Unit 24 - Auditions for actors

There are many different types of auditions that I could potentially attend as an actor. I have carried out some research into the different types of auditions and what they may entail.

On applying to drama school, I would be expected to attend an audition after an application has been submitted. For most drama schools, they require you to prepare 3 different monologues including one contemporary and one classical piece. It is also likely that the panel may ask you to sing a short song unaccompanied and possibly perform a short dance routine. Therefore, before an audition, I should be prepared and have an idea of what I am going to perform for each of these. Each of the pieces chosen to perform in an audition should show the best of your ability. The audition process normally involves a few different rounds. As the rounds go on, the more intense they will get. Because there will be less people in the later rounds, it is more likely that the panel will split applicants into small groups and ask them to work on things such as movement, improvisation, etc. Auditions for drama schools are normally quite regular and at different times throughout the year.

Here are some links to some drama school websites which I have found useful during my research:

https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/acting/auditions/

https://www.rada.ac.uk/courses/acting-and-performance/ba-hons-in-acting/applications

http://www.cssd.ac.uk/content/audition-process-ba-acting-courses

Applying for a place at university to study an acting or drama degree would also require an audition which would be similar to the ones that are carried out at the above drama schools as most drama schools do now offer degree courses. Here are some links to university websites which offer more information about their audition process:

http://www.theatre.mmu.ac.uk/audition/

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-acting/ba-hons-acting-audition-guidance

In contrast, applying for a job in musical theatre, television or acting it may vary slightly from what is expected at a drama school or university audition. For a musical theatre audition you will be expected to perform a piece to show off each of the 3 aspects to performing arts – singing, dancing and acting. The audition process is most likely to start by an open call audition workshop where many applicants will attend and divided into small groups to learn routines, songs and drama pieces. However, if you are going for a specific role or character, the audition process may vary and will be tailored towards the part that you are auditioning for. I have found a variety of different websites which have offered different pieces of information about what type of individuals they would like for the audition, what the audition process will involve and what they will be expecting during the audition process. Here are a few links to websites which I found interesting and a great part of my research:

http://www.hairsprayuktour.com/tracy-turnblad-open-audition-call/

http://uk.matildathemusical.com/about/auditions/

http://thelionkingauditions.co.uk/

https://www.pineapple.uk.com/blog/cats-audition-november-13th-2017-to-november-17th-2017/
However, if you going to a acting audition, your experience may be completely different to a musical theatre, university or drama school audition. An acting audition could include many different exercises and activities. Firstly, they may ask you to carry out hot seating as the character you are auditioning for or a character that is related to them. Also, it is quite typical that they could ask you to do a read through. The pannel may give you a script to read on the day of the audition or they may send it to you a couple of days before so that you can become familiar with it before the audition. This read through my be individually or with another actor. Another typical activity which could occur within an acting audition is improvisation. Therefore, this means that you should have researched the character as much as you possibly can before the audition so that you know how the character moves and will act during certain situations. 
An experience of an acting audience may be very different to a television audition. During a television audition it is very likely that they will place you in front of a camera because they will want to see how well you work in front of a camera and the chemistry you have with other actors. Therefore this is something that you should be prepared for when going to a television audition.