Applying for 2013

A place to talk about full time schools and post 16 training.

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dorothy
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Re: Applying for 2013

Post by dorothy »

I agree with your last about working with all types of abilities as in my dds youth theatre they have all types of people some with disabilities and it works well. As I said in my previous post if they really like you they will find a place for you and its better they do something they love and if they cant find work afterwards they can say they gave it go. Its a short career life anyway I think for MT and dancing type roles and hard enough to get work whatever you look like. Its not particularly well paid unless you are one of the main characters and these days they often put a celebrity in for the main parts to bring in the crowds but I am sure when they get a part no matter whether big or small the buzz and excitement is worth it and it makes it worthwhile.
Robin64
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Re: Applying for 2013

Post by Robin64 »

Just noticed on the spec for Wicked auditions they say 5'8 as upper height for females so I suppose that does give some idea of what shows are looking for and as the colleges must be looking at employment prospects it might affect who gets through auditions but obviously not for acting courses though. I reckon you would need to make a big impression with singing part.
pg
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Re: Applying for 2013

Post by pg »

I think you should apply when you know you are ready. Applying early won't do any harm (it's a better choice than applying late I think!) but schools definitely don't give out all their places until the first round of auditions are over, otherewise they risk missing out on exceptional students who apply late. This is one of the reasons schools have reserve lists. Also, some students will get offers from several schools and then places are opened up when students take their top choice and turn the others down.

Attending an open day won't make any difference to your chances. A school might spot something about a student at an open day, but they would also spot it at an audition.

I agree that it is a very good idea to go and see shows at schools you are interested in, if you can possibly afford the money and time. Again, this won't be make or break in terms of your audition, but it might help you feel better prepared and it might also help you to decide which schools you prefer.
pg
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Re: Applying for 2013

Post by pg »

nigelben wrote:Robin, as for BTEC or A levels, ds started a BTEC in acting at the local college but after 2 weeks he decided to go back to school to take A levels including performing arts. One of the first exercises he had to do at college was act like an animal for 2 whole days, he felt that perhaps he should be doing something more academic which is the reason he left, I did wonder then whether acting was going to be the right thing for him as I know drama schools do this sort of exercise. I do wonder now though if he should have persevered with the BTEC as he hasn't really enjoyed doing A levels and all he wants to do is perform, apart from exam performances they don't do anything at school so he does lots of youth drama outside of school, hopefully his A levels will be OK but I do wonder if he would get better results if he had stuck with the BTEC.
PG, interesting to hear about your experience of audition panels and feedback, do the panelists normally agree or do they very often see different attributes/weaknesses in the same candidate?
I think it's only human nature for panelists to have different views, but I imagine this is something the schools take in to account and I am sure the auditioners discuss applicants - probably fighting the corner for those they particularly rated. It's one of the reasons schools have more than one round so that applicants can be re-assessed. A panelist may also change their mind about someone on a further viewing. Schools look for different things too - lots and lots of applicants are accepted at one school (in RADA's case having gone through four rounds of auditions) have fallen at the first hurdle somewhere else. I do think the difficulty (and the bit where "good fortune" comes in) is where there are disagreements about someone's suitability for training at a particular school. There will always be some that everyone agrees on and some where opinion is divided

Interesting to read about your son's reaction to "animal studies". At the first round at the Oxford School of Drama auditions I found myself pretending to be a meerkat in the movement workshop and I can remember thinking "if this is what I have to do at drama school for a year, I shall want to shoot myself". It seemed to sum up all my worst pre-conceptions about drama school training. However 1) I discovered how useful this kind of training can be (provided it isn't the only thing you do :lol: :lol: :lol: ) and 2) drama schools throw this kind of thing at you at auditions to see how open you can be and whether you can put self-consciousness aside. I can sldo now see that it's a very useful shortcut to assess someone's physical "freedom" (or lack of it). However, if it was the only thing your ds did for 2 whole days, I can imagine that would put a lot of people off! :shock:
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Welsh Mum
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Re: Applying for 2013

Post by Welsh Mum »

Just thought I would point out that many of the showcase reviews are now on the Stage website - these make for interesting reading.
The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive.
Robsmumma
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Re: Applying for 2013

Post by Robsmumma »

Just heard dd has a place at Laines. She is so excited. Now for funding audition. Anyone else going to that one?
She is almost 5ft 10 and when we have asked about if her height will hold her back, everywhere said not really. She is nicknamed legs at college lol. Fingers crossed she doesn't fall at last hurdle x
xdancerx4xlifex
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Re: Applying for 2013

Post by xdancerx4xlifex »

Robsmumma- when was her audition? I haven't heard yet so guessing that's bad news!
showtunes
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Re: Applying for 2013

Post by showtunes »

Robsmumma wrote:Just heard dd has a place at Laines. She is so excited. Now for funding audition. Anyone else going to that one?
She is almost 5ft 10 and when we have asked about if her height will hold her back, everywhere said not really. She is nicknamed legs at college lol. Fingers crossed she doesn't fall at last hurdle x

That's great news well Done your dd =D> =D> you must be very proud of her \:D/

How does the funding audition work? How do they decide who to give it to. Fingers crossed for you.
suesmith
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Re: Applying for 2013

Post by suesmith »

Wow - well done to your dd Robsmumma x :D :D
Robsmumma
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Re: Applying for 2013

Post by Robsmumma »

Her audition was last Monday 25th.
Recalls for funding 15th 16th 17th of this month. Dont have to pay a registration fee if you can only attend with a DaDA, so thats good news. Bodywork said we dont have to pay fee either, cause we paid it last year. Just Conti to consider. Dont think we will pay the £250 there now.

Thanks everyone x
dorothy
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Re: Applying for 2013

Post by dorothy »

Robsmumma wrote:Just heard dd has a place at Laines. She is so excited. Now for funding audition. Anyone else going to that one?
She is almost 5ft 10 and when we have asked about if her height will hold her back, everywhere said not really. She is nicknamed legs at college lol. Fingers crossed she doesn't fall at last hurdle x
Well done to your dd . Good luck with the funding =D> =D>
Robin64
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Re: Applying for 2013

Post by Robin64 »

Good luck "legs" from me too! Hey and great news for the tall girls!! xx :D Didn't they call Cyd Charisse "the legs" and she was an amazing dancer.
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Genevieve
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Re: Applying for 2013

Post by Genevieve »

congratulations to your dd Robsmumma - fantastic news =D> =D>
pg wrote: At the first round at the Oxford School of Drama auditions I found myself pretending to be a meerkat in the movement workshop and I can remember thinking "if this is what I have to do at drama school for a year, I shall want to shoot myself". It seemed to sum up all my worst pre-conceptions about drama school training. However 1) I discovered how useful this kind of training can be (provided it isn't the only thing you do :lol: :lol: :lol: ) and 2) drama schools throw this kind of thing at you at auditions to see how open you can be and whether you can put self-consciousness aside. I can sldo now see that it's a very useful shortcut to assess someone's physical "freedom" (or lack of it). However, if it was the only thing your ds did for 2 whole days, I can imagine that would put a lot of people off! :shock:
actually...as part of the BA Acting course, students spend not far short of a WHOLE TERM studying an animal they're assigned by the school to study and after the period of study time, it results in a performance in front of a panel with rest of the class peforming theirs !!! often they're given an animal for the reason that it is 'opposite' to them in some way in order to improve their performing skills...eg. giving a student who tends to 'rush' in their performances an animal that requires them to be slow moving, or visa versa -
If you were assigned a meerkat pg, you'll know I presume why that would have been :-k :D they are very animated, fun though !
pg
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Re: Applying for 2013

Post by pg »

Simples! :D

I only did a year at drama school so our animal studies module was much shorter. I did see the work done by the 3 year students students though - it was impressive, and it was very clear how it could feed in to character study and help with physicality hang ups etc.

We were allowed to choose our own (much too easy ;) ) and I chose a koala. They sit and eat, sleep a lot and are very bad tempered. I'm not sure what that says about me. We then morphed in to a human being and I became a bad-tempered computer geek. My partner is a software designer. I'm not sure what that says about him either... (He does like to eat...and sleep but he is never bad-tempered fortunately :lol: ).

Have you read Michael Simkins "What's My Motivation?". Timothy Spall apparently had similar thoughts to mine - he chose a sloth.
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riverdancefan
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Re: Applying for 2013

Post by riverdancefan »

It all sounds like my idea of purgatory !! :lol: :lol:

I'll stick to nursing and leave it to DS!! I admire all you drama peeps!!
"Tall and proud my mother taught me, this is how we dance" - RIVERDANCE
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