Diplomas - Audition Guidance 24/25

Recording your audition

For the first round we would like you to record and send us your audition. Your recorded audition should contain two parts:

1. A short introduction about yourself
2. Your 2 minute monologue

Part 1 - Introduction

Please tell us your name, where you are currently based, which diploma(s) you would like to apply for (Online Acting Diploma/Acting Diploma) and why you would like to study on this course at Central. You can look directly at the camera for this and the introduction should be no longer than two minutes.

For example, “Hello, my name is Sonny. I live in South London and I would like to apply for both the Online Acting Diploma and the Acting Diploma as I am interested in applying for a full time BA Acting course and want to get some practical experience before doing so.”

Part 2 - Monologue

Please choose and prepare a contemporary monologue from a published play, from the last 20 years. The monologue should be a maximum of two minutes in length.

Before starting your monologue say the name of the character you are playing, the play from which the speech is from, and the author.

For example, “I will be playing Billie from Yous Two by Georgia Christou.”

Then take a moment and go into your speech. Choose a point just above or to the side of the camera to perform to, where you can place your imaginary audience or other character, rather than performing directly down the lens.

The self-tape will be watched by two audition panel members - the course leader and one of our Visiting Lectures with significant experience of auditions and working in the industry. We will respond within four weeks of you sending us your audition tape.

We recommend submitting your audition self-tape as soon as possible, as places will be filled on a first come first served basis. Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide feedback on unsuccessful tapes.

There are free auditions, partial bursaