Module Overview

As an art form, the musical is a global phenomenon. London theatres alone grossed over £800 million in box office sales in 2022, with a significant percentage of that derived from stage musicals. Developing out of traditions such as opera buffa and vaudeville in the 18th and 19th centuries, the musical became a major art form in the United States and the United Kingdom by the mid-20th century before spreading more widely. Despite this success and impact, the musical is often considered an inferior form of expression, especially when compared to opera. This negative comparison is unwarranted; the audience reach and artistic flexibility of the musical allows this art form to have significant social, political, and cultural impact.

Revolution - its theory, practice, and applications - is a topic that has a long relationship with the musical, including being the core theme of two of the ten top grossing musicals of all time: Les Misérables (1980) and Hamilton (2015). The former has been running, in multiple cities, continuously since its debut, with a 35 year run in London, and the latter has gained a global reputation and ignited debates about formerly sacrosanct subjects.

This module seeks to understand why and how revolutions have achieved such enduring success through the stage musical and what we can learn about revolution and representation. Students will be challenged to go beyond slick staging and catchy melodies to consider how both subversive and conservative stage musical representations of revolution are. Themes including inclusion/exclusion, voice, appropriation, and nostalgia will be considered. Significant space will be opened for students to identify themes and topics relevant to them and to co-create this module's problem-based learning seminars.