The BRIT School Audition

[mumtomil]

Hello, my D's audition is on the 1st of march for musical theatre post-16, she has the have an interview, attend a dance workshop, sing either spark of creation from children of eden or the girl i mean to be secret garden, and prepare a monolouge. I wanted to ask if there are any students/ex students/people who auditioned, who have an advice for her? We are unsure about what to do for the monolouge because someone told us writing her own was a good idea, and others said it was a bad idea. If you have any advice, knowlege, tips or anything atall I would be extremley greatful and it might stop her from worrying abit. Thanks

[pg]

As a general rule, I do not think writing your own monologue for a drama school audition is a good idea. It is much better to choose something from a published play. I have seen lots of people audition - I have usually been able to tell when someone has written something themselves (I have usually asked them what it is from, or the auditioner has done so) - the writing is normally nowhere near as good as people think it is...

I think writing your own speech means that you give yourself a much harder job than you need to! Choosing a speech by a great playwright means that most of the work is done for you.

Writing a good speech is hard. Most people are not very good at it - even when they think they are. This means that they then have to deliver a great rendition of a poor speech and in my experience this usually means they don't do so well.

Of course there is always the chance that someone has delivered a really good piece and said that their piece is from a play I haven't heard of, by a playwright I haven't heard of and that they have in fact written it themselves and used a pen name - but I think this is pretty rare.

I think choosing something from a play she likes is a much better idea. If she can find one with a character she can identify with, this will help her. You can choose several short speeches and put them together, leaving out another character's words (providing the resulting speech still makes sense).

[mumamia]

Hello, my D's audition is on the 1st of march for musical theatre post-16, she has the have an interview, attend a dance workshop, sing either spark of creation from children of eden or the girl i mean to be secret garden, and prepare a monolouge. I wanted to ask if there are any students/ex students/people who auditioned, who have an advice for her? We are unsure about what to do for the monolouge because someone told us writing her own was a good idea, and others said it was a bad idea. If you have any advice, knowlege, tips or anything atall I would be extremley greatful and it might stop her from worrying abit. Thanks

Hi millyzero
My DD has her second audition after already attending the workshop 1st. This is for year 12 musical theatre 2 year course is this the same as your DD?
In her letter it does not mention a workshop only a small meeting with the teachers and 1 min dance that must contain various steps, 1 monolouge from a choice of 2 that they send you and 1 song again from a choice of 4 that they also send you.
These choices can be viewed on the Brit web site, I hope we have not misread the letter properly you have got me worried now.
My DD auditioned the 1st time on the 21st Jan when did your DD audition? or am I getting confused sorry I probable am.
Good luck with the audition.
Regards
Mumamia

[Mummyaud]

Hi, the info Millyzero has posted relates to Key stage 4 first auditions (Year10) not post 16 so probably a typo. My daughter is also attending on 1st March for her audition, it would be lovely to meet you and your daughter Millyzero. I would echo the advice above and not try to write her own monologue which would be difficult but to go for a established piece that suits her. Her drama teacher would be the best person to advise you. LAMDA publish a book of monolgues which you can buy from ther website which would be appropriate.

[mumamia]

Sigh of relief I was getting worried there for a moment.
Good luck also to your daughter as well.
Mumamia

[mumtomil]

As a general rule, I do not think writing your own monologue for a drama school audition is a good idea. It is much better to choose something from a published play. I have seen lots of people audition - I have usually been able to tell when someone has written something themselves (I have usually asked them what it is from, or the auditioner has done so) - the writing is normally nowhere near as good as people think it is...

I think writing your own speech means that you give yourself a much harder job than you need to! Choosing a speech by a great playwright means that most of the work is done for you.

Writing a good speech is hard. Most people are not very good at it - even when they think they are. This means that they then have to deliver a great rendition of a poor speech and in my experience this usually means they don't do so well.

Of course there is always the chance that someone has delivered a really good piece and said that their piece is from a play I haven't heard of, by a playwright I haven't heard of and that they have in fact written it themselves and used a pen name - but I think this is pretty rare.

I think choosing something from a play she likes is a much better idea. If she can find one with a character she can identify with, this will help her. You can choose several short speeches and put them together, leaving out another character's words (providing the resulting speech still makes sense).

Hello thankyou for your advice- we are defo going with an already written one lol! Thankyou again your a lifesaver!

[mumtomil]

Hi, the info Millyzero has posted relates to Key stage 4 first auditions (Year10) not post 16 so probably a typo. My daughter is also attending on 1st March for her audition, it would be lovely to meet you and your daughter Millyzero. I would echo the advice above and not try to write her own monologue which would be difficult but to go for a established piece that suits her. Her drama teacher would be the best person to advise you. LAMDA publish a book of monolgues which you can buy from ther website which would be appropriate.

Hay- my daughter will probebly be wearing her pink leg dance leg warmers and has brown/auben hair! Good luck to you guys to!