Applying for 2013

[nigelben]

Hi Wolfie 39, very interested to read your post, your DD has done brilliantly My DS who is in his first year of applying went to Mountview on Monday of this week for MT, he put himself in the novice dance group, he didn't make the cut, was a bit disappointed as the song the auditioner chose wasn't the one he was hoping to sing, he wanted to sing "Gethsemane" but was asked to sing "On the Street Where You Live" which he felt didn't show his voice off enough, all good experience though. He is at Rose Bruford today, he has a recall at Manchester Met next Saturday, 1st audition at Drama Centre in 2 weeks and Bristol Old Vic in March. Still waiting on a date from GSA for the regional audition in Cardiff as we live in Bristol, emailed a couple of weeks ago, they said they were going to set a date very soon, still not heard though.

[dorothy]

That was really interesting Wolfie and thanks for the response. Your dd has done really well and good on her for waiting a year as she now has some good offers. Wa the foundation course good? I know its at a good place but my dd has done a BTech Extended level 3 in MT and we wonder whether the Foundation Course is a step up from that or similar.

My dd has 2 more to go GSA and RSC rejections from LCM, Central and LIPA . She thought the auditions for Central and LCM were really good and she had a fair chance but wasnt fussed on LIPA mainly because it was acting and she shouldnt really have applied there (although she thought the place was nice) I dont think we can afford the drama schools because of the cost and no loans and we probably wouldnt get a full DADA.

I have heard Blackpool and chichester are good but think my dd may wait until next year if she cant get in to somewhere she wants this year. How was Rose Bruford? My dd didnt go in the end to that as she really wants MT and wasted 2 of her choices with LIPA and Rose Bruford.

[dorothy]

sorry the Rose Bruford question was for Nigelben. I heard that the auditions are really tough there for the American Theatre Arts course

[nigelben]

DS really enjoyed his audition at Rose Bruford and felt he did well, to start with one of the year 3 students took them on a tour, then they were divided into 2 groups and 3 were taken at a time and sat outside the audition room, they were called in one at a time, there was a teacher and a year 3 student on the panel, they had been told previously not to be put off if they were stopped before the end of their 2nd speech, DS decided to do his Shakespeare first and modern second, he was encouraged as he was able to do the whole of his second speech and then they asked him a couple of questions. He said the people and the place were really nice and would love to go there if he was lucky enough to get a place. It was an altogether different different story at Mountview, my husband and ds thought it looked really shabby from the outside and ds said no better inside! He wasn't overly keen on the auditioners and has decided if not lucky enough to get into drama school this year he wouldn't want to audition for Mountview again.

[jasmine2]

My dd has an audition at Rose Bruford on Thursday......

Nice to hear of some positive things....
her Mountview audition was short and sweet and she also felt that place was not inspiring! She also thought that another famous establishment was very patronising and made her feel very uncomfortable despite acheiving amazing GCSE results and on line to get Distinction* across the board in her dance diploma....she said they looked down their noses at her...
why be like that...better to say well done to all auditioning and 'we will let you know'

fingers crossed for all

[JayLou62]

Hi,

Sorry to jump on the bandwagon, but older dd is hoping to apply for 2014 so we've been watching your experiences with interest. Dd is especially interested in Musical Theatre (she's doing A levels in History, Chemistry and Biology and a one year Level 4 Foundation Course in Musical Theatre/Acting) - we were hoping to do some open days but Blackpool and Chichester are on the same same day and I can't see a date for Manchester (Arden Theatre):(
Dd wants to do Chichester open day, so those who've done auditions/open days at Blackpool and/or Manchester how long are the auditions?; how many hours are the courses per week (Blackpool says 16 which doesn't sound much but under the course itself it says it's more hours when rehearsing)?; what format are the auditions? what standard of dance are they looking at?
Sorry for all the questions - it's difficult to make a decision without knowing much about the courses and how much travelling time to allow (a friend did Rose Bruford and only just made the last train home!).

