Drama school help/advice PLEASE!

[LiveTheDream..x]

Okay I've decided that I'm going to apply and audition for drama schools for entry in 2011. AHH! Orginially I was going to take a gap year, but with uni fees trippling I don't have that choice anymore. It is my absolute dream to persue an acting career. But with going to Drama School, ALOT has been holding me back and I just NEED to audition otherwise I know I will regret it so much later on in life! I realise it is REALLY late for me to fineally have the guts to make this decision but I hope that doesn't disadvantage me too much!

I'm also applying to uni - English & Drama as a backup as I NEED to get in somewhere this year due to uni prices trippling!

In all honesty, I am not prepared at all! I don't have any monologues! I've visited Samuel French a few times but I'm still absolutely stuck in finding a monologue that suits me. Majorly stressing.

I want to apply for BA acting courses that aren't done through UCAS.
I would also absolutely love to apply to the Musical Theatre courses at GSA and Montview <3
But as much as I'd like to do that, I'll have to hunt for original songs aswell, on top of the stress that I need monologues and need to get AAB in my a levels for any chance of getting into uni.

For me, this is a massive challenge. But I want to do it, even if it means not having a social life for a while (I'll have a great one in the summer)

So my plan is work hard for A levels and work hard preparing monologues, what ever happens, happens.

Any advice with drama schools or monologues would be MUCH APPRECIATED!

Thank You!

[Welsh Mum]

There have been a lot of threads on this topic in the last few years so it is worth doing a search. It's not too late to apply, but will be a lot of work to get everything ready, but I fully understand your worries about fees etc. Do you know that some very good Acting courses are also through UCAS? Such as rose Bruford, East 15, and Central School of Speech and Drama (where my DD is) so you will have to use up UCAS places if you want to apply for any of these.

As for monologue advice its difficult as it is such a personal and individual thing. But here are a couple of useful sites:


http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.dunmore/

This is Simon Dunmores site, lots of useful information, worth a good read, suggested plays etc as well. Also this one

http://www.andrew-piper.com/

Look under the Advice page.

There is also a very good book called "So You want to Tread the Boards" by Jennifer Reischel. There is lots of audition advice as well as info about training, including suggested audition songs etc.

I would try and look at all of these to get more information and guidance. Is there anyone in school/college to help you as well? One of the most confusing things is that the audition forms, process and guidelines are different for almost every place, you really need to keep on top of them all.

Hope some of this has helped. good luck!!