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 A GUIDE TO AUDITION REQUIREMENTS AND 

PREPARATION  AT ACTING COACH SCOTLAND 

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AUDITION GUIDE

AN OVERVIEW If you are thinking of applying for one of our full time acting courses at Acting Coach Scotland, it is very important that you fully digest the audition requirements for the course you are applying for.  

 Every year, we sit through hundreds of auditions in person and via Skype and the most 

important piece of advice we can possibly give you is follow the audition requirements and really prepare. 

 When you audition for us, we want you to demonstrate that you have a real passion, 

motivation and enthusiasm for the craft of the actor. We only have a limited number of places each year, and we are looking for the students that demonstrate those qualities we believe will help them to survive and thrive in the industry after training.  

 The following instructions are designed to help you / help yourself to impress the panel 

and get your place at ACS.   If you’re looking to audition, we strongly recommend that you apply as soon as possible 

to avoid disappointment. The courses are very popular with applicants all over the world and applications come in all through the year.  

 For this reason, we strongly suggest you APPLY as early as possible.  

 • Apply for 1-Year HNC Foundation Acting Course 

• Apply for 2-Year HND Acting and Performance • Apply for 1-Year Professional Diploma in Stage and Screen Acting   

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 AUDITION GUIDE

PREPARING FOR YOUR AUDITION

What we need from you before your audition:  Prior to your audition, you will need to have applied for one of the following courses:  • 1-Year HNC Foundation Acting Course • 1-Year Professional Diploma in Stage and Screen Acting • 2-Year HND Acting and Performance  PREPARATION ADVICE 

Always read the requirements very carefully. Make sure that you prepare and perform the right number of pieces.  

 When choosing your pieces, make sure that they are age appropriate. Pick something 

that you really like, which suits you and that you can talk freely about why you chose it.   We will probably ask you about your choice of monologue. You may want to steer away 

from choosing pieces that are very famous in the film world such as the Joker from Batman and other iconic characters that you would naturally be compared to in the audition.  

 Make sure that you have read the whole play, or watch the entire film. You need to know 

in what context this monologue sits in the overall piece.  Yes, you should learn the words until you are able to perform without the script.  

   

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The Audition Requirements: The requirements for each course are slightly different.   • 1-Year HNC Foundation Acting Course: You will need two contrasting monologues, 

one from a TV, Theatre or Film Script, written after 1980. The other by Shakespeare. They should be approximately 2 to 3 minutes each. Don’t worry if you have no experience of Shakespeare, just do your best.   • For the 1-Year Professional Diploma in Stage and Screen Acting and the 2-Year HND 

Acting and Performance: You will need one contemporary monologue, from a TV, Theatre or Film Script and written after 1980. It should be around 2 minutes in length. For these two courses, you will also need to learn and perform the following monologue from Kiss Me Like You Mean It.   Listen … I need to…Um…say…. I mean…I know we only met earlier…and I nearly set you 

on fire… and we’re both going out with people. Obviously that’s quite tricky. But… well… you’re the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on in my entire life. I saw you and my heart leapt. You make me want to change my life. To… participate. I know it’s not possible and that you have a boyfriend and we’re not…compatible or whatever but…I just…I know it’s stupid.. but maybe just hear me out for a second and then you can tell me I’m an idiot and we’ll go back in and pretend this never happened but…I want to travel the world with you. I want to bring you ice cold Amstel to your Greek shore. And sit in silence and sip with you. I want to go to Tesco’s with you of a Sunday. Watch you sleep, scrub your back, rub your shoulders, suck your toes. I want to write crap poetry about you, lay my coat over puddles for you, always have a handkerchief available for you. I want to get drunk and bore my friends about you, I want them to phone up and moan about how little they see me because I’m spending so much time with you. I want to feel the tingle of our lips meeting, the lock of our eyes joining, the fizz of our fingertips touching. I want to stand next to you wide eyed and hold my nose as we open that first used nappy, I want to watch you grow old and love you more and more each day. I want to fall in love with you. I think I could. And I think it would be good. And I want you to say yes. You might feel the same. Beat Could you? Maybe?  

 Break this monologue down into smaller chunks and then be ready to answer the 

following questions:   1) How would you describe what the character is doing in this monologue? 2) Where is the climax of this monologue? 3) What does the climax tell you about what the character wants?   

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AUDITION GUIDE

WHAT TO EXPECT  The audition will take the form of a one to one interview lasting 40 to 60 minutes and will                                     include a performance of your speeches with one or more of our experienced coaching                           staff.    It is likely that a small part of the audition will involve one or more staff members coaching                                   you on your pieces. Rather than thinking of this as ‘re-directing’, consider it as a chance for                                 us to work together. You may also be required to improvise a short scenario.   There will be time to ask questions about the course, the studio, the staff or any other                                 pertinent queries. We would expect you to have some. Once your audition has taken place,                             we will inform you of the result within 10 working days. We are unable to offer specific or                                   individual feedback on the outcome of your audition.  An important note about deferring: If you’re already thinking you might want to defer if you are offered a place, then please tell us before you audition! We have to prioritise applications. 

