RADA Audition Pieces?

[sXOX]

Hi there, I have an audition for RADA in a few months, and I thought I had my audition pieces sorted out!

However, I've been looking online, and a lot of people have said don't use the pieces from the Central set monologue list. Unfortunately, I just looked at their list, and even though I'm not applying for Central my monologue is on their list! Do you think this is a problem ?!

Does anyone have any suggestions for the modern piece? I was going to use a piece from Talking Heads by Alan Bennett, but I've read that this is also not a good idea! I know I am very foolish to of applied before I knew which monologues to do, but I thought that I did!

Also, do you think RADA place more importance on Shakespeare pieces than on the modern ones?
Finaly, do RADA (and any other Drama schools) value comedy as highly as they do more serious pieces? My two shakespeare pieces are both very serious so I was planning on then doing a comedy?

[Welsh Mum]

I think a contrast between the pieces is a good idea. I wouldn't do the Talking Heads as my dd was also told drama colleges don't like it. I think equal importance is placed on both monologues

[sXOX]

thank you x

[pg]

I agree that contrast is a good idea.

My ds (who went to RADA) did do one of the Central audition speeches for RADA. At least, I'm pretty sure he did!

However, I do think that there is a danger that it will look a bit lazy and as if you haven't bothered to look elsewhere. I would recommend having at least one or two others up your sleeve. If you feel that the Central one really suits you, then be prepared to defend your choice and explain why you chose it.
It is more difficult for girls - there's a lot less choice!
I do recommend Simon Dunmore's "alternative Shakespeare monologues" - there are some good ones in there.

Talking Heads is not a good choice for quite a few reasons:

The writing is wonderful, but:

1. They were written with specific actors/actresses in mind and you can often practically "hear" them in the lines. I think this is the principal reason to avoid them.
2. If you are thinking of "Her Big Chance", it's done to death and is very difficult to choose 2 minutes from it that gives you good audition material (in my opinion).
3. They were written to be delivered to camera and are not characters interacting with other characters - which makes them a tricky choice for drama school auditions. They are not soliloquies, exactly, either (the characters are not really working things out in their heads). I do think you need to know exactly who you are talking to (even if it is to yourself) in the piece you choose.
4. I can't think of any of them that are really the right age (unless you are an older actor).

If you want something contrasting, you don't need it to be "funny" particularly - just something a bit lighter in mood and style.
I agree with Welshmum that both pieces are important and that one is not more important than the other. Comedy is just as highly valued as something serious, but remember that your job is not to entertain the panel - it's to show them that you can inhabit the character's world and go on their journey.

Best of luck!

If I can offer any further information/advice - let me know. I can ask Son of PG for this thoughts as well!

[sXOX]

Thanks so pg for writing such a helpful response! I really appreciate it!!!

I planning on doing Paulina's 'What studied torments tyrant' monologue from the Winter's Tale as it does I think suit me - do you think in the audition I should mention that I'm not applying for Central so it doesn't look like I was lazy when choosing monologues?
I was also planning on doing Juliet's 'Farwell, God knows when we shall meet again speech', which although is not on the Central list I do know is greatly over done! Alternatively I was thinking of doing Helena's 'How happy some o'er other some can be!' from MSND!

Indeed, I was thinkng of doing Her Big Chance initially, but I definitely see how it would not be a good idea! A friend suggested doing a monologue from Daisy Pulls It Off, which although is a great comedy, I'm not sure if it would 'looked down on' by RADA? I seem to struggle for more with modern monologues than Shakespeare!

As your Son went to RADA (wow!) do you think it is a good idea to mention LAMDA exams a lot in the interview, or is it not a good idea to dwell on them too much as they are from a competing school?

Thank you again so much for all your help!

[sapphire]

DD did the Paulina monologue for her Central audition and tells me that no-one else in her group performed it in the maorning session or in the recalls so it was definitely not the most popular on the list so you may be OK! DD actually did a male Shakespeare monologue for lots of her drama school auditions and it did not stop her getting recalls. She was asked to explain why she chose the piece though ... so I think you would be fine if you can convincingly argue your case for performing the monologue if asked. Amusingly in one group audition, a male applicant performed the same monologue and the audition panel did comment on how differently they had both interpreted the character (and they both got recalls)! Like pg says though it's definitely worth having two or three monologues you feel comfortable with just in case! DD ended up with three Shakespeare monologues last year to cover the different 'lists' for the various schools!

