How to Get into Drama School – Everything You Need to Know

students performing "the taming of the shrew" in drama school

Drama school is a world all of its own.

It’s a place where the only limits are your own creativity and ambition.

It’s a place where you can release your inner actor, director, writer, and producer.

It’s a place where you can make your childhood dreams come true, but first you need to get in.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to get into drama school.

HOW TO GET ACCEPTED INTO A DRAMA SCHOOL

Practice your craft

Becoming a professional performer can be tough work and difficult to get into.

You need to have the passion, creativity, and commitment for it.

However, if you practice consistently, there will be less pressure about getting into Drama school because you will have already put in the work.

What’s important is that you don’t quit.

Put in the time and effort to get it right. This is part of what makes a professional performer.

If you put the time and effort, then it’ll be worth it and there will be less pressure on your success. Not trying your hardest will only lead to more trouble down the road.

In order to succeed in your goal of becoming a professional performer, you should also set up a plan of action with goals.

If you see a Drama audition call for auditions, set up a plan of what you are going to do for the day.

This will help reduce anxiety about the audition and give you more confidence in your performance.

Take courses, training and attend workshops.

Also, study these disciplines :

  • Stanislavski’s System
  • Method acting
  • Meisner Technique
  • Michael Chekhov,
  • Lee Strasberg’s Method

Be knowledgeable/Know your stuff

light bulb reflecting light on different icons symbolizing being knowledgeable about your craft

As a rule, stay curious and eager to learn new things.

Acting abilities are fundamental, but they are not the holy grail.

Education is paramount and is probably going to give you an advantage when it comes to getting into drama school.

Watch and read plays, study the historical backdrop of acting, etc..

Study well-known entertainers, playwrights, and film directors. to get a feel for how they got to where they are.

Keeping notes can help as well. For example, take a look at what you did wrong and improve it.

It’s impossible to become an actor without being confident, grounded, and being able to communicate with people. You need a lot of practice and effort to be good at what you do.

Nail the audition

Initially, ensure you have truly investigated what the school is asking of you.

Preparation for an audition starts with understanding what types of auditions are available and what each type is looking for.

There are four types of auditions: cold reading, monologue, improvisation, and physical theatre.

  1. Cold reading auditions are the most common type of audition and they require actors to read a scene from a script that they have not seen before.
  2. Monologues are when actors have to perform a scripted speech or poem in front of an audience.
  3. Improv auditions require actors to come up with a scene on the spot while,
  4. Physical theatre auditions involve actors performing a piece of choreographed movement in front of an audience.

Drama schools are looking for actors that are versatile, so it’s important not to get stuck in one particular role.

  • Know your worth
  • Prepare for the audition
  • Be confident and keep your head up
  • Know your discourse back to front, which scene it is from, who composed the play and who you are addressing.”
a panel of judges sitting at the front of the stage of a drama school and observing auditions

We recommend that you take the time to learn speeches before performing them and read through the entire play.

Try to make a list of the character’s inspirations, considering specific speeches along the way.

On the off chance that you are uncertain of how to get to grasps with Shakespeare since his dialect can be difficult to comprehend, it might be useful to get an Acting Coach or request help from somebody who has involvement in Shakespeare.

Have confidence

cartoon woman with a red bandana flexing her biceps and showing her confidence and strength

Having confidence will help you get into the drama school of your choice.

The most ideal approach to have certainty on the day is to ensure that you are decidedly ready, recognize what is in your control on the day and what isn’t.

In other words ;

First, you should accept the fact that you are ready for your audition.

Second, make sure that you know what is in your control on the day of your audition.

Lastly, focus on believing in yourself and executing what has been planned out.

Acting is a very competitive field. It is important for actors to develop confidence in order to survive in this industry. You will be competing with people who have been acting their whole lives and you need to find a way to stand out from the crowd.

Having the right mindset and attitude can be the difference between booking an audition or not, getting a callback or not, and getting an offer or not.

What to do if I get rejected from drama school multiple times?

One of the most common questions asked by aspiring actors is, “What do I do if I get rejected from drama school multiple times?”

It’s important to remember that getting rejected from drama school is not a reflection on your talent or potential.

multiple "rejected" stamps in red on pages of paper

It’s just that you might not be the right fit for a particular school. .

If you landed yourself at a drama school that was not right for you, it’s best to look for something else.

If you do get rejected multiple times, the best thing to do is to look into other schools that suit your style and personality. Or use this time as an opportunity to improve yourself and try again later.

It’s important to remember that theatre arts is a subjective topic and what works for one person may not work for someone else. Try not to be discouraged by this setback

What age do most people get into drama school?

The average age of entry to drama school is 18- 22

What percentage of people get into drama school?

Getting into drama school can be tough, < 1%. There are many different types of Drama schools and they all have different requirements in order to get in.

FAMOUS ACTORS WHO DIDN’T GO TO ACTING/DRAMA SCHOOL

  • Tom Cruise
  • Nicholas Hoult
  • Henry Cavil
  • Jennifer Lawerence
  • Channing tatum
  • Matthew McConaughey
  • Johnny Depp
  • Marilyn Monroe
  • Mel Gibson
  • Jason Statham
  • David Boreanaz
  • Christian Bale
  • Jim Carrey
  • Brad pit

CONCLUSION

Going to drama school is a great way to gain the skills and knowledge that you need to become an actor.

Acting is a tough industry, so it’s never too early to start strengthening your skillset.

A good acting program will teach you everything from the basics of script analysis and stage combat to more advanced courses in improvisation and solo work.

And it’s also worth mentioning that getting rejected from drama school is not a reflection of your talent. So, don’t be discouraged

Leave a comment with your opinion or any questions you may have below…

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