5 Tips for Getting Into Theatre School

​If you're a student who loves theatre, getting into a theatre school can be an exciting prospect. It's not easy. There are several factors to consider when choosing which theatre schools to apply to and preparing for the auditions, so take the time now to make sure your application is as strong as it can be.

If you don't get accepted right away? That's okay, you can learn from the process and always try again next year.  
Here are five tips for getting into a theatre school:
 
Research to Find the Right Schools for You 
 When you're researching, keep these things in mind:
 

• Different schools have distinct requirements when it comes to admissions criteria. Some only accept the best of candidates, while others offer more lenient criteria for admittance. Make sure that you meet the criteria that is needed for the school before you apply. 
• Who are the available teachers? Excellent professors with both inside and outside the theatre expertise can be found in good schools. They should be accomplished professionals who can support your success both on and off the stage. 
• What programmes does the school offer? If you are looking specifically for drama, musical theatre, or dance, it’s important to make sure that the school you’re looking at, offers the correct curriculum for you. Some schools specialise in only acting, or dance and singing. 
• Make sure that you know exactly what you want to get out of the experience, not just what you’ve been told to look for. Do you want to live within a bustling city like London, or would you prefer to be closer to home or in a quieter location? 
• It’s important to know what links the schools have to certain employers or local theatres too. Will there be different opportunities at one school than at another? What projects would you be able to work on if you attend that school? 

 

Auditioning and Interviews
 Drama and theatre school experts at D&B Academy of Performing Arts state what they look for in auditions: 
 
“We look for individuals who have a passion and a spark. Students come to us with a range of talents and backgrounds. Some have tonnes of experience in all three areas of singing, dancing, and acting, whereas others have maybe only trained in one or two areas but are keen to develop their skills and work on broadening their career opportunities. We look for students with enthusiasm, a fantastic work ethic and a passion for working with us to achieve their goals”
 
It's important to be ready for auditions before you even start applying to a school. To be successful at auditions, you will need to practise your interview techniques. The best way to rehearse is to conduct an actual audition by asking yourself questions and giving yourself the opportunity to respond aloud. You'll become more adept at this technique the more times you go through it. This can sound absurd or even strange, but it works! Make sure to check out our top tips for university interviews. 
 

Practice Your Skills to Gain Confidence for the Audition
Practice is the first step in getting ready for an audition. With time and effort, anyone can learn the art of auditioning. You can hone your acting abilities in a variety of ways to boost your self-assurance before the audition:
 

• Try out in front of your friends. Someone who is familiar with you will allow you to play characters other than yourself while yet feeling safe.
• Audition in front of strangers. It takes some level of comfortability to work on playing personalities other than oneself in front of others who might not be aware of or interested in "you" as a person. In the future, when most performers have never met before being on set together, this stage will aid in boosting confidence (on stage).
• Practice in front of mirrors, cameras, webcams, smartphones, and other similar devices. Even while live performances are required for most auditions, practising beforehand can assist reduce performance anxiety when there aren't any outside distractions like these ones would.

 

Budgeting Tips
It costs anywhere between £20 to £100 to enter an audition, and that's just the entry fee. You’ll need to consider travel, lodging, and other costs. Try making all your reservations in advance; not only is it more affordable, but it also prevents stress closer to the audition day, giving you more time to concentrate on it.
 
Student Finance may be able to provide funding to students to support them during their program.
 
Promising candidates may find information about scholarships on the websites of various reputable drama schools. Each theatre school has its own set of rules. Students with talent may also apply for a Dance and Drama Awards scholarship.
 

Drama Coaching
This can be very beneficial for you because an acting coach can assist you in practising and preparing for the audition itself. You will gain something from working with an acting coach for even just one hour.
 
A skilled acting coach will be able to provide you with ideas and advice on how to improve your performance. You should practise your presentation in front of an audience that will be critical of it.
An alternative to an acting coach can be practicing with a theatre friend, or your current teacher. There may be some charities or groups locally that could offer a space to practice, maybe even attend an am-dram club near you. 
 
It may take a lot of effort to get into theatre school, but if you enjoy acting it will definitely be worthwhile! It’s so important to be prepared about what is to come – the audition process can be tough but if you are serious about this as a career you may even actually enjoy the process!

Author

Rosie Buckley is self-employed freelance writer who specialises in educational writing with a particular interest in Theatre and the Performing Arts.