[showtunes]

Hi,

Sorry to jump on the bandwagon, but older dd is hoping to apply for 2014 so we've been watching your experiences with interest. Dd is especially interested in Musical Theatre (she's doing A levels in History, Chemistry and Biology and a one year Level 4 Foundation Course in Musical Theatre/Acting) - we were hoping to do some open days but Blackpool and Chichester are on the same same day and I can't see a date for Manchester (Arden Theatre):(
Dd wants to do Chichester open day, so those who've done auditions/open days at Blackpool and/or Manchester how long are the auditions?; how many hours are the courses per week (Blackpool says 16 which doesn't sound much but under the course itself it says it's more hours when rehearsing)?; what format are the auditions? what standard of dance are they looking at?
Sorry for all the questions - it's difficult to make a decision without knowing much about the courses and how much travelling time to allow (a friend did Rose Bruford and only just made the last train home!).

It's hard to book a train time home when you don't know the audition finishing times we have found while audtioning this year. As usually they may be told they will finish at lunchtime unless they get an afternoon call back in which case to allow being there till 5pm. It means a lot of hanging around and booking later trains if we have not driven just in case dd was there later. My dd was at her chichester audtion till 2pm (she has been offered a place there) we asked about the course we have been told that they have 30hrs contact teaching time a week plus longer hours when rehearsing for shows. This compared to other uni courses seems to be very full on.
As for her 2 other audtions they were both 10-1, she didn't get a call back to the afternoon so didn't have to stay longer. We have GSA this week and have been told its just an hr long. All they do on the initial audition is hear them sing a few bars of their song.
Good luck

[Wolfie39]

Dorothy - Dd has been really helped by the foundation course at gsa. Her dance was always her weakness now i would say it has improved the most. Her acting has always been her strongest point and she feels that hasn't really been strectched and singing is a mixed bag. Helped her tecnically (sorted her tongue tension whatever that is) and help with audition peices but she feels has not really come on as much as her dance. Overall, i would say with the reulsts from her current auditions yes it has been worth it but the cost of the foundation plus living expenses is high.

My Dd also did an extended btec in MT. Foundation is 40+ hrs a week full on and definately a step up

[Wolfie39]

Oh just a heads up for those going to MT Mountview......they do get sneaky and ask you which of your 2 songs you want to sing....when you answer they ask to her the other one!! Moral of story is to double bluff or be comfortable with both songs and therefore don't care if they try that on you.

[nigelben]

DS and all in his audition weren't asked which song they wanted to do just which songs they had prepared and the auditioner decided, he felt comfortable with both songs but just felt "Gethsemane" would showcase his voice better especially as dance isn't his strongest talent and of course, they are not able to do their monologue unless they were recalled. He enjoyed the rest of his visit to London though

[dorothy]

My dd went to RCS today. In the morning they did a dance which they had to learn which dd really enjoyed but thought it quite challenging, she did one song and one monologue and then they called some back in the afternoon. There were 40 to 50 in the morning and about 11 were called back for the afternoon. My dd got called back so she was really pleased about that. She then had to do one of her other songs they had to have 3 prepared and the othe mologue which they directed her on and asked her to do it in 2 different ways. Although her voice is her instrument they like you to have something prepared to show your musicality on another instrument.Unfortunately she doesnt play another instrument but had been practising playing and preparing something for the piano. They asked her about it and she told them she was happy to play what she had learnt and they didnt ask her and said that was fine just wanted her to show she had a willingness to learn. She thought it went well and is pleased she got through to the first recall and now needs to wait to see if she gets recalled to the final recall which is in March. It will be a tough call as there are only 18 places . Think 4 of those places are for international students (does England count? and there were obviously a lot of scottish auditionees and it seems to be an equal split for male/female. She was told that about 4 places have been offered so far

She thought it was a wonderful place and the best audition she had done and would love to live in Glasgow but we will see. Only GSA left now next Friday and hopefully a recall as singing is her strongest strength!

