Drama school auditions 2026 entry- Acting/MT

[Mcmumager]

Annual thread for those with dc about to embark on the rollercoaster of audition season. This is my second time round as my ds did it a couple of years ago. These threads are always really supportive and full of great advice as it’s often hard to explain to others how tough and competitive this process is. Good luck everyone!!

Morning all,

how is everyone ? self tapes on the go here and in person auditions also coming up.
thread seems to be picking up which is great it’s good to hear how everyone is getting on and past experiences

My DD has only very recently submitted all her self tapes. I thought she was leaving it a bit late, but it seems it isn’t that uncommon. She has not had any responses yet, but is going for an in-person audition to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland next week (they are seeing everyone in person rather than via self tapes, which must be very time consuming for them. It is certainly is for us, as it’s hundreds of miles away!)

Best of luck to all the young people.

So many issues with the new LIPA system. Admission respond well to emails though and are helpful. DD's self tape upload link didn't come through on her portal and they had to sort that out. So long as the portal says submitted that's all you get. Then watch YouTube action to see if it's been reviewed. Then waited 8 weeks - no response. Emailed on Monday and all of a sudden, a recall email. Other friends at school the same. It's a new system and causing all sorts of problems.

My DD has used the same tapes and just tacked on any intros/ managed to find a decent point to cut them if they need to be shorter. She has been recalled for all of them so far (Conti, Urdang, Leeds and LIPA) Waiting on RCS and Royal Welsh.

That’s annoying to hear and so unfair to applicants. @Sop2Can I ask what you mean by “watch YouTube action to see if it’s been reviewed”? I’ve not heard my DD mention anything along those lines.

Has anyone on here had a DC apply for the post-grad MT at the Royal Academy of Music. I have a question about the self-tape(s)

If you look at your video on youtube, you can see if anyone has viewed it. If it is set at unlisted then only the college will be able to view it. If it's showing someone has seen it, then you know it was them.

Although each time you watch it yourself it also increases the view count… (learned the hard way 🤣🤣)

True😂

I just can’t see any situation where a year’s extra training can be a hindrance! Especially in a small cohort. With hindsight I wish mine had done a foundation (didn’t have a performing arts background). Very happy on their degree course but a bit more training would have helped

Yes we did too! You can go right into the analytics to see what parts were most watched too but be warned - it's highly addictive! Usually there's a flurry of views , then nothing, then one final long view before a response!

My child was offered and took the foundation at RADA. It’s not a year but six months. It took five more years for them to be accepted on to RADA BA. I don’t think it added anything to their skills potential or self image tbh.

That's tough. Were they also trying for other schools in the meantime? A friend of ours did the RADA Foundation, went all the way to finals for the degree but didn't get it, but did get the alas now defunct degree at BOVTs. She loved the RADA foundation and was convinced it really helped with degree applications - but it is unbelievably expensive. Has your child graduated now? Are they finding the RADA name and training opens doors?

The BOVTS degree is coming back. They've started the Foundation course again for 2026

Hi all, I wonder if anyone knows if the ucas conservatoires give a 'no' rather than just no response at all?

My DS got a 'no' email from Royal Welsh about a month after sending the self tape. Took a few more weeks before that was reflected on the CUCAS portal. LAMDA definitely respond too - some of his friends got a 'no' email about 3 weeks after sending the tape, my DS waited 8 weeks (!) and then was told he had been moved to Foundation track (not yet reflected on CUCAS portal). Still waiting on RCS so not sure (been 6 weeks so far).

@NervesAreShot thank you. So no response as yet, doesn't mean it's a no. There is still hope!

It's been just over a month since the RW deadline, I'm hoping that Xmas has delayed things and that's why she hasn't heard.

Fingers crossed for her. It does seem quite quiet since Christmas. I've heard of LAMDA sending out more responses last week but a lot of the others (RADA, RCS) don't seem to have got back up and running with the process.

@NervesAreShot thank you! That's oddly reassuring that the other schools have slowed down too! 😊

Does that definitely mean the degree is coming back, though?

Well it looks positive for the future... out of interest, has anyone applied there this year for any of their one year courses (MA or foundation). My DS sent in a tape back in October but never heard anymore.

I read in the Stage that degree courses were coming back😀

Hi first time auditioning parent here! And OMG stressed already!! Does anyone know if they send out rejection emails for the 1st round self tapes, my 17yo daughter is distraught that some of her fellow classmates got an in person audition invitation today via email & she hasn’t received anything as yet, they all applied & sent tapes around the same time. Or is it updated on the UCAS application website. If this is only the 1st one I will have no hair by the time we get through them all 🫣