  

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WHAT WE EXPECT  If for any reason you can’t make your audition, please let us know as soon as possible, with a minimum of 24 hours notice where possible. If you’re running late, also please ensure you let us know. The quickest way to contact the studio is by emailing hello@actingcoachscotland.co.uk or calling 0141 440 1272  We understand that people get sick and other circumstances arise. If you need to cancel the audition, please do get in touch. As we do not charge for auditions, we will offer you only 1 further audition. If this is cancelled, you will not be able to apply until the following year. If you have any further questions between now and your audition date, please do not hesitate to contact us via this email address. 

      

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 AUDITION GUIDE

WHAT TO AVOID  • Arriving Late - It makes a bad impression. (Check ahead about your journey from the 

centre of Glasgow to where we are based)  • Choosing pieces where the underlying mental or emotional state of both characters is 

the same.   • Choosing material that challenges you too much. Let us challenge you on the course, 

you’re here to show us your talents, potential and personality.   • Copying the performance of another famous actor - we can tell.   • Bringing props/costume unless essential.   • Apologising in advance for what you’re about to do. Lowering expectations and 

making excuses doesn’t make a good impression.   • Do not attempt an accent in your audition. I don’t care if you’re English playing 

Macbeth. Or Scottish playing Lady Percy. Most people just cannot sustain that level of accent under the pressure of an audition without focusing on it a lot. If you focus on it, your performance will suffer. Your own accent is just fine.   • Involving the audition panel in the performance - as a character in the piece - or 

performing AT the panel. Please aim to one side or slightly above their heads.   • Winding yourself up and becoming a nervous wreck. The staff are nice people, they 

want to find great people for their course, give yourself a break and try to enjoy this.          

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AUDITION GUIDE

TUITION FEES AND FUNDING

 It is important to remember that this is a private acting school course. As such, we give our                                   students a very different experience than in local colleges. However, the fees reflect that                           difference. The fees for our courses are as follows: 

 • 1-Year HNC Foundation Acting Course - £5250.  • 2-Year HND Acting and Performance - £6250 per year. • 1-Year Professional Diploma in Stage and Screen Acting - £7800. 

 If you wish to proceed with the audition it should be with the understanding of the financial                                 commitment required. It is very important that you do not seek to audition to ascertain                             whether you would be offered a place, if then later you are not in a position to be able to                                       afford it.  We do not charge for our auditions, please do not waste our time.   

• 1-Year HNC Foundation Acting Course - £5250  Scottish students and EU students with Scottish residency can apply to SAAS to cover 

£1205 of your fees. You can pay the remainder from your Student Loan. Please check with SAAS to see if you are eligible before auditioning. Students from the Rest of the UK are not entitled to public funding for our course. However, if you wish to pay privately, we have a discount rate for full payment before the course begins.   Once you have auditioned, we will let you know of the result within 10 working days.  You                                 will be asked to pay a non-refundable £500 deposit within 30 working days to secure your                               place. This will be deducted from your overall fees.   

• 2-Year HND Acting and Performance - £6250 per year Scottish students and EU students with Scottish residency can apply to SAAS to cover 

£1205 per year of your fees. You can pay the remainder from your Student Loan. Students from the Rest of the UK are not entitled to public funding for our course. However, if you wish to pay privately, you can pay monthly or we have a discount rate for full payment before the course begins. 

 Once you have auditioned, we will let you know of the result within 10 working days.  You                                 will be asked to pay a non-refundable £500 deposit within 30 working days to secure your                               place. This will be deducted from your overall fees. 

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 • 1-Year Professional Diploma in Stage and Screen Acting - £7800. This course does not attract any public funding. However, you can pay monthly, and if 

you wish to pay all fees in advance in one payment, you will receive a discount. Please contact us for further details. 

 Once you have auditioned, we will let you know of the result within 10 working days.  You                                 will be asked to pay a £1500 deposit within 30 working days to secure your place. This will                                   be deducted from your overall fees. The balance is payable in 12 equal instalments, payable                             in advance on the 28th of the month - except the first payment which is due on the 14th                                     December of the previous year.   If you need time to reflect or plan when you can financially commit, please let us know. If                                   you are in a position to go ahead as we have outlined, then please complete the application                     

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AUDITION GUIDE

FIND US   How to find us by Car: If you are coming by car from the East, the most direct way from the M8 is to exit at Junction 24. If you are coming from the West, the most direct way from the M8 is to exit at Junction 25. If coming from the City Centre it is still advisable to come via the motorway to avoid city traffic. We have ample parking (free of charge) to the left of the building.  By The Subway Take the subway to Govan which is no more than 15 mins from St Enoch's Station, whereas from other subway stations the time will vary. It is then a three minute walk to the Studio at 6 Harmony Row, inside Govan Workspace.   By Bus For all the bus routes and times, please use this link. The nearest bus stop to 6 Harmony Row is Govan Bus Station which is adjacent to Govan Subway Station. http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/glasgow/ 

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