audition tips
AS AUDITION SEASON IS APPROACHING, WE AT BOX HOUSE THEATRE WOULD LOVE TO SHARE OUR TOP TIPS ON HOW BEST TO PREPARE FOR YOUR FURTHER EDUCATION AUDITIONS WHETHER IT BE DRAMA SCHOOL OR UNIVERSITY.
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LEARN THOSE LINES!
IT SOUNDS CLICHE BUT ITS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WHEN AUDITIONING. KNOWING YOUR LINES WAY IN ADVANCE ENABLES YOU TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE EVERY AVENUE WHEN PREPARING YOUR PIECE AND ALSO WHEN RE-DIRECTED IN THE AUDITION ROOM.
WE SUGGEST BREAKING YOUR SPEECH INTO SECTIONS AND ACTIONS TO BEST UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR PIECE FLOWS.
USE A HIGHLIGHTER... TRUST US IT HELPS!
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EXPERIMENT WITH YOUR PIECE!
EXPLORE YOUR PIECE BEFORE REACHING THE AUDITION ROOM. SOMETIMES, THE BEST WAY TO FIND NEW DYNAMICS WITHIN A PIECE IS TO PERFORM IT TO VARIOUS PIECES OF MUSIC. WHEN THE MUSIC LIVENS LET YOUR CHARACTER DO THE SAME. CLASSICAL MUSIC IS A GREAT TOOL TO USE FOR THIS EXERCISE.
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PIECES TO TRY: LACRYMOSA, ARRIVAL OF THE BIRDS, MOONLIGHT SONATA, ETC.
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PLAY TO YOUR CAST TYPE!
AUDITION PANELS IRONICALLY WON'T JUST BE JUDGING YOUR PIECES. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE A CAREER AND HOW YOU WILL SUIT AN AGENCY'S BOOKS. SO, GIVE YOURSELF THE ADVANTAGE. PLAY A CHARACTER THAT YOU SEE YOURSELF PLAYING IN 5 YEARS TIME.
IF YOU ARE 18 YEARS OLD ITS VERY UNLIKELY YOU HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 25 YEARS!
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GET YOUR VOICE RIGHT!
WHEN CREATING A CHARACTER, THE VOICE IS AN INTEGRAL PART IN WHAT BRINGS THAT CHARACTER TO LIFE. THE VOICE IS A POWERFUL TOOL IN WHICH YOU CAN EXPLORE DIFFERENT SIDES TO YOUR PIECE AND CREATE A FULLY FORMED PERFORMANCE.
THROUGHOUT OUR TIME WITH AUDITIONS ITS CRAZY HOW MANY PEOPLE IGNORE THIS!
GET THE VOICE RIGHT AND THE CHARACTER WILL FOLLOW!
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BE ENTHUSIASTIC AND INTUITIVE!
THROW YOURSELF INTO THE AUDITION! WE HAVE NO DOUBT YOU WILL BE ASKED TO PORTRAY SOMETHING LIKE "PINK MIST"... WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS IS EITHER!
AUDITION PANELS WILL USE THESE EXERCISES TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CREATIVE SIDE. THEY WANT TO SEE YOUR OWN INTERPRETATION OF "PINK MIST" SO JUST GIVE IT A BASH AND GO FOR IT!
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TOP TIP: ALL YOU TALENTED DANCERS AND MOVERS OUT THERE... ITS YOUR TIME TO SHINE!
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WARM UP! WARM UP! WARM UP!
MAKE SURE TO SPARE SOME TIME BEFORE YOUR AUDITION EITHER AT HOME OR IN A SPACE AT THE VENUE TO DO A VARIETY OF SUITABLE WARMUPS.
WHETHER IT BE MOVEMENT BASED OR VOCAL, ITS VITAL TO ENSURE YOUR BODY AND VOICE ARE PHYSICALLY READY FOR THE DAY. WE SUGGEST A FEW LIGHT STRETCHES AND VOCAL TRILLS TO GET YOU PREPARED WITHOUT OVERDOING IT.
A BOX HOUSE FAVOURITE IS RUNNING THE OUTER PART OF YOUR PALMS ALONG YOUR JAWLINE TO REALLY LOOSEN UP THOSE JAWS!
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PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS!
WHILE WE'RE SURE EVERYONE WANTS TO BE THE NEXT STREEP OR DICAPRIO NO ONE CAN DO YOU BETTER THAN YOU!
IF YOU'RE STRONG SUIT IS COMEDIC TIMING, MAKE SURE TO CHOOSE A PIECE THAT SHOWS THIS OFF! YOU WILL ONLY HAVE A LIMITED TIME WITH THE AUDITION PANEL SO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PRESENTING THE BEST PARTS OF YOU!
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RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR DAY!
NERVES HAPPEN TO THE BEST OF US BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER AS TO WHY YOU ARE THERE. THIS IS WHAT YOU LOVE AND WANT TO PURSUE AS A CAREER, LET THAT PASSION AND ENTHUSIASM DRIVE YOU FORWARD AND TRUST US... THE AUDITION PANEL WILL NOTICE.
REMEMBER, THEATRE AND PERFORMANCE ARE SUBJECTIVE. ONE PANEL'S TRASH IS ANOTHER PANEL'S TREASURE, SO NEVER TAKE A DECISION TO HEART!
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TOP TIP: YOU ARE AUDITIONING THE SCHOOL AS MUCH AS THEY ARE AUDITIONING YOU!
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