Digital @ The Arts Unit Creative Resources
Audition tips for drama
Student drama resource developed by The Arts Unit
Embedded Files
What makes a great drama audition?
What makes a great drama audition?
Dean Carey
Dean Carey is the author of The Actor's Audition Manual and the Artistic Director of the Actors Centre Australia.
Drama classes at Dean's high school in Melbourne in the 1970s changed the course of his life. Dean has taught acting for 40 years across Australia and in 8 countries worldwide. He has been Head of Acting at NIDA and WAAPA and is the founder and creative director of Actors Centre Australia, which he began at age 27 in 1987.
Kevin, Olivia, Jeremy and Reuben from the NSW Public Schools Drama Company interviewed Dean for advice on what makes a great drama audition.
Listen to their podcast as Dean passes on his drama audition advice.
Listen @ The Arts Unit – Drama audition advice with Dean Carey
Duration: 09:18
Kevin Fernando
Olivia Staniforth
Jeremy Jenkins
Reuben Odlum
Dean's top tips:
Choose pieces that you love.
Think of the audition as a performance.
Every piece you perform has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Take into your audition the 3 things you love about acting.
Take into the room the 3 things that acting gives you.
Never second guess yourself.
You cannot control the outcome of your audition.
The secret ingredient to performance is discovery.
Top tips for auditioning
Top tips for auditioning
Here are our top tips for auditioning! Check out the following 4 videos for how to get the best results.
Top tips for auditioning – drama auditions
Duration: 05:56Top tips for auditioning – all auditions
Duration: 05:48Top tips for auditioning – live auditions
Duration: 04:10Top tips for auditioning – video auditions
Duration: 05:00Audition requirements
Audition requirements
The best way to combat nerves is to be prepared.
You may be asked to prepare elements from the following list for a drama audition:
classical monologue – taken from plays before the end of the nineteenth century
contemporary monologue – taken from plays from the twentieth century and beyond.
You may also not be asked to prepare anything specific, so on the day of your audition, you will be asked to participate in exercises that may include improvisation.
Explore the following 2 drop-down menus for more information on preparing for each element.
Classical or contemporary monologue – preparation required
Choose a monologue that appeals to you and best suits your skills.
Prepare your monologue and memorise your lines.
Look up words you don't know so you know the full meaning of what you are saying.
If you can, read the whole play to better understand your character's intentions and journey.
The monologue should be a maximum of 2 to 3 minutes.
Improvised activities – no preparation required
You may be expected to participate in improvised activities as part of a workshop style audition.
Try to be generous in your participation by making others look good as well as making sure you have your moment to shine too.
Remember that you are auditioning the moment you step into the room or frame so be conscious of the impression you give.
How to choose your monologue
How to choose your monologue
Considerations for monologues:
Choose a monologue that best serves you by showcasing your skills.
Work in a style you are familiar with and enjoy.
Think about pieces that are age relevant.
Engage with the material to show the character's intentions, tactics and attitude.
Make clear choices that follow the intention of the character rather than the emotion.
Consider the appropriateness of the content of the work.
Review The Arts Unit's creative class on Monologues to get further ideas on approaches to monologue work.
How to learn your monologue
How to learn your monologue
There are many approaches. Here are some tips from 'An Usborne Introduction to Acting and Theatre' and 'A Practical Handbook for the Actor':
Look at the language and find the patterns and punctuation.
Play with the vowel sounds out loud.
Clarify the meaning of the text using a dictionary to paraphrase each sentence.
Memorise lines by using some of the following techniques:
Write your lines out by hand.
Record yourself speaking your lines and play them back to yourself.
Use a different physical movement for each thought and score your lines.
Repeat your lines out loud without punctuation, intention or emotion before you go to sleep each night.
Improvisation success
Improvisation success
When participating in improvised activities, remember to:
respond to other people in your group
stay in character and focus throughout the entire performance
face the audience
use the whole playing space and different levels within the space
be expressive with your voice, gestures and movement
contribute to keeping the story interesting and moving forward
work with the group in a creative and unique way
watch The Arts Unit's Art Bites on Characterisation to get further ideas on approaches to character work.
