Audition Guidelines

We need you to

Prepare 2 audition monologues (see below) – each lasting no longer than 2 minutes:

• One from a contemporary play (after 1970)
• One Shakespearean/Jacobean (but not non-human characters like ‘Puck’ from A Midsummer Night’s Dream or ‘Ariel’ from The Tempest, or any ‘Chorus’)

Monologues

Please make sure you have read the whole play your monologue comes from. Be sure your monologue works as a stand-alone speech and does not require input from another character. Your speech must be taken from an existing play, and not a book of solo speeches. (Speeches found in monologue anthologies are acceptable provided you have read the whole play from which they are taken.)

We want you to:

• Choose pieces that match your age & gender.
• Work without props or special costume.
• Avoid using chairs.
• Learn your pieces.
• Avoid using the panel for eye line.
• Use your natural accent.
• Wear suitable clothes which enable you to move freely and to allow tutors to assess posture and movement. Female applicants should avoid skirts. All applicants should avoid low cut/hipster trousers cropped and low cut tops. For both the warm up sessions we advise you to bring movement clothes (leotard and tights). The movement session requires you to be bare footed and to work without any jewellery.

We are looking for these qualities: 

• Truth
• Preparation
• Ability to create and sustain a character within an imagined world
• Evidence of thought and feeling behind the actions and words
• Ability to take direction (to hear an instruction and adapt own performance accordingly)
• Ability to communicate text
• Ability to express thought and feeling through movement and voice
• Self-confidence, focus and concentration
• Spontaneity and immediacy
• Openness and responsiveness to others Imagination and creativity
• Evidence of stamina and co-ordination
• An interest in the craft of acting and in the professional world of acting

We aim to ensure that you will enjoy all aspects of the auditioning process and feel stretched by it.

You will have every opportunity to show your skills.

We aim to ensure that you will enjoy all aspects of the auditioning process and feel stretched by it. You will be auditioned in depth and will have every opportunity to show your skills. 

We advise you to arrive at 9:00am to register as the audition process begins at 9:15am.

Please note, there may be different start times for auditions that do not take place at ALRA South or ALRA North.

Vocal Assessment 

Candidates will be given a short passage (around 10 lines) to read to the panel. 

N.B. You are not required to have RP to join the course; this exercise is for ALRA to assess your clarity of speech (i.e. can you be understood by someone from a different region?) and vocal ability; advice may be given to the candidate. You will be given sufficient time to study the passage and be offered relevant help where required, e.g. in case of disability. If you require a large-print copy, or the text to be printed on coloured paper, please let us know if and when you reach Stage 3. 

ALRA operates an Equal Opportunities Policy: all candidates will be assessed on their potential to meet the demands of the course and considered entirely on the basis of merit. Those showing the most aptitude at audition will be considered for Dance and Drama Awards, taking into account their financial circumstances.  

The audition panel makes the final decision regarding entry to ALRA and we aim to notify you in writing within one week. Successful applicants will have demonstrated a significant degree of talent, ability, preparation, aptitude and commitment as well as the ability to make a positive contribution to, and benefit from, the Acting Course. 

N.B. Due to the volume of applicants, we are not able to provide feedback on unsuccessful auditions

In 2009/10, we auditioned more than 1200 applicants. Due to the large numbers of candidates applying, we regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback. The decision of the school is final.

ALRA Auditions

All candidates will be assessed on their potential to meet the demands of the course and considered entirely on the basis of merit. Those showing the most aptitude at audition will be considered for Dance and Drama Awards, taking into account their financial circumstances.

The audition panel makes the final decision regarding entry to ALRA. We aim to notify you of the outcome of your audition within one week. Successful applicants will have demonstrated a significant degree of talent, ability, preparation, aptitude and commitment as well as the ability to make a positive contribution to, and benefit from, the Acting Course.  ALRA is unable to audition any applicant more than once in any given year.

ALRA Admissions

Admissions Policy

ALRA accepts students, regardless of all other considerations, who demonstrate excellence at audition, a desire to study and show the potential to complete the appropriate course of study at interview. ALRA will form an opinion on these matters at audition & interview and record the outcomes for scrutiny and feedback. The audition policy is supported by the Equal Opportunities Policy and nothing in either policy can be deemed to override the considerations of the other.

Offer Procedure

Following your audition, you will either receive a firm offer of a place, be placed on a waiting list, or be rejected. Click here to learn more.

ALRA Audition Appeals Procedure 

Audition Appeals Procedure

Downloads:

Audition Guidelines and Visitors Information - North

Audition Guidelines and Visitors Information - South