esteem and passion for musical theatre."