Why I am low this evening...

Just ran my audition speeches past my course tutor. It is an audition requirement to show usually two speeches; one modern (20th Century onwards) and one 'classical' (Shakespearian or Jacobean), and also have a number learnt in reserve to show in the event of a recall.

I have spent the Summer choosing, learning and working on a number, but have not shown them to anyone until today. It tends to be a lot easier to choose 'Classical' speeches and as such I have a number of these learnt (5 in fact!) I ran two of these past him and thankfully they held their own. Plenty of helpful notes to develop them further.

Being so fussy I only have one modern speech prepared; and after showing it to him he duly advised me to scrap it. Sigh. My first audition date is in 5 weeks time (For LAMDA) and I am waiting on other offers of dates to come in the post that could call on me sooner- and now I do not have a speech! Oh dear - the heat is now definitely on.

I am happy that he advised me to scrap it. The reasons for his advise were sound; I agreed with him. I had the same doubts in the back of my mind anyway, but herein I had ignored that voice in the back of my mind because I didn't want to go back to the drawing board. Well...now I am.

Back to the bookshop to comb through the plays for speeches. A fresh round of snivelling emails to the few theatrically knowledgeable people I know to ask them for any recommendations. Back to the beginning of the process. Oh well...its for the best.

The First Blog!

Firstly and most importantly- What's the point of this blog?

It is my ambition to be a professional actor. I currently study on a part time course and full time study is the next step. I am applying to what my research has led me to believe are the 'top' drama schools. I suppose by 'top' I mean most prestigious and considered to be of the highest teaching quality. 

Who can say what the true ranking is? Its a point that's open to endless debate. In any case I have applied to:

1) RADA 

2) LAMDA

3) GUILDHALL

4) BRISTOL OLD VIC

5) CENTRAL

Each course has an intake of between 12 and 30 students per year, with anything  up to 4000 people applying for these places. Its a 100-1 shot for sure and the process is notoriously competitive, with the majority of applicants having considerable talent already. 

If that's not enough to put you off; what one has to go through to get one of these golden places might. Firstly each school requires a written application, some of them demanding a sort of essay on why you are great. With this sent off, along with £45 of your money, you are called to an audition/interview, where you have to further prove what a marvellous person you are and then...perform some prepared speeches and perhaps sing a song. 

It gets better. After the first audition you may be recalled for what is known as the 'Second Round'. More discussion, more singing, speech performing and maybe even showing a third speech (that you have been asked to prepare)

This second round can even lead to a third, fourth and exceptionally a fifth whereby the decide whether or not you are worthy. What an ordeal.

Its going to be en experience worth remembering and that is why I have decided to chronicle it. In the likelihood that I don't get offered a place this year, I will be able to refer to my records here when I apply again next year. Perhaps the Blog could be useful for other student actors on the same path, perhaps in years to come.