[Welsh Mum]

Dd wants to do Chichester open day, so those who've done auditions/open days at Blackpool and/or Manchester how long are the auditions?; how many hours are the courses per week (Blackpool says 16 which doesn't sound much but under the course itself it says it's more hours when rehearsing)?; what format are the auditions? what standard of dance are they looking at?

If you are looking for a practical, vocational course for MT then 16 hours will not give you that I am afraid. On my DD course the basic week has been 40 hours. This has often been extended for things like rehearsals and BASSC training, often in college from 7.30 am to 10.00 pm, and Saturday classes were frequently added on - sometimes for up to 6 hours. I think this also prepares you for the pressures of the profession, esp a stage musical. I dont see how you could really get the amount of practical work needed in just 16 hours. Of course, if you are looking for a uni qualification that is not a problem.

It may also be useful to ask about class/year sizes. If you have a large year group then pressure for parts is immense (particularly for girls - fewer female parts) and some students will inevitably not get seen very much in the all important final year productions. It would also mean that there will be liitle time per student in the showcases.

[GypsyMumNot!]

My dd was at her chichester audtion till 2pm (she has been offered a place there) we asked about the course we have been told that they have 30hrs contact teaching time a week plus longer hours when rehearsing for shows. This compared to other uni courses seems to be very full on.

Eldest DD is in the middle of her 1st year at Chi (Musical Theatre - Dance pathway)and the hours you were told are about right if not understated! They work them really hard & dd is pretty exhausted come Friday...! Def get your money's worth at Chi!She has so far done one full-on production last term & is in the middle of her second: they tend to put the year groups together quite a lot and they are expected to carry on with all classes as well as rehearsals.... Really hard work! Her timetable seems to be as much as any of the independent schools but they have written work to do as well!

[pixiebelle]

Hi,

Sorry to jump on the bandwagon, but older dd is hoping to apply for 2014 so we've been watching your experiences with interest. Dd is especially interested in Musical Theatre (she's doing A levels in History, Chemistry and Biology and a one year Level 4 Foundation Course in Musical Theatre/Acting) - we were hoping to do some open days but Blackpool and Chichester are on the same same day and I can't see a date for Manchester (Arden Theatre):(
Dd wants to do Chichester open day, so those who've done auditions/open days at Blackpool and/or Manchester how long are the auditions?; how many hours are the courses per week (Blackpool says 16 which doesn't sound much but under the course itself it says it's more hours when rehearsing)?; what format are the auditions? what standard of dance are they looking at?
Sorry for all the questions - it's difficult to make a decision without knowing much about the courses and how much travelling time to allow (a friend did Rose Bruford and only just made the last train home!).

DD is at Arden Theatre Manchester, remember she loved her audition there..consisted of ballet, jazz, solo song, 2 contrasting monologues, acting workshop. Hours of study for Musical Theatre approx 30, student loan funded so maybe worth applying.

[showtunes]

Hi,

Sorry to jump on the bandwagon, but older dd is hoping to apply for 2014 so we've been watching your experiences with interest. Dd is especially interested in Musical Theatre (she's doing A levels in History, Chemistry and Biology and a one year Level 4 Foundation Course in Musical Theatre/Acting) - we were hoping to do some open days but Blackpool and Chichester are on the same same day and I can't see a date for Manchester (Arden Theatre):(
Dd wants to do Chichester open day, so those who've done auditions/open days at Blackpool and/or Manchester how long are the auditions?; how many hours are the courses per week (Blackpool says 16 which doesn't sound much but under the course itself it says it's more hours when rehearsing)?; what format are the auditions? what standard of dance are they looking at?
Sorry for all the questions - it's difficult to make a decision without knowing much about the courses and how much travelling time to allow (a friend did Rose Bruford and only just made the last train home!).

DD is at Arden Theatre Manchester, remember she loved her audition there..consisted of ballet, jazz, solo song, 2 contrasting monologues, acting workshop. Hours of study for Musical Theatre approx 30, student loan funded so maybe worth applying.

My dd has an audition at Arden in Manchester in a couple of weeks. Would you reccomend the place then?