Audition Requirements

Applications have now reopened for 2023 entry

We are pleased to confirm that the Musical Theatre department has reopened applications for joining us in September 2023.

The deadline for submission of your UCAS Conservatoires application and also your complete Acceptd profile, following the guidance below, is:
09:00 UK time on Friday 24 February.
Please note we are not accepting new applications from candidates who have already applied for 2023 entry.

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1 November:
Deadline for all candidates to submit the UCAS Conservatoires application. In 'Assessment method' please indicate your preferred option (London or Video) for Spring recall if you are selected from the Round One video assessment.

Then:

Video upload: 24 November deadline to upload audition recordings.

We do not require a specific Spoken English item as detailed on the main video audition page, this is because there are already spoken elements in the audition requirements below.

If your application is progressed to our recalls in the Spring 2023, these are usually held in early April.

Please upload each item as a separate file, labelled with the content of the file (for example, Song 1) followed by your name.

Here are details of how to prepare and submit your videos and documentation in the Acceptd portal:

• Three songs demonstrating different voice qualities. While live accompaniment is preferred, you will not be penalised if you need to use a backing track. If using a backing track, please ensure it is a solo piano accompaniment, not an orchestral backing track. Each should be the full journey of a song but cut down to 2-3 minutes maximum.
• A short demonstration of the top and bottom of your vocal range either through sung arpeggios or octaves
• One contemporary, naturalistic speech or monologue (no more than two minutes). Please avoid poetical style, e.g. Stephen Berkoff or Samuel Beckett
• Short, videoed explanation of motivation to join the programme – no longer than 2 minutes. Please keep this spontaneous and unscripted.
• Short unscripted videoed answer to one of these questions:

1. How would your best friend describe you, both good and bad?
2. How do you like to waste your time?
3. What makes you happiest?
4. Tell us something about yourself that we would never know from your CV or resume?
5. What do you consider to be your greatest achievement so far or your proudest moment?

Your answer should be no longer than 45 seconds. Do not script your answer! Keep your answer as natural, spontaneous and light-hearted as possible. Ideally, have a partner, parent or sibling ask you the question live after you've pressed record. Please do not make any reference to singing, dancing, or acting in your answer. Smile!

• Slate to camera

Adjust the distance of your smartphone so the shooting frame takes in your entire body. When recording with your smartphone, always record with the phone in a horizontal position. All I want you to say directly to the camera are three things: your name, your height and where you currently reside using a friendly smile. Again, keep it completely natural and light-hearted - it should not be in a character, pushed or trying too hard…completely relaxed! It should not be longer than a few seconds

• A headshot photograph
• Curriculum Vitae

The panel may wish to contact you once they have reviewed your submission via a phone or video call. They will not do this with everyone, and this does not indicate a successful or unsuccessful application.

Please note, that all recorded material should be single takes, unedited and not enhanced in any way. To help you with your video, we have put together some guidance for self-taping which you can find below.

In Acceptd, do not press 'Submit' until you have uploaded everything and previewed the application, to make sure you have included everything. After you press Submit, your Acceptd application will be locked. There is useful guidance on the Acceptd help page, and registration for an Acceptd account is free.

Recordings uploaded after the deadline will only be processed at the discretion of the Head of Department. The Academy application fee paid to UCAS Conservatoires will be refunded if a late application is not processed.

Self-tape advice

Below are a few simple ways to make an inexpensive and competitive self-taped audition:

Before you begin, decide on what space you will be using to make your recording. Acoustically, we want it to be as non-reverberant as possible. Rooms with wood or tiled floors/walls with high ceilings are precisely the kind of spaces we would prefer you NOT to use! Keep it simple.

1. Use your iPhone, iPad, laptop or similar device to record with…the HD quality is better than most camcorders. Prop it up on a music stand, book, or buy a cheap tripod and an iPhone clip.
2. Use a neutral backdrop. A blank wall works best. Or buy an inexpensive grey or blue bed sheet and pin it on the wall. Keep it clutter-free with nothing in the background… no light switches or picture hooks. – absolutely nothing.
3. Turn the TV off, turn off computer notifications, silence your phone and shut the windows. Nothing kills a self-tape more than car alarms or sirens.
4. No shadows. Use natural light, or if your recording space is dark, buy a couple of cheap clip-on lights. Put the lights a little above eye level, on either side of the camera. It’s all about the eyes, so make sure they are clearly lit and in focus.
5. Please slate directly to camera in a full body shot with name, age, height and where you were born. Slate separately. It’s always better to separate the slate and the songs/scenes, and film as separate takes. It allows a break so you can get into character before rolling the camera for your first scene. The slate is directly into camera (again, name, age, height, where you were born). Also, don’t slate in character. Be yourself.
6. Use a tight/medium frame for your monologue and songs. The frame should be from the chest up. Be still. Lock the frame and keep it simple. Too much movement is distracting from the performance. The camera should be at eye level, not below, not above.
7. Eye lines. Do not look directly into the camera in a scene. Imagine someone standing directly on the other side of camera.
8. Set a time limit. Don’t overthink it. Be as prepared as possible when you start taping (memorized, strong choices), so that you don’t waste time. Do two or three takes of each scene, and pick the best one.
9. Always watch it back before sending. You never know if there will be a tech problem. Whether using a backing track or a live accompanist, please ensure it looks and SOUNDS good and that the balance is right between the pianist/backing track and vocal, and is in focus. You want this to be as professional as possible.
10. Look your best. Treat it like a live audition. Make yourself camera-ready (hair, makeup, outfit), and make sure you are well-rested
11. Do not use any additional reverb or pitch correction software.

Finally, relax and have fun. The great thing about self-taping is you can do it until you get it right.

Dan Bowling, Head of Musical Theatre

If your application is progressed to our recalls, we plan to hold these as live sessions in January 2023. If it is not possible for you to travel to London we will use a live video link.

Please complete your UCAS Conservatoires application by 1 November, and also upload by 1 November the following files to the Acceptd portal:

1) Complete unedited piano performances of two contrasting pieces. The music for both should be supplied to us in PDF form. The second piece can feature the candidate singing an MT song while self-accompanying, but this choice is entirely up to the candidate and will not of itself carry any extra value.

2) An MT song sung by a singer colleague, accompanied live by the candidate. We will not be judging the quality of the singer, only the accompanist! Music for this should be supplied to us in PDF form.

3) A series of four short improvisations on the classic song “Autumn Leaves” in the key of A minor. Each one strictly 16 bars in length and each in a different style:

a) Rhapsodic

b) Tango

c) Late-night Mellow Jazz

d) Up-tempo Big Band Swing

4) Short, videoed explanation of motivation to join the programme – no longer than 2 minutes. Please keep this spontaneous and unscripted.

5) A headshot photograph – does not need to be a professional photograph

6) Curriculum Vitae

The entire recording time should not be more than 20 minutes in length. The panel may wish to contact you once they have reviewed your submission, via a phone or video call. They will not do this with everyone, and this does not indicate a successful or unsuccessful application.

Please note, that all recorded material should be single takes, unedited and not enhanced in any way.

In Acceptd, do not press 'Submit' until you have uploaded everything and previewed the application, to make sure you have included everything. After you press Submit, your Acceptd application will be locked. There is useful guidance on the Acceptd help page, and registration for an Acceptd account is free.

Recordings uploaded after the deadline will only be processed at the discretion of the Head of Department. The Academy application fee paid to UCAS Conservatoires will be refunded if a late application is not processed.