How to produce your video audition
How to produce your video audition
Watch the following 2 videos as Peter and David show you some tips for filming and editing your video audition
How to film a video
Duration: 02:40How to edit a video
Duration: 02:18Specific instructions for a drama video audition
Specific instructions for a drama video audition
Drama content
Warm up before filming.
Rehearse your content before filming.
Do not forget to use your performance quality and engage with your audience, even if the audience is imaginary
Film multiple times and select your best effort.
Speaking directly to the audience through the camera
Make clear choices on who your character is talking to.
Imagine that who you are talking to is right behind the camera lens.
Speaking to another character unseen by the camera
Do not address the camera directly.
Ask someone else from your class or household to be the character you are speaking to and sit them out of shot.
Nonverbal improvisation
Follow the audition instructions.
Have fun! If you are enjoying yourself the audition panel will too.
Submitting your film
Ensure that you label your recording with your full name.
Always double check the content before sending it off.
If submitting as a YouTube or Vimeo file, follow the instructions given to you and pay particular attention to passwords and privacy settings.
Check that your URL link works and submit your work before the due date.
Always follow the instructions from the audition application on which program to upload your footage to.
The following 2 drop-downs provide instructions on how to upload to Vimeo and YouTube which are commonly used.
How to upload footage to YouTube
Go to youtube.com and select ‘sign in’.
‘Sign in’ or select ‘create an account’ if you don’t already have one.
Follow the instructions onscreen to upload your video.
Once uploaded, on the privacy settings select ‘unlisted (anyone with the link can view)’. This is important as selecting this setting means that the general public can’t view the link. Once you have done this, ensure you select ‘Save Changes’. Do not select ‘private’.
When this is finished, you will be given a URL for your video.
Once you've uploaded your video, copy the URL link and submit it to the program you are applying for.
How to upload footage to Vimeo
Go to vimeo.com.
'Log in' or 'Join' and create an account if you don’t already have one.
Select 'upload'.
Follow the instructions on the screen to upload your video.
Set your privacy settings to 'only people with a password can see this video' and set the password as instructed.
Once you've uploaded your video, copy the URL link and submit it to the program you are applying for.
Examples of effective auditions
Examples of effective auditions
Watch the following 2 videos to see some examples of filmed auditions.
Video 1 - Audition monologue
Duration: 01:46Video 2 - State Drama audition 2021 - Jeremy J
Duration: 03:03What happens after the audition
What happens after the audition
After the audition, you come to the hard part – waiting for your audition result!
Getting practice at auditioning is always excellent for your future growth, no matter the outcome.
Watch the following video for some great tips on how to be kind to yourself and stay positive about the whole process, no matter what the result is.
Top tips for auditioning – after the audition
Duration: 05:13The Arts Unit
The Arts Unit
The Arts Unit provides students and teachers with highly motivating and engaging opportunities that inspire their creative potential. The Arts Unit delivers programs throughout NSW in dance, drama, music, visual arts, debating, public speaking, reading, spelling and special events.
To find drama opportunities available near you, check out The Arts Unit website.
Applying for a drama program
Applying for a drama program
Before you apply for a program please make sure you:
discuss with your parents/caregivers
are aware of the time commitment
are available for all dates (rehearsals, workshops and performances)
seek principal approval for taking part
consider the cost of the program (this could include travel, accommodation).
Resources to help you prepare
Resources to help you prepare
The following 5 Art Bites and Creative Classes have been created to support your study of drama.
Try these or explore the full range of resources available at
Digital @ The Arts Unit.
Third-party content attributions
Third-party content attributions
Dean Carey headshot ©George Fetting, used with permission. Accessed 12 November 2021
NSW Public Schools Drama Company members headshots 1-4, photographer: Anna Warr.
An Usborne Introduction to Acting and Theatre, C. Evans & L. Smith. Usborne House Press, London, 1992.
Page updated
Report abuse