DD did a monologue from DNA by Dennis Kelly for her modern piece last year. There are actually several monologues for young women in this play so I would say it's worth having a look.

Good luck! Keep us posted re. your progress!

[pg]

No, I wouldn't start with any "excuses" for your choices. Just be prepared to defend them if necessary (which it might not be!). Definitely have another one or two in reserve so that you can offer them if asked. The Paulina speech is terrific, though I would suggest that Paulina is also perhaps more suited to someone older? I know it's very difficult to find the right thing, so if that's the one for you then by all means stick with it! Do take a look at the alternative ones though, if you get a chance, I do think there a some interesting choices available to you. I really like Joan la Pucelle from Henry VI .

Both Juliet and Helena as characters are good choices, even though they are commonly done. It might be worth looking to see whether there are other speeches of theirs you could consider. Don't forget you can cut and paste two shorter speeches together, providing the person watching can follow the sense of it without the intervening dialogue. This can give you a greater choice of speeches to go at.

This is also a useful thing to consider when looking for modern pieces: I have seen some very effective speeches which are just one half of a conversation - obviously you have to choose carefully, but you don't always need to look for a great long piece of text in a play. If there's a modern character you love, take a careful look at the play and see whether anything would work.

I think Daisy Pulls It Off is ok if you feel it gives you enough depth/interest. I'm not particularly familiar with it though. Don't be too much in awe of RADA . It's a fine school but it's really not "grander" than any of the others. Keep your eyes out for other speeches too. Do you have a local amateur society near you? Sometimes older members have a large collection of scripts to look through - and they may have bright ideas for you too.

I wouldn't mention LAMDA exams - not because it's LAMDA, just because I don't think they are relevant when it come to drama school auditions. I don't mean you should ignore them, or pretend you haven't done them. If they come up in an interview then that's fine! I just don't think drama school audition panels will consider them especially significant, so I wouldn't try to introduce them in to a conversation in an attempt to impress or anything like that. The panel just want to find out what you are like as an actor and as a potential student and they will do this by chatting to you, watching your audition pieces and observing you in any workshop type audition requirements.

The first round at RADA is usually quite brief: your audition pieces and a brief chat.

Best of luck!

[Welsh Mum]

My DD loved her RADA auditions (she got through 2 rounds then..... ). She said it was a lovely place and very friendly - the porter there was evry kind, she always got places early as she was travelling up at ungodly hours to save train fares - he even made her a cup of tea as she was there so early. So I would agree with pg - the only place my DD said was rather grand was Guildhall - she had no luck at all there and said she felt quite intimidated. Good luck with RADA - and definitely have a couple of back up monologues for both classical and modern. My Dd was asked about them - but didn't actually have to do them.

[sXOX]

thankyou again for all your advice

PG, you said that it would be ok to paste two short monologues together - do you think it would be ok to do the same with 4 short monologues that follow after each other in quick succesion in the scene? I beleive it makes sense without the other characters interjections as it is when Helena is ranting!!!

Also this may sound like an odd question - but what footwear is one expected to wear? I no longer have any dance/jazz shoes so is it acceptable to perform barefoot (I'm guessing no!) or would just some sort of pimsols be ok?

Thank you!!!!

[riverdancefan]

I want to wish you all the very best sXOX
Can't imagine how nerve-wracking these things are!!!
Get in there and wow them

Fingers crossed!!!

[sapphire]

DD says that for the first round RADA audition and similar you are literally just walking in off the street so wear something comfortable that you can perform in (no heels). For recalls and auditions with a workshop element wear movement clothes (jazz pants or leggings) and have suitable footwear (jazz shoes, jazz trainers or plimsols) and be prepared to work barefoot (so dress so you can achieve this easily without getting changed ... DD said this request did cause problems for lots of girls at LIPA and Central)! To be honest it's probably worth investing in a new pair of basic jazz shoes as if you get in you will definitely need them! DD has worn hers out in her first term at LIPA!

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress ... when is your RADA audition and where else are you applying to?

[sXOX]

Thanks sapphire - you seem to have the answer to everything!

So far I've applied to LAMDA, RADA, Guildhall, and will probably also apply to Bristol and Rose Bruford!

My RADA audition is next week which of course I am a bit worried about because of the bad weather - I am guessing that I must assume it is still on unless told otherwise by RADA ?

[sapphire]

Good luck for next week ... hopefully the weather will be ok for you to get there. If you have any worries just give them a call ... do let us know how you get on!