When we were casting for Bookends we read 100s of profiles and scrutinised hours of showreels. It was really hard selecting actors to audition for us and even harder choosing once we had met the actors - all of whom were charming, friendly and professional. But how do you really shine at an audition? We asked some of our cast for their top tips.
Gil Sutherland (Kenny in Almost The Birthday Party) has these wise words:
‘Prepare well, and research as much as you can about the piece, the director and the company.
Be on time, present yourself well, be polite and willing to listen to any preamble.
If they want you to present a piece of your own, don't take on really well known speeches but try to find something unusual that shows your range and ability.
And finally... SMILE!’
Roger Sansom (Vern in Almost The Birthday Party) has some suggestions about what not to do in an audition:
‘I've had every kind of audition, from the ones when you sense that you have got it to, er, the opposite. My top tip for any audition, is to read the whole play your speech comes from! It's amazing how many don't, and you can tell from something in their interpretation.
I could also suggest what NOT to do in an audition…
I have walked onto a West End stage - I suppose confused by the lights - and had to quickly reverse to face the right direction. (That was for Bristol Old Vic, and I got the job.)
I have done things like not realising that my "audience" had himself played the part I'm giving him, or else had directed the play.
I used to have a drink, and I mean a drink, an hour before my appointment to get on top of my nerves. It makes my blood run cold now. Once I misjudged it and felt squiffy. I rang a friend, which got me through it, because he insisted he couldn't tell from my voice. I got that job, too.
I have auditioned people myself and wanted to shout at them "Don't paraphrase world-famous speeches" and also "Don't DO speeches that are much TOO famous."’
It's interesting that both hugely experienced actors suggest offering a speech that isn’t too famous. Tear up that copy of ‘to be or not be’ right now and chuck the vodka down the sink!
We agree with Miranda Colmans’ (Zoe in Alice Springs) tip of ‘preparation, preparation, preparation.’ We did notice when auditionees weren’t familiar with the sides we had emailed them beforehand and were super impressed when Oli Savage (Rob in Four O’Clock) came in with a quickly hand drawn map for his audition and when Rachel Summers (Mel in A Novel Approach) rocked up dressed as a Greek goddess!
Margaret Ashley (The Writer in A Novel Approach) says, ‘be yourself, arrive on time and enjoy it.’ It was enjoyable for all of us when we could see that the actors were having fun too.
PH Talent Now (@phTalentNow) an American-based talent agency joined that chat on Twitter and has these words of advice: ‘Be prepared! Be flexible and be yourself. If you know your materials you’ll have confidence, a strong presence and fun.’
Flexibility really came into play during the Bookends auditions as we occasionally had to ask actors to switch roles or genders, all of which they did with aplomb and good grace.
Oh and if you can’t make the audition, let us know. Send an email, a text or a carrier pigeon but tell us. It’s ok if you’ve changed your mind or received a better offer but just take a few seconds to let us know. Writers and directors have long memories!
So to sum up:
· Prepare well
· Turn up
· Smile
· Be confident
· Be flexible
· Be friendly
· Have fun!
And if you’re stopping for a drink in the pub beforehand, stick to the soft stuff!
Any more suggestions of how to shine at an audition? why not comment below to tweet us at @Bookends_show
Gil Sutherland (Kenny in Almost The Birthday Party) has these wise words:
‘Prepare well, and research as much as you can about the piece, the director and the company.
Be on time, present yourself well, be polite and willing to listen to any preamble.
If they want you to present a piece of your own, don't take on really well known speeches but try to find something unusual that shows your range and ability.
And finally... SMILE!’
Roger Sansom (Vern in Almost The Birthday Party) has some suggestions about what not to do in an audition:
‘I've had every kind of audition, from the ones when you sense that you have got it to, er, the opposite. My top tip for any audition, is to read the whole play your speech comes from! It's amazing how many don't, and you can tell from something in their interpretation.
I could also suggest what NOT to do in an audition…
I have walked onto a West End stage - I suppose confused by the lights - and had to quickly reverse to face the right direction. (That was for Bristol Old Vic, and I got the job.)
I have done things like not realising that my "audience" had himself played the part I'm giving him, or else had directed the play.
I used to have a drink, and I mean a drink, an hour before my appointment to get on top of my nerves. It makes my blood run cold now. Once I misjudged it and felt squiffy. I rang a friend, which got me through it, because he insisted he couldn't tell from my voice. I got that job, too.
I have auditioned people myself and wanted to shout at them "Don't paraphrase world-famous speeches" and also "Don't DO speeches that are much TOO famous."’
It's interesting that both hugely experienced actors suggest offering a speech that isn’t too famous. Tear up that copy of ‘to be or not be’ right now and chuck the vodka down the sink!
We agree with Miranda Colmans’ (Zoe in Alice Springs) tip of ‘preparation, preparation, preparation.’ We did notice when auditionees weren’t familiar with the sides we had emailed them beforehand and were super impressed when Oli Savage (Rob in Four O’Clock) came in with a quickly hand drawn map for his audition and when Rachel Summers (Mel in A Novel Approach) rocked up dressed as a Greek goddess!
Margaret Ashley (The Writer in A Novel Approach) says, ‘be yourself, arrive on time and enjoy it.’ It was enjoyable for all of us when we could see that the actors were having fun too.
PH Talent Now (@phTalentNow) an American-based talent agency joined that chat on Twitter and has these words of advice: ‘Be prepared! Be flexible and be yourself. If you know your materials you’ll have confidence, a strong presence and fun.’
Flexibility really came into play during the Bookends auditions as we occasionally had to ask actors to switch roles or genders, all of which they did with aplomb and good grace.
Oh and if you can’t make the audition, let us know. Send an email, a text or a carrier pigeon but tell us. It’s ok if you’ve changed your mind or received a better offer but just take a few seconds to let us know. Writers and directors have long memories!
So to sum up:
· Prepare well
· Turn up
· Smile
· Be confident
· Be flexible
· Be friendly
· Have fun!
And if you’re stopping for a drink in the pub beforehand, stick to the soft stuff!
Any more suggestions of how to shine at an audition? why not comment below to tweet us at @Bookends_show