If you are auditioning for our School of Acting (BA Hons Acting, Foundation Acting, MA Acting) you’ll need to prepare and send a self-taped audition as part of your application.

Self-tapes are part of everyday life for a professional actor; they’ve been used in the TV and film industry for many years and are increasingly used for theatre auditions as well. But if you’re just starting out on your actor training journey, we understand that self-tapes can be a bit of a mystery, even quite daunting.

Don’t worry! We’ve got you.

ArtsEd’s Interim Principal and Director of the School of Acting, Dr Julie Spencer, has provided some top tips for auditionees applying to our School of Acting. Keep reading for her guide to a successful self-tape.

For details on what you need to present in your tapes, please visit our auditions page and select the course you are applying for.

Julie’s steps to self-tape success

You must record a brief ident to introduce yourself by stating your:

• Name
• Age
• Where you’re from
• The pieces you are presenting (name of character and play)

Your ident should be delivered straight to the camera, and my top tip is: don’t overthink this bit! Treat your ident as the equivalent of walking into a room and introducing yourself to the panel – show us a bit of your personality. Be enthusiastic about the characters you’ve chosen. If you’re engaging in your ident, we’ll be more engaged when watching you!

Let’s cover the technical aspects of filming your pieces:

For the classical piece, you should film yourself in a ‘wide’ shot (meaning we want to see you full-length or as much of your body as the space will allow). Your classical piece should be treated like a soliloquy, and be delivered straight to camera.

Your contemporary piece should be filmed as a close up of your face – but not too close! Head and shoulders are fine. The contemporary piece can be delivered in the same way as your classical, or it can be aimed just above the camera if that makes sense for the piece.

My main piece of advice regarding the positioning of the camera and body/face is that we don’t want to see the side of your face!

How to perform your monologues:

My first top tip is this: do not attempt to do ‘acting for camera’. We want to see a theatrical performance.

If you are recalled to the second round, which will be in-person, part of that audition will be a screen test. At the first self-tape stage we want to see how you would perform as if you were in the room with us.

Use your natural voice – don’t affect an accent or do a ‘voice’ to fit the character. We want to hear YOU.

Wear comfortable clothing. Don’t attempt to dress as the character or wear a costume.

No make-up, and hair should be tied back so that we can see your face.

Don’t use props.

Don’t use background music.

Please don’t overthink it or attempt to film multiple takes in order to choose the ‘best’ one. You should film each monologue no more than 3 times and choose the best one from the 3 to send to us.

Don’t copy a famous version of your chosen monologue from YouTube!

What are we looking for in our Acting auditionees?

This is one of the most common questions we are asked regarding applications and auditions, and the answer is actually very simple.

We want to see YOU and who you are!

We want to see your enthusiasm (for the piece and for the process).

We’re looking for your commitment to the choices you make. We may not agree with your choices, but that’s fine as long as you commit to them.

Be bold!

We’re interested in the decisions that you make as an actor and how you have interpreted the pieces. Make them your own.

There is only one of YOU – we are looking for the unique qualities that make you who you are, so show us. We want to see your individual creativity.

Here’s my final top tip, and it’s a very important one:

We are not looking for perfection or for the finished product, meaning we do not expect you to be a polished, trained actor – that’s what drama school is for! We are looking for potential.

Be brave, be bold and enjoy yourself. I look forward to seeing your tapes.

Jane Morton, Deputy Principal of ArtsEd, will start her long planned retirement this autumn, thirteen years after joining ArtsEd.  Appointed to the role of Deputy Principal in September 2017, Jane started her time at ArtsEd as Academic Manager in 2008, building on a well-established career across the performing arts and education sectors.

During her tenure, Jane has been central to the development of ArtsEd’s reputation as a provider of outstanding conservatoire training, expertly leading the organisation through inspections, validation panels and funding submissions. Her legacy is apparent in our outstanding Ofsted grading, our TEF Gold rating from the Teaching Excellence and Students Outcomes Framework and our consistently high ranking amongst drama schools in the annual National Student Survey.

Jane will be hugely missed by staff and students alike, not just for her expertise, but also for her patience, kindness and wisdom. We wish her well in all her future endeavours.

Commenting on Jane’s retirement Mark Burch, Chair of the Board of Trustees at ArtsEd added: “Jane has been an outstanding Deputy Principal and served her role with distinction over the last thirteen years. She will be missed greatly by students and staff alike, and I would like to pay tribute to her for everything she has done for ArtsEd. Jane has been instrumental in establishing ArtsEd’s outstanding training credentials and we wish her the very best of luck in the next stage of her journey.”

