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Every applicant to the Acting course will be given an audition to demonstrate talent and the potential to benefit from the course. All applicants must attend the audition in person. It is not possible to audition through providing a video of your presentation.
The best acting applicants are recalled for a second audition, allowing time for staff members to work with them over another day.
NIDA looks for people who show the potential to become good actors in the future, people who have talent but need to acquire technical skills.
Auditions can be nerve-wracking, although NIDA tries to conduct them in a friendly and informal manner. It is important to understand that professional actors are required to audition every time they go for a role. All aspiring actors should treat the audition process as a valuable learning experience.
At NIDA auditioning is an important part of the Acting course. All students are taught how the industry works and how to find employment. Talent is not enough. It must be supported by skill, technique and knowledge; these things can be learnt at NIDA.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN ACTING AUDITION
Please read carefully the following information and instructions, which are intended to help you with your audition.
IMPORTANT NOTE – if you are applying for the Music Theatre stream of the course please note that you will be required to prepare additional material for a recall audition. This is an Acting course and you will be auditioned first on your acting ability. Music Theatre stream recall auditions will only take place in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
RELAX AND ENJOY - NIDA auditions are informal and active. We find that most applicants manage to relax and actually enjoy the experience. We hope that you will too!
WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS
All applicants must thoroughly prepare and memorise THREE short solo excerpts from contrasted classical and contemporary scripts:
- At least one must be selected from the NIDA suggested audition pieces.
- At least one must be from a Shakespeare play
- Your selected monologues should be contrasting pieces, chosen to show different aspects of your abilities
- Your monologue should be no longer than two minutes
- Choose the monologues from plays / screenplays
- Do not choose poems
- Do not prepare self-devised or self-written pieces (they are not appropriate to the audition process)
- You must be prepared to present all three monologues, although only two may be required. The three monologues are a very important part of the audition. Please prepare thoroughly.
SELECTING THE MONOLOGUES – IN SUMMARY
HOW TO PREPARE
- Try to read the whole play in order to understand the context of the monologue and be ready to discuss it during the audition
- Select characters about the same age as you are
- Choose scenes that you believe will show your abilities
- Present them clearly with interesting physical action
- Do not think of them as "speeches".
Remember, this is your audition. While it is useful to test out your monologue on a friend, do not worry about acting "coaches" and don't let anybody tell you how to act it. The NIDA audition is not an acting "exam". There is no right or wrong way. Prepare your audition pieces carefully and have the courage to do them in the way you decide.
For further guidance on audition procedures and selection of speeches, read The Actor's Audition Manual Vol.1 and/or Masterclass Vol. 2 (Women) Vol. 2 (Men) by Dean Carey, published by Currency Press. These books and the plays and screenplays from which the NIDA suggested audition pieces are taken should be readily available at the suggested bookshops. If you are unable to obtain copies of the plays from these bookshops, contact your local library.
ON THE DAY
We know that an audition can be a stressful experience. We make allowance for nerves and we try to make the process as enjoyable as possible. The auditions are held in groups and may take the whole day. There will be a talk about NIDA to the group before the audition and you will have an opportunity to ask any questions. This will be followed by movement and voice warm-up exercises.
Please wear suitable clothing and little or no make-up. Any casual clothing that does not limit your movement is acceptable.
The initial audition involves the presentation of at least two of your prepared pieces to usually at least two audition staff. After this, some applicants are invited to stay to present their third scene and/or do further work.
At the end of this audition session, we may then ask some applicants to attend a second audition: a recall. This will occur on another day and may involve additional preparation.
The recall audition may involve redirection of scenes, improvisation, discussion on interpretation, musical and rhythmic tests and sight reading. You may be asked to relate dramatic roles to your personal experience. You may also be asked about your knowledge of and experience in the theatre and related media. For Music Theatre stream applicants, please see additional information below.
The audition process is friendly, informal and open, but misunderstandings can occur. Should you feel any concern with the audition process or with what is said to you during the course of the audition, please express your concern immediately, or talk it over with a member of the audition panel before you leave.
