Audition Process - BA Acting

BA (Hons) Acting - Audition Process

The below requirements are for applicants offered an audition for the BA (Hons) Acting programme.

How it works

For students looking to study in 2024, our Uk-based auditions will take place in-person. Overseas candidates should read further information at the bottom of this page regarding the audition process for overseas candidates. Please read the below information about how and where we will run auditions.

At the initial audition stage candidates will be considered for all three BA (Hons) Acting courses - Acting (Acting)Acting (Collaborative and Devised Theatre)Acting (Musical Theatre) through the one audition, and should prepare all requirements, regardless of their preferred course.

If there are exceptional circumstances that prevent you from attending an in-person audition, please contact us as soon as possible using the form at the bottom of this page.

At Central, the audition process for our BA (Hons) Acting programme consists of 3 separate rounds. All candidates offered an audition will be invited to the first round which will take place in-person at our London campus or at regional audition venues.

For 2024 entry, in addition to our London campus, we will be running auditions in the following cities:

  • Birmingham (12 and 13 February)
  • Bristol (15 and 16 February)
  • Manchester (19 and 20 February)
  • Newcastle (22 and 23 February)

At the first round audition, candidates will be considered for all three BA (Hons) Acting courses - Acting (Acting)Acting (Collaborative and Devised Theatre)Acting (Musical Theatre) through the one audition, and should prepare all requirements, regardless of their preferred course. We encourage every auditionee to read the requirements carefully to ensure they prepare everything that is requested ahead of their audition date.

Audition Fee

An audition for BA (Hons) Acting at Central costs £40 (which can be paid when booking your audition date), however many applicants based in England are eligible for a free audition. In addition to students engaged through Central’s Outreach Programme as part of its Access and Participation Plan, the school provides free auditions to applicants based in England who may face barriers in accessing specialist performance training. We want as many people as possible to be able to audition with us, and so England-based applicants who meet one of 8 criteria are eligible for a free audition.

Find out if you qualify for a free audition.

  • FIRST ROUND (All Applicants) - In-person audition at our London campus or at regional audition venues in the UK

    What to prepare?

    We ask that everyone attending a first round audition prepares the following material:

    • One memorised classical speech –This should be of your own choosing, but you can see our classical speech list for an indication of what applicants have used in the past. The speech should be no more than two minutes in duration. 
    • One memorised contemporary speech - This should be written after 1960 and no more than two minutes in duration. Speeches should not be chosen from film or television scripts. 
    • One devised piece, inspired by a painting* - Please prepare a 30-90 second solo devised piece inspired by one of the images on the Devised Pieces, Instructions and Paintings page on our website. You are encouraged to use movement and voice to create a piece that is a clear response to the image and introduces us to your individual creative voice. We want to see who you are and how you express yourself through your work.

    *This could take many forms: including storytelling, stand up, self-penned monologue, puppetry, mask work, sound scape, dance, movement piece…  the piece needs to be created and performed by you. Please stay within the time limit.

    • One memorised song** - The song can be of your own choosing or an original that you have written . It should be no longer than 2 minutes and must be performed unaccompanied. PLEASE NOTE: a trained singing voice is not required for admission.  

    ** If you do not wish to sing, you are welcome to speak your song or perform a poem instead of the song – a poem should be no longer than 90 seconds and can be written by yourself. This will also give our panellists an opportunity to evaluate your voice and performance. Please be aware that if you do not sing you will not be considered for the BA Acting - Musical Theatre course but can still be considered for the BA Acting - Acting and BA Acting - CDT courses. 

    When attending your audition at our London campus, you will be offered a tour of the school and have the opportunity to ask questions to current students and professionals working on the three BA (Hons) Acting courses.

    During your first round you may be asked to do some group work or be redirected by panellists.

    The first round audition (including the tour of the school) may last for the whole morning and following a lunch break (not provided), we will let you know if we wish to see you for a second round audition in the afternoon.

    If you attend at Central, please BRING THE SHEET MUSIC FOR YOUR SONG.

    Top Tip: For your speeches, we recommend that you do not select extracts from audition speech books. You must be prepared to answer questions about the entire play from which your selection is chosen. Therefore, an extract will not help in the preparation of the chosen piece, so please make sure you read the whole play. We are not able to discuss the choice of audition material prior to your audition date. Please note that the two-minute time limit for each speech and song will be adhered to, but do not let that affect your preparation and performance - it is better to not complete the full speech/ song than to rush it. 

