Our BA Acting auditions consist of three rounds in total. The first and second rounds are online for all applicants, and the subsequent round will be either online or in-person dependent on your personal circumstances and governmental guidance at the time. We have many years of experience of conducting online auditions and have a well-established format and process in place, so no applicant will be disadvantaged by auditioning in this manner. We will continue to respond to ongoing governmental guidance as to how we can hold in-person auditions in a way that is safe for our applicants as well as staff, and these will be subject to change dependent on alterations in governmental advice.
First Round Auditions (Online)
Firstly, set up an account using Acceptd. You will not be required to submit any audition recordings; but please enter the details of your prepared speeches and the other requested information here for review well in advance of your live audition.
For your live online audition, please prepare two contrasting speeches, between 1 and a half minutes and 2 minutes in length, for your first round (online) audition. The panel will see both pieces and may re-direct one of your speeches. A short interview will follow. Please allow up to 30 minutes for your audition slot in total.
Choice of monologue (speech)
One of your audition pieces can be a classical speech from the Elizabethan/Jacobean time period. This could be from Shakespeare or one of his contemporaries. The other speech can be a modern/contemporary* piece of your own choice. If you prefer, you can also choose two modern/contemporary* speeches.
Each speech should be no less than one and a half minutes and no more than two minutes.
Read plenty of plays in order to find the best speeches for you. The panel may ask you about the play as well as the monologue you have chosen to perform. Try to find a character with whom you identify – she/he/they do not have to be similar to you, but you should be able to empathise with the thoughts, feelings and actions implied by the text. Take plenty of time to prepare. Read the whole play a number of times. Learn the words perfectly and rehearse the pieces thoroughly. Do not change your mind at the last minute and try to prepare a new choice without adequate preparation time. As you prepare, consider carefully what kind of person the character is, what they want to achieve, and how they go about getting what they want. Why do they say those particular words at that moment – how do they want to change the attitude or behaviour of the listener? What kind of tactics do they use?
*The modern/contemporary monologue
It is safe to consider anything written in the latter half of the twentieth century onwards to be contemporary. However, even a period play written in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century -if it has been adapted by a living playwright – is considered as contemporary. So for example – Inua Ellam’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters or Zinnie Harris’ adaptation of Strindberg’s Miss Julie would both be fine. A good rule is if the playwright is alive, or could theoretically still be alive if they died young, then you can consider the work as contemporary. Of course, finding a speech from a relatively new work (e.g. from the last ten years or so) gives us some indication of your knowledge, understanding and passion for theatre today, so the more recent the work, the better.
Further Audition/Interview Rounds – in-person or online
If you are recalled to further rounds of auditions/interviews, you can choose for this to take place in person or online. If you select ‘in-person’, this means that we may schedule a further audition/interview at RCS in Glasgow, or in a UK city nearer to you, so long as it is safe to do so. If you are then offered an in-person audition/interview, you will still have the opportunity to opt for an on-line option at that time. Please note that both methods of audition are equally considered by the panel and you will not be disadvantaged based on whether your audition/interview is conducted in person or online.
Second Round Auditions (Online)
This audition will be in two parts:-
Part 1: Group Workshop
The second round audition will take up to two hours and will begin with a group warm-up. You will then be asked to work with a partner on a scene, which will have been emailed to you in advance. You will have been asked to learn the role assigned to you in advance. Your scene will then be re-directed by a member of the panel. After your scene work, you will have the opportunity to meet a recent BA Acting graduate for a short Q&A session.
Part 2: Individual Audition
You will be sent a selection of speeches in advance. You will be asked to choose, prepare and learn one of those speeches. In your individual audition you will be asked to perform your chosen speech. One of the panel may redirect this piece. There will then be a short interview. This audition/interview will take up to 30 minutes.
Final Round Auditions (In-person or online)
If you are recalled to the final round, you will be invited to an audition and interview with the Head of Acting and the Associate Head of Acting. This will take up to 30 minutes. You can choose to have this audition in-person or online. You will not be disadvantaged based on whether your audition/interview is conducted in-person or online.
