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!!

Hi good luck for The LIPA audition. I think your DD was at the same recall for Manchester as me. I have a audition with Lipa too on Thursday :)

We live near Liverpool, DD was in 6th form there.

if she is coming in later, I would suggest the Raddison Red, next to the train station. You literally walk a few hundred yards and there is Wetherspoons underneath for food. Shops sre across the road. It’s fairly new too.

it is a 10/15 min walk to LIPA, up hill, but straightforward. DD said if it was raining they’d get a cab it was around £6 in the rank outside the station.

DO NOT stay at the Adelphi!! It’s awful and dangerous, avoid any ‘apartments’ too, they are often used for hen and stag dos and are tired.

If she’s arriving in the day, although to be honest, Liverpool is not unsafe to walk around, maybe look at something like the Resident, Holiday Inn Express or even the Philharmonic literally a few minutes away.

Has anyone else heard anything at all from Manchester following a recall? My daughter had her recall over a month ago and still hasn’t heard anything. Do they complete all the recalls before making decisions?

My god son had recall at Mountview but after initially going for the BA acting they have offered foundation course which is now to be run out of Chelmsford Theatre as a new course.
i see they started a new MT foundation there in September 25 & wondering if it’s any good? He’s in USA and would’ve moved over here for Mountview but isn’t sure if this is reputable.
Any thoughts or advice?

My DD has an offer for here. She has friend there this year who think it’s fantastic and have thoroughly recommended it.

Congratulations to your Godson! 😁 Was it a Foundation in Acting that he was offered? Following with interest as a Foundation at Mountview or Arts Ed would be my DS's ideal outcome (we can't afford degree). He's applied for Acting degree, mainly for the experience of an in-person first round audition next Sunday, so I emailed Mountview last week to ask whether degree applicants were automatically considered for the Foundation. The answer was no, a separate application was needed, but it looks from your experience as though they can offer Foundation if they choose to, which is great.

@n1cknackcongratulations to your DD? What is it for? I was under the impression Mountview has three rounds of auditions? Am I wrong?

Thank you she did an audition for BA but got a call back for CertHE and then an offer after that. It’s for Musical Theatre.

Thanks for insight. He had auditioned for the BA acting but they said he wasn’t ready for that so put him onto recall audition for Cert HE acting. Family concerned as his would be the first time they are running it but sounds as if Cert HE in MT is good so thanks for that endorsement @n1cknack

I would be asking whether it is taught by Mountview staff, and whether the various Mountview Foundation courses that have started across the country are getting the same kind of success rates as the original Foundation in terms of student progress and subsequent destinations for degree. I think Foundations can be great, and can really help students make a lot of progress fast and prepare well for degree auditions, but the cynic in me wonders if they are somewhat trading on the MV name to suggest the Foundation to almost everyone they don't take for the BA, as a money-spinner? The reality is that the industry is already saturated, and if every college starts offering multiple foundation courses in different locations, there are going to be a lot of disappointed young people who then don't manage to secure a decent degree course.

Yes exactly my thoughts. It’s also very different being in Chelmsford than London.

@Beachcomber74i don’t think tha was an endorsement as her DC has not actually done the course. I would follow Biscuit’a advice below

has anyone heard from urdang self tapes from 30th january as they said 2 weeks to hear and was last viewed on 8th

I’ve heard good things from the mv certificate courses but they are no guarantee to get into the BA. Sheer numbers for a start. Maybe a nice thing to do if local to you and you have the money but I don’t think worth staying in another country for. Not sure there would be the community around it as many students would simply go home in the evenings

we are also waiting have heard it’s taken some up to 3-4 weeks for a reply there must have be a high number of self tapes after Christmas we had 1 view on the deadline day and nothing since.

Hey @Reklats, just wondering if your DS heard from Rose Bruford? My DD finally got an email today with a recall, which was great. However she is a bit stressed as the recall is this Saturday so we've just had to panic book travel and accommodation for Friday! Very last minute notice!

Oh my goodness that's great news, congratulations to your DD, very pleased for her! Agh, Saturday! 😮I guess at least it's less time to worry about it, bit scary though! Still no news for us, I'm not massively hopeful to be honest, as they've only watched his tape 3 times, but you never know, I suppose. Will have everything crossed for you both on Saturday! 🙏

Ahh I was thinking you guys would have heard today too. Hopefully this week as he has been waiting just a bit longer than my DD. My DDs video only showed as being viewed the once for 45secs so not sure whether to trust the analytics.
Fingers crossed for positive outcome this week and not being so last minute as my DDs 🙈

We’re also waiting on Urdang - deadline 6th Feb. But I’ve decided to not look at YouTube analytics! DD very keen on Urdang - but her friend was given a fast-pass after an intensive course and then wasn’t offered a place.

Initial email said 2 weeks which I thought was quick, must have a lot to go through. good luck <3

Good luck to your DD. I agree, we can over analyse the view count but I havent the self restraint not to check hahaha

l’m the exact same checking more than I should haha I can’t imagine we will hear anything this week so going to try and put it to the back of my thoughts until Monday. Good luck to all who are auditioning this week

Fingers crossed for them all, have you many more auditions coming up?

Hi yes 2 auditions in the next week. Then 1 in early April. Still waiting on Urdang and Conti tapes and decision from Wilkes. 3 rejections and no offers so far. What a rollercoaster this is. Hope all goes well for your DC.

Hi has anyone heard from the Royal Welsh self tapes? Nothing has been updated on Aceptd as yet & it still just shows as submitted.