Application Deadline: TBC
Overview
All auditions for our BA Musical Theatre course will take place in person at our Chiswick home. The 1st and 2nd rounds take place on the same day and will include a tour of the facilities and an opportunity to talk to staff and students.
Recalls are scheduled as necessary and will also take place at ArtsEd.
Once you have applied, we will send you full details of the format of the day as well as a full version of the audition requirements outlined below.
1st Round Requirements
Singing:
You will need to prepare and perform two musical theatre songs. One should be a ‘legit’* ballad written no later than 1965 (e.g. ‘If I Loved You’ from Carousel, ‘Simple Little Things’ from 110 in the Shade or ‘On The Street Where You Live’ from My Fair Lady), and the other song should provide a contrast and be something you enjoy singing.
Please avoid songs which demand an extreme ‘character’ voice, such as ‘Adelaide’s Lament’ from Guys and Dolls or ‘My Girlfriend Who Lives in Canada’ from Avenue Q. We would like to hear YOUR natural voice.
*Our definition of a ‘legit’ song: a traditional musical theatre song from one of the classic musicals. These kinds of song are often described as ‘lyrical ballads’.
You should prepare and perform a section from each of the two songs, each lasting no longer than one minute.
Dance:
All auditionees will take part in a group jazz class led by a senior member of dance staff and overseen by the Head of Dance.
Don’t worry if you haven’t danced before, all movements will be explained and demonstrated on the day. We excel at training students with limited dance experience and are looking for candidates who have potential, not just experience. We encourage applicants from sports backgrounds.
2nd Round Requirements
The 2nd round auditions will take place on the same day as the 1st round, in the afternoon.
Singing:
Candidates invited to the 2nd round auditions in the afternoon will be asked to perform their two prepared songs in full and may be required to follow new or different direction from the panel.
Acting:
All 2nd round candidates will participate in an Acting Workshop prior to auditioning individually.
You will need to prepare two monologues for this element of the audition, each no more than three minutes in length.
One should be from a modern play written after 1990, and the other from a classical play using heightened language. This could be Shakespeare, but we also welcome classical pieces from across the globe and from writers from the global majority. Both pieces should be within your acting age and should be performed in English. Ideally, you should choose contrasting speeches to demonstrate your ability to play different characters (though choices do not have to be restricted by gender). Please use your natural voice – don’t affect an accent or do a ‘voice’ to fit the character. We want to hear YOU. You will be expected to have read each play fully and to perform the monologues in the context of the piece. Please choose the material you relate to personally and which you find exciting.
Interview
Second round auditionees may be asked to attend an interview with the Director of the School of Musical Theatre and/or a senior member of the teaching staff from the School of Musical Theatre
There may also be a physical well-being check with our Wellbeing Officer.
Recalls
Occasionally, there will be a further recall as required. This will potentially involve additional audition sessions in each of the three core skills. Full details of the format, and what you will need to prepare, will be provided in plenty of time for your recall date.
All auditionees for our three-year degree course will also be considered for our one-year, full-time Cert HE Foundation Course. You can find out more about the course here.