See below for important further information.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MUSIC THEATRE STREAM
If you wish to specialise in music theatre and are applying for this stream of the Acting course, you must first successfully complete the initial audition outlined above. You will not be required to sing at the initial audition. If you successfully complete the initial audition and are recalled for a second day of auditions, it is at this recall audition that you will be required to present your prepared music pieces.
WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR MUSIC THEATRE STREAM APPLICANTS RECALL AUDITION
You must prepare two contrasting music pieces to perform on your recall day:
- One ballad and one up tempo piece
- One of these songs must be from the NIDA Suggested Music Pieces
- One of these songs must be of your own choice (not from the NIDA list)
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT THE MUSIC PIECES
- The song of your own choice cannot be self devised
- Recently, “jukebox” musicals have been created using songs made popular by recording artists eg. ABBA, Queen, Dusty Springfield, The Four Seasons – These songs are NOT suitable for the music theatre auditions.
- An accompanist will be provided.
- You must provide sheet music for the accompanist in the keys in which the songs are to be performed.
- Backing tracks are not permitted.
Some applicants will be invited to stay for a dance/movement audition. You do not need to prepare anything for this but should wear appropriate fitted dance attire. Of this group, some will be invited to then present their monologues again and the audition may involve redirection of scenes, improvisation, discussion on interpretation, musical and rhythmic tests and sight reading. You may be asked to relate dramatic roles to your personal experience. You may also be asked about your knowledge of and experience in the theatre and related media.
Music Theatre stream recall auditions will only take place in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. In order to seek to prevent applicants from incurring unnecessary travel costs, it may be suggested to Music Theatre stream applicants in other cities, who are invited to attend a recall, that you first attend the recall auditions for the Acting stream in your city and discuss with the recall panel whether or not you should consider travelling interstate to present your singing and dancing skills.
If you are applying for the Music Theatre stream of the Acting course, you do not need to apply for both streams of the course. NIDA reserves the right to offer applicants a place in either the Acting or Music Theatre streams of the BDA (Acting).
THE RESULT OF YOUR APPLICATION – both streams
Selections for all NIDA courses are made around the second week of December. At this time successful applicants will be advised by telephone and in writing that they have been accepted into the Acting course. Those applicants who have been asked to participate up to the end of the recall audition, but whose application is not successful, will also be advised by telephone and in writing.
If you have not been invited to present your third piece at your initial audition or have not been invited to a recall audition or have not been asked to stay for the whole period of the recall audition, then your application has not been successful and you will not receive any further notification from NIDA regarding your application.
Please note that some students are accepted into NIDA on their third, fourth or fifth attempt.
Please also note that it is not possible to provide you with an individual assessment of your application, either orally or in writing.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS – both streams
NIDA regulations require that students are expected to be 18 years of age by 31 March of their first year of enrolment and have the HSC or equivalent. Under exceptional circumstances we can waive these conditions but please be aware that we are looking for students who have some maturity, a variety of life experiences and an interest in a range of issues and ideas. Applicants aged 17 years are accepted for an audition on the understanding that this may be a useful experience but the liklihood of being selected for entry into the Acting Course aged 17 years is very limited. The age range of recent students selected for the Acting Course ranged from 18 to 32 years with the average age being 22.3 years.
GENERAL WELFARE – both streams
NIDA students must be in good health and capable of managing a stringent and exhausting three years of full-time study. We cannot emphasise this enough. If you have any health concerns, please discuss these with us at the audition. Successful applicants will be required to complete a health questionnaire before commencing the course.
HELPFUL HINTS – both streams
If you live locally to NIDA in Sydney, it is beneficial to attend the NIDA Play Program performances. This gives you an insight into the types of plays staged by NIDA and the range of demands made on acting students.
You might also like to consider one of the many short courses offered by the NIDA Open Program in Sydney and other cities across Australia. These courses offer a range of acting and audition skills. For more information please contact the NIDA Open Program by telephone (02) 9697 7626 or email open@nida.edu.au.
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