    Candidates are asked to wear sensible plain clothes and comfortable flat footwear that provide freedom of movement. It is recommended that candidates wear minimal or only natural make-up and also wear only necessary jewellery (preferably only earring studs and no rings). We advise candidates to rest well before their audition day. 

  • SECOND ROUND AUDITION (Selected Applicants) - In-person audition at our London campus or at regional audition venues in the UK

    Following your first round audition you may be recalled to a second round audition. 

    Our three BA (Hons) Acting courses (BA Acting (Acting), BA Acting (Musical Theatre) and BA Acting (CDT) all are acting courses with different approaches and methodologies at their core. 

    This means that when applying to Central, your audition was reviewed by panellists from all three courses and depending on what the panellists have assessed during your audition, you may be recalled for one, two or all three courses. 

    If you are invited for a second round audition, the panellists will investigate your suitability for the selected course in more detail. 

    If you attend your first round audition on campus at Central or at one of our regional audition venues, your second round will be taking place that same afternoon at that same venue.

    Depending on which course(s) you are invited to recall for, you could be asked to do any or all of the following:

    • repeat your first-round audition pieces
    • workshop your pieces 
    • undertake improvisations
    • participate in a physical and vocal workshop
    • sing accompanied and/or unaccompanied (only BA Acting Musical Theatre)
    • participate in a vocal assessment
    • participate in a brief interview

    Not all of those elements will be applicable to or be required from all applicants.

    During all second round auditions, you will be seen by a minimum of two panellists representing the course(s) you have been recalled for. If you are successful at the second round audition you will be recalled for a final round audition at a later date. 

  • FINAL ROUND AUDITION (Selected Applicants) - In-Person Audition at our London Campus

    Final Round Auditions will be taking place at our London campus

    You will only be invited to a final round audition if you have attended an second round audition and were successful following it. 

    As with the second round, you could be recalled to attend a final round for one, two or three courses, depending on the course/courses you attended an initial recall for. 

    If you are called for a final round audition for any of the BA (Hons) Acting courses, you will normally participate in further intensive workshop sessions involving voice, movement and acting, and focus further on your original choice of speeches and pieces. 

    Depending on the course(s) you are recalled for and what the panellists wish to see, you may also be asked to present a self-devised theatre piece, a new song or dance, do some sight-reading, work on a scene, and attend an interview session.

    Not all of those elements will be applicable to or required from all applicants. 

    Candidates selected for a final round audition will be notified by email, which will also detail exactly what they will need to prepare for the session. 

    We reserve the right to vary the content and structure of the auditions without prior notice. 

    How we communicate offers

    All applicants will be notified of the final outcome of their application through UCAS, which may be several weeks after their final round audition.  

Overseas Candidates

Those applicants applying from overseas are invited to audition in London with us however also have the option to submit a self-tape audition / attend a zoom or self-tape second round (if applicable).

The final recall auditions for overseas applicants will then be happening remotely using the online teleconferencing software Zoom. 

The detailed instructions regarding the recording settings and how to send us your tape will be emailed to you once you have booked your audition. See the possible shot options for your self-tape. Please also watch our Audition self-tape tips and instructions video.

Once we have received your audition video, it will be reviewed and assessed by our team of panellists, representing all three

Criteria and Qualities for Acceptance

In auditioning and interviewing potential students, we look for:

Essential Evidence of:

  • a serious, ongoing commitment to an acting career in the professional theatre
  • fluent written and spoken English (equivalent to IELTS level 7.0)
  • trainable vocal, physical and imaginative/ emotional skills
  • potential to benefit from the study in acting offered at Central
  • an ability to understand, interpret and embody a dramatic text 
  • an ability to participate actively in group or ensemble situations

Desirable Presence of:

  • a readiness to take risks, and an open, receptive and enquiring mind
  • enthusiasm and readiness for hard, rigorous work requiring sustained concentration
  • a sense of language and rhythm, and the potential for identification with the thought process of a dramatic text 
  • the ability to portray and inhabit an imagined or fictional situation
  • physical, vocal and imaginative/emotional skills with significant theatrical potential.

Contact us

For BA (Hons) Acting courses (required)

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