Drama Auditions - Preparation and Advice

actors on stage with drinks in hand

What materials to prepare for the audition process

First round auditions are by submission of a pre-recorded video. Second round auditions and final recall auditions are in person.

What materials to prepare for the audition process

Monologues

First round auditions

Applicants are asked to prepare and learn two contrasting monologues.

One of the monologues should be a dramatic speech written in verse. Verse may be understood to mean writing in which words are arranged in a rhythmic pattern; it often looks distinctive on the page as it is set out in shorter lines than non-verse (prose) text.

Monologues should be taken from published plays; they may come from different eras but this is not a requirement.

Please note: unlike in previous audition years, applicants are no longer required to prepare a speech written by Shakespeare (or a Jacobean/Elizabethan playwright) nor are applicants required to include a monologue from a play written in the 21st century.

Applicants are not required to prepare a song for the first round audition or the second round audition.

Second round auditions

Applicants who progress to the second round audition stage should prepare a third contrasting monologue.

Final recall auditions

As well as the three monologues, applicants who progress to the final recall auditions should also prepare a short unaccompanied song.

The song may be taken from any genre, including pop, musical theatre or a traditional song.  The song, which is not explored in all auditions, is approached in relation to communicating a human situation and connection to the language, rather than technical singing skill.

Second round auditions and final recall auditions

Applicants who progress to the second round or final recall auditions should not prepare different monologues to the first round audition.

Guidance for the first round audition

Guidance for the first round audition

The recorded audition must consist of two parts:

  1. An introduction about yourself
  2. Your two monologues

First round audition outcome

Notification of the outcome

We will send you an email within four weeks of the video upload deadline date, informing you of the Audition Panel’s decision.  Please note that this is four weeks from the final date for submission stated in your e-mail, not from the date you submitted your audition video.

Feedback on your submission

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide feedback for audition videos.

Need to contact us?

If you encounter any problems uploading your file please contact av@gsmd.ac.uk

If you need clarification on any of the instructions, or have any questions about the process please contact acting_applications@gsmd.ac.uk

Preparing for second round auditions and final recall auditions

Preparing for second round auditions and final recall auditions

Support during in person, live auditions

The Audition Panel understands that, inevitably, you will be nervous and having faced auditions themselves, will be sympathetic. Usually, during second round auditions and final recall auditions, there will be an Audition Steward who is either a graduate of our Acting programme or a current student, to show you where to go and to help you. They will prompt if you 'dry' in second round auditions; ensure you have copies of your monologues with you.

There will usually be a table and a couple of chairs available should you need them.

Do not worry if the Audition Panel stops you midway through a monologue or makes notes. It may be more useful for the Panel to spend longer in discussion with you.

Our Audition Panel members

The Audition Panels for first round auditions are comprised of graduates of the Acting programme. As graduates of the School, and with significant experience of working in the profession, the first round Audition Panel members fully appreciate the rigours of the three-year Acting programme. Consequently, they are in an informed position to understand the nature of the audition process and the Acting training which the School offers.

Audition Panels for second round auditions are comprised of members of the core academic staff of the Drama department and graduates of the Acting programme.

The Audition Panels for final recall auditions are comprised of members of the core academic staff of the Drama department, graduates of the Acting programme and may also include external practitioners.

Admissions complaints procedure

There may be occasions where an applicant considers that Guildhall School has failed to meet its high standards in the consideration of their application. If this is the case, please follow the Admissions Complaints procedure.