Our BA Acting auditions consist of four rounds in total. The first and second rounds are online (first recorded, second live and online) for all applicants, and the subsequent rounds 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.
All BA Acting first round auditions will take place via audition recording. The deadline dates to apply and submit your audition recording can be found below:
UCAS Conservatoires Application Deadline: Wednesday 25 January 2023
Acceptd Recording Submission Deadline: Tuesday 31 January 2023
Once you submit your UCAS Conservatoires application, please then upload your audition recording to Acceptd: https://app.getacceptd.com/rcs. Details on what to prepare for your recording and subsequent auditions if appropriate can be found below:
Round 1: Recorded Submission on Acceptd:
For your recording, please prepare two contrasting speeches, between one and a half minutes and two minutes in length.
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.
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.
Round 2: Online Live Audition and Interview
For your live online audition, please prepare two monologues, between one and a half minutes and 2 minutes in length. Your monologues can be the same monologues you prepared in your initial recorded submission. The panel will re-direct one of these speeches, and a short interview will follow. Please allow up to 20 minutes for your audition slot in total.
Round 3: In-Person or Online Workshop and Scene Work
This audition can take place online as well as in-person in Glasgow or in London dependent on your preference and location. For this round, you will be asked to participate in a group workshop, and work with a partner on a scene and given role distributed to you in advance of the audition day, which will be directed by a member of the panel. Additionally, you will be sent a selection of speeches in advance – you will be asked to choose, prepare, and learn one of those speeches.
Round 4: In-Person or Online Audition and Interview
This audition can take place online as well as in-person in Glasgow dependent on your preference and location. For this round, please prepare one monologue, between one and a half minutes and 2 minutes in length. The panel will re-direct this speech, and an interview with the Head and Associate Head of programme will follow.
