What is the drama school audition panel looking for?

Applying for drama school this year? Samantha Marsden speaks to teachers and students from schools including RADA, Italia Conti, LAMDA and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland about how to prepare for auditions

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If you’re auditioning for drama school it’s likely you’ll have teachers, parents, friends, extended family, and even strangers giving you audition advice. But not all advice will come from a place of understanding of what drama schools are looking for. Here is advice from drama schools and current students about what it takes to get in.

Choose the right audition pieces
Edward Kemp, RADA director (who also sits on the audition panel), says: “Choose pieces you are excited about, that you like, that speak to you and that you enjoy performing. Then each audition is a chance to act, and a chance to share something you are excited and
passionate about, it’s not an exam.”

Do your prep
Bradley Leech, programme director at Italia Conti, explains: “It is not just about learning lines, a song or a routine (obviously you need this too). It is about analysing the piece in detail and making informed choices about the whats, whys, and hows. Keep in mind that by auditioning you’re suggesting you want to take your hobby and turn it into a profession, so the level of work and care you apply needs to match this. For text work, we’re looking for an imaginative and truthful engagement with the given circumstances and your character’s relationships.”

Relax the night before
Mountview graduate Millie Thorne advises: “Don’t go through your speeches the night before, do anything else – relax/take your mind off it completely. If you’ve done the work it will come through on the day.”

‘The more prepared you are, the more relaxed and calm you will feel’ – Pauline Quirke Full-Time Academy of Performing Arts’ Adam Davenport

Don’t blend into the background
Joyce Deans, head of acting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, says: “We’re looking for people who are creative, curious, open and collaborative, who are passionate about performance and are politically and socially engaged. We see every person who applies for the BA Acting programme, approximately 1,800 every year. Don’t blend into the background – be confident, professional and prepared.”

Be yourself
Harmony Rose-Bremner, a student on RADA’s BA (hons) in Acting, remembers: “When I was going through the audition process, I was really nervous to begin with. I didn’t know what to expect. When I got in the room and met the people who were auditioning me, they had such an energy about them that you kind of relax. The advice I would give others is to be yourself. That’s the only thing they’re looking for.”

Ali de Souza, associate head of acting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, agrees: “We know how nerve-racking the audition process can be but don’t over think it. We want people to enjoy the experience. Key advice? Be yourself. We want to see your personality, your authenticity and how you connect and interact with others.”

How to prepare for drama school auditions

Stay curious
Vik Sivalingam, senior acting tutor at LAMDA and leader of the audition squad this year, explains: “At LAMDA, we want to see who you authentically are because we are interested in being a part of your development as an actor, an artist and a person. We look for people who are curious about art and the craft of acting; who engage fully with the entire day and play with freedom; and who respond with generosity to the people in the room.”

Be open and ready to work
Charlène Segeral, lead admissions tutor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, says: “Across Central’s three BA Acting courses, we are looking for candidates with an openness, a readiness to work and to take creative risks, and the ability to generously engage with tutors and fellow actors. We are not looking for candidates who are already trained or who already possess full competencies. Instead, we are looking for people with the potential to benefit from training, and we particularly want to give those whose stories have not yet been told a chance to speak.”

Don’t second-guess the panel
Will Hammond, head of acting at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, warns: “The biggest mistake is trying to second-guess the audition panel and trying to give them what you think they want. Be true to yourself, your personal history and your background. Trust your instincts. At LIPA we’re interested in the individual. It’s your experiences that make you unique, so ensure you utilise the material to tell a story about yourself to the panel. Allow the material and the character to resonate with you, your experience and your background.”

‘Each audition is a chance to act, and share something you are passionate about’ – RADA director Edward Kemp

Be prepared
Adam Davenport, artistic director of the Pauline Quirke Full-Time Academy of Performing Arts, advises: “The most important thing any auditionee can do is ensure they are prepared and come to the audition ready. Some drama schools and conservatoires differ in their audition criteria, so make sure you check well in advance and read everything thoroughly. The more prepared you are, the more relaxed and calm you will feel and the better the experience will be on the day. There will always be nerves of course, but having everything you need and arriving with enough time to spare will help start the day in the best way.”

Believe in yourself
Fraser Crossingham, a student at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, says: “As corny as it may sound: believe in yourself. You deserve to be in the room just as much as anybody else. Have faith that everything happens for a reason and what is meant to be yours will not pass you by.”

Round-up
Drama schools are looking for authenticity curiosity, and students they can train successfully. Don’t panic if you’re not accomplished at your craft yet, that’s why you are applying to drama school. It can be tempting in the audition room to protect yourself with a mask, but if you are brave enough to be true to yourself and open, while maintaining professionalism and letting your talent shine, you will stand out.

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For more advice on preparing for drama school, go to: thestage.co.uk/tag/auditions

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