Jane Morton commented: “My years at ArstEd have been so varied and interesting and I am very grateful for all the opportunities I have had to work and develop lasting friendships with so many talented and creative people.  I will miss all my colleagues and friends, and wish everyone well, and I will always feel a great sense of pride whenever I see ArtsEd graduates on stage and screen.”

Jane’s successor was appointed in May 2021 and will be announced in the autumn.

With the many challenges faced by pupils over the past two academic years, everyone at ArtsEd was already incredibly proud of our Day School and Sixth Form pupils’ achievements. The fantastic 2021 results are a further testament to the hard work, resilience and positivity of all our students and teachers. We are truly inspired!

ArtsEd Sixth Form enjoyed A-Level and BTEC success:

• BTEC: 100% D*D*D* – DDD (Distinction star – distinction), equivalent to 3 A*’s – 3 A’s at A level in UCAS points. 78% received D*D*D* (equivalent to 3 A*’s at A level in UCAS points)
• A-Level: 100% A*-C, 86% A*-B
• Overall: 96% A*-B (including BTEC equivalent)

“We are thrilled with the results and extremally proud of all our students. After the last 18 months the resilience and commitment that these young people have shown has been outstanding.  I cannot wait to see what the next chapter brings for our Sixth Form students in their exciting journey through life.” Mark Ferrington, Director of Sixth Form

Similarly impressive GCSE results included:

• 100% grade 4 and above including one Maths and one English (equivalent to 100% A*-C)
• 55% grade 7 and above (equivalent to 55% A*-A)

“These results reflect the hard work and commitment that our students and their teachers have shown over these difficult times. We congratulate our students on these excellent results and wish them the very best in their next step. We always believed that hard work will be rewarded.” Thamir Elzubaidi, Director of Curriculum

If you are interested in learning more about life at ArtsEd Day School and Sixth Form, we hope that you will join us at our upcoming Open Evenings this September – live and in person! Please register your interest today and share with others who might be interested. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sixth Form (Yr 12 Entry) – Wednesday 22 September from 6pm
Day School (Yr 7-10 Entry) – Thursday 23 September from 6pm

Despite graduating in the most challenging of circumstances last year, five ArtsEd Acting graduates from our 2020 cohort are enjoying success on the film festival circuit!

The Phoenix won Best Short at the Around Films International Film Festival Paris. A snapshot in the lives of four women who work at a cabaret club, the film was produced last year by ArtsEd’s School of Acting.

Graduates, Paddy Goodall, Matilda Oliver, Kimberley Okoye, Zoe Wright, and Dorothea Sawczuk star in the original short film, written by Jake Vithana and directed by ArtsEd’s Head of Film, Television and Audio, Kim Vithana.

BA Acting students at ArtsEd receive world-leading training in performing for screen, which includes taking part in the production of short, original films in their final year of study. These films are produced from start to finish in the same way a professional movie is made, giving our students vital experience that they carry into their careers as working actors. Production values are extremely high, resulting in the work often being accepted for consideration at film festivals.

The Phoenix was last week announced as the winner of Best Short at the ARFF Official Awards to the delight of everyone involved and indeed the whole school!

The film is not available for public viewing as it is still in contention for other awards, but you can see a trailer here

Below is a selection of behind the scenes photos from the shoot.

ArtsEd is delighted to announce the appointment of Sharon D Clarke to the post of Vice President. 

Sharon has forged an exceptional career, garnering critical acclaim for dramatic and musical roles on stage and on screen. In 2019 she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her standout performance in Caroline or Change. In 2020, she won the Olivier for Best Actress for her sensational portrayal of Linda Loman in the Young Vic’s production of Death of a Salesman. The latter also made Sharon the first person to be nominated in all four performing categories of the Olivier Awards. In 2017 she was awarded an MBE for services to drama.   

This extraordinary breadth of success and experience make Sharon a perfect fit for ArtsEd, which offers world-class training in both Acting and Musical Theatre.   

On her appointment Sharon said: 

“Attending the ArtsEd 2018 Graduation Ceremony I was delighted to see Olivia Hibbert, who I had just worked with at The Hackney Empire on King The Musical. I couldn’t have been more proud watching her receive her Degree. 

I have had the joy of working with many ArtsEd alumni and applaud them for the talented triple threat performers, choreographers, directors, producers; beautiful humans with good work ethics, that they nurture and guide and enrich this industry with. 

I am truly delighted and honoured to be appointed Vice President of this wonderful Conservatoire of Excellence who are addressing change at a grass roots level, ever pushing forward to Equality, Inclusivity and Diversity, I look forward to us working together.” 

Chris Hocking, ArtsEd Principal said of Sharon’s appointment: 

Sharon’s outstanding and varied career speaks for itself, and I’m thrilled that she is joining the ArtsEd family as Vice President. Her integrity, her passion and her commitment to creating change where it needs to happen in our industry will be an inspiration to us all. I very much look forward to introducing her to our students and to working together. 

Sharon joins David Grindrod and Robert Powell in the role of Vice President. ArtsEd’s President is Andrew Lloyd Webber. 

PHOTO: Sharon D Clarke with ArtsEd alumna, Olivia Hibbert at the 2018 graduation ceremony

Launching the Chris Hornby Bursary Fund in 2015

A special memorial event, held at The Lyceum Theatre in October 2015, gave family and friends from across the industry the opportunity to share their memories of Chris. Opened by Aled Jones who had worked with Chris on White Christmas, moving performances included ‘You Are My Sunshine’ sung by Louise Dearman, ‘Circle of Life’ performed by the cast of The Lion King, and Nat King Cole’s ‘Smile’ performed by the ArtsEd Choir. The Chris Hornby Bursary Fund was also launched, with an incredible £7,000 raised in just the first few days.

From top left: (1) Omid Djalili and Jodie Prenger share their stories. (2) Tim Howar and cast members of The Lion King. (3) Members of the ArtsEd Choir.

Since then we have continued to be moved by the generosity, enthusiasm and creativity of so many supporters. Other fundraising events include a Christmas Concert at the Actors’ Church, Kirsty Spark’s ‘Healthy Hearts for Hornby’ dance classes, Donald’s Beaujolais Night, West End audition masterclasses, and let’s not forget the Ealing half-marathon team!

We are so grateful for everyone who has supported the fund.

Together you have raised over £30,000!

Left: Song Workshop with Tim, Matt Henry, Jill Green and Alan Williams. Right: Christmas Concert with Joel Montague, Jo Napthine, Cavin Cornwall, Andrew Lancel, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Louise Dearman and the ArtsEd Choir.

The impact of your support

The funds raised have had a huge impact on the lives of two young performers studying on ArtsEd’s Musical Theatre degree, Jacob Thomas and Maria Conneely.

Maria Conneely in her showcase performance at ArtsEd, 2020 and Jacob Thomas in Legally Blonde ArtsEd, 2019.

Jacob was the first Chris Hornby scholar, receiving support for the full three years of his degree. This award was the first funded place at ArtsEd to be sponsored by individuals, a momentous achievement, without which Jacob would not have been able to complete his training. You can see Jacob’s showreels here. Graduating last summer, Jacob said:

“The support I have received not only financially but emotionally from Tim and the Chris Hornby bursary has been a crucial factor in my development and completing my degree. This has been a life changing opportunity that would not have been possible without the bursary. I am so excited to see where my career takes me, and to make Tim and Chris proud.”

Maria Conneely is in her final year and is on stage at ArtsEd this week as Jellylorum in Cats, the final graduate show of 2020/21. You can also watch Maria’s showreels here, produced to replace the usual Showcase whilst ArtsEd has been unable to welcome audiences. Maria said:

“I feel so honoured and privileged to have received the Chris Hornby Bursary this year. The financial support makes such a different to myself and my parents, for this we are so grateful. This bursary is so precious to me and has already supported me in so many ways in my final year of training. For the rest of my career, I will do my best to make Tim, and all the supporters of the fund, extremely proud.”

Continuing Chris’s legacy at ArtsEd

With students in greater need than ever in 2021/22, we are delighted that the Chris Hornby Bursary Fund has just enough funds left to support one more gifted young performer in their final year of study with us.

The particularly brilliant thing about Chris’s fund is that the vital financial assistance is accompanied by invaluable personal support, in the form of Tim’s expert mentoring and encouragement. We would really love to be able to continue this connection in years to come, supporting the next generation of performers and story-tellers.

If you would like to help make this happen, then please make a donation today. Every donation will make a difference, enabling future students to thrive and keeping Chris’s legacy bright.

Photography: Michael Donne, Tony Brown and Robin Savage