Performing Arts 2025

[doesanybodyhaveamap]

Starting a thread re: performing arts applicants for 2025. If one already exists, happy to be redirected!!

Anyone pressed 'send' on their applications yet? Curious as to timelines for initial responses and to submit self tapes....

Buckling in for a long and nervous journey!

I know it's a different department but mine auditioned in February and didn't get offered his place until the end of March! We'd given up.

Looking at her cohort, yes I do, they want a range of ‘types’ (hair colours, skin types, voices) and now, body shapes. Although I do think a couple of the more really competitive ones do still want a set build ( I won’t go into that!).

Boys are more likely to be offered too. DD went to a performing arts 6th form and all the boys got offers quickly. I don’t think any didn’t get in somewhere.

However, the standard is incredible and you do need a lot of potential to get in. From what I’ve experienced - I also have worked in the industry - even if you are not the best dancer (singer or actor), but can do some well, commitment and attitude counts for a lot.

Also be aware that they are under scrutiny every second in the audition, from the time you enter the school, those student helpers will feed back and they are looking for kind, friendly, sociable students, who work well together and support each other.

listen to others monologues, even if you’re bored, look like you are listening! Contribute to discussions and try and think of st least one question if you get through to interview stage.

@Comefromaway that's a little reassuring! Thanks ☺️

'Do you think there's any truth in the theory that some drama schools "cast" their third year play even as they audition a new intake? Or they at least cast the year in terms of diversity/age/gender etc This has been talked about over in the Students Room. The implication being that it's probably not best to be auditioning last (as my DD is!) as they might already have offered to your "type".'
There is always discussion about this, but things happen my DD is in the final year at Conti this year. Conti lost the licence removed for two of the shows they were hoping to produce this year and had to have a massive rethink.
They try to take a full range of caring types to reduce graduates competing against each other.
I think the angst as a parent never ends DD's agents showcase is in 2 weeks time, but tomorrow she has an audition in the west end where she is self representing.

DD got an offer from Rose B today, she auditioned last Tuesday, so it was quite quick. She had the same offer last year, but decided to do a Foundation.

Still has a few to go, but good to have choices although not sure between GSA and Rose B both acting, but slightly different courses.

Well done to your daughter for completing her 3 years! I can’t imagine how daunting it must be as a Mum worrying about what’s next! Auditioning to get in is bad enough, I suppose it never ends.

Good luck with the audition, do you think Conti has prepared them well?

@Paddlinglikehell yes I do think Conti have prepared them well both from a performance point of view, but also they have had performance business classes where they have told them about the business side of being a self employed performer.

We were in same position! Can’t go wrong with either! I felt gsa was good if you want a more classic uni experience too as you can go and meet people not doing drama. RB has more connections to London perhaps and that lovely lakeside campus. Nice choice to have 😀 might get more too as well

Do you think there's any truth in the theory that some drama schools "cast" their third year play even as they audition a new intake? Or they at least cast the year in terms of diversity/age/gender etc This has been talked about over in the Students Room. The implication being that it's probably not best to be auditioning last (as my DD is!) as they might already have offered to your "type".

I work for one of the schools some of your students are auditioning for and I thought I'd pop on to address this question. Vertically for us this isn't what we are doing. We normally confirm the 3rd year shows in second year, and we choose them based on what we think will showcase that cohort best. What rights are available obviously also has a big influence.

We are trying to select a diverse cohort with complimentary skills, with the aim of graduating students who aren't fighting against each other after graduation, but each offer something different.

That's our approach though, there are definitely other places that are looking for more conformity of type within their cohort. But ultimately we all want the best students with the best fit for our schools. And we know the top students will get multiple offers so it's difficult to be so exact.

I would say we are all trying to increase diversity in our cohorts, and most schools try to have an even number of male/female students. But ultimately we try to have a fair scoring system and to offer to the students who we feel have the most potential to thrive with us and get good jobs after.

Thank you for popping on. That's good to hear. So you would say there's no advantage or disadvantage to when you audition? Places aren't taken.

Do you mind if I join this thread please ?, my daughter will be applying for 2026. This is all very new to me, so am struggling to understand the UK options (we don’t live in UK).

Her dream is to study Musical Theatre, but she has very little experience, her opportunities in english are very limited where we live and it’s a very small english theatre she is a part of. She came to this late so I am not sure how she would fare when up against kids who are straight from performing arts secondary school, plus she has never had ballet lessons, she does do tap, modern jazz and contemporary, so am beginning to thing her best option may be to apply for drama.

Can I ask what schools are GSA, RWCMD, EDA, RCS ?

The ones I am aware of are

Urdang
Mountview
Italia Conti
RADA
one in Cornwall, can’t remember the name off the top of my head.

Thanks for any insight.

GSA is Guildford School Acting
EDA is emil dale

Not all places offer musical theatre so have a good look on their websites

I think international students are very welcome right now as they usually pay higher fees so well worth a try - good luck to her

RCS central? Don’t think they do MT

RWC - Royal Welsh

dont think there is one in Cornwall?

RCS is Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

There are several drama schools where the musical theatre course is more actor/singer and although they teach dance, you don;t need dance experience to apply.

Leeds Conservatoire & LIPA immediately spring to mind although there are others.

Dd is at Chichester and there were people on her course who hadn't done dance before they started.

Thank you all so much, really appreciate the information.

The one I was thinking of is Falmouth university which is in Cornwall, don't even know how I heard of it, to be honest.

Initially, she was hoping to go to the US, but with the current political climate there, we are discouraging her, plus the fees are astronomical and everyone seems to spend thousands on private college coaches for the two years leading up to auditions. .

Would anyone know anything about the Performing arts school in Sitges outside Barcelona?

Exeter uni have a campus at Falmouth and has a very good drama degree but the drama degree is at their main Exeter campus. Might be what you mean.

no idea about Spanish courses

DS has just completed a musical theatre and professional dance degree at Bird College Sidcup

@Newgirls its this one

https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/musical-theatre

Ah! New one to me!

I would say it’s more important to apply by the deadline. Schools that use UCAS agree to assess all students who apply by the deadline equally, so it shouldn’t make a difference when you audition.

Schools that have independent applications can set their own policies though so it may vary from place to place.

IAB?

dd worked with someone who went there. I don’t know much about it, they seem to have some good tutors but you need to be in the position to be able to pay fees.

While RCS is indeed Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, rather than Royal Central School (it does get confusing), Royal Central School of Speech & Drama has a very well regarded MT course, @Newgirls

Has anyone heard of Arts1 in Milton Keynes?