What Drama schools want?

What Drama schools want?

What do Drama schools want? A question often asked when preparing for the future of an aspiring actor. In order for you to have a head start on the audition stage of reserving a place in a drama school are monologues. Monologues are the key components of your audition and where you can expose your full potential in what you love. Factors that often impress the judges in Drama schools are that you have clear knowledge behind your monologues, preferably at least two different ones – one classical and one modern. For example, the monologues I have chosen are Erik’s monologue from The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber for my classical and Jimmy’s monologue from the Ghost of Detention by D. M. Larson. Make sure when deciding your monologues, if the monologue was originally written in a book, make sure to take note of both when the book and play were written and who wrote both.

After obtaining the monologues, make sure you make clear research behind when they were written and a brief synopsis of each to show a clear understanding of how or where these monologues are based around in the play. Furthermore, it is also beneficial if you have clear reasons on why you had chosen these monologues. For example, the reason why I had chosen the monologue from the Phantom of the Opera was because I had grown up around the play and the powerful emotions the scene releases can send over an impact to the audience where they can realise how love can control people, even a Phantom. The reason why I had chosen the Ghost of Detention monologue is because it is based around wanting a detention just to be with a girl, however it juxtaposes with my personal character and in turn makes the scene a slight challenge.

Although having monologues is already a start, having at least another classical and a modern monologue can help secure your essentials for the audition as it shows the judges that you are well prepared. In addition some drama schools may ask for you to sing so having a few songs prepared may be a good decision to make just in case they do.  

When first deciding a monologue, you need to consider on how it impacts you as this makes it easier for you to extract the reasons on why you had chosen this purposefully. Once all monologues are obtained, first of all, you need to annotate it. For example, label specific words or phrases you want to emphasise and in brackets put an emotion or action/gesture you may want to accompany the part with. You may also want to consider the 6 W’s: Who are you? When are you? Where are you? Why am I here? What do you want? What will I do to achieve my want? Using these questions to break down the scene can help contribute to your character development and to allow yourself to relate to the character with your own interpretations. It may also be wise to watch your monologues performed online to give you a slight idea of how to portray that character.

For example, for my modern monologue from the Ghost of Detention, I play Jimmy and the timeline of this scene is based around midday in the 2000’s. My location is in a classroom, play ground or corridor of a school where Jimmy finds himself seeing the girl he likes walk in to a detention. This leads him to wanting a detention to ‘…be with her more and see her more…’ as expressed in the monologue itself. In result, again expressed in the monologue is that he would think to give the Principal a wedgie to achieve what he wants. Having these questions answered not may only help you with character development but also help support you if the judges do ask similar questions.  In addition, this shows the Judges that you have taken the time to break down your character and development; also showing that you are a dedicated aspiring actor.

When practicing do not portray any scene cliché by using hand gestures that convinces the audience of what is already conveyed in the scene. Just think as if you are naturally sending over the scene as if you are talking about something in your life. In other words, you can almost relate to the scene that is taking place. A key component of applying for a drama school is that you must not interpret the scene you are performing as what other people see. You should see to it as it is actually happening to you.

Other than just focusing on the monologues, it is also wise to have knowledge on plays and performances you have watched and go back to research on when they were written and a brief synopsis on each. This may be also a heads up to go out and watch plays and experience different genres in the performance industry. Consequently this leads to a positive view of your personality to the judges.

Finally, make sure you have a clear introduction speech before performing your monologues including: your name, your age, the monologue you are performing and the research you had made earlier from the monologues (when they were written, who they were by and a brief synopsis before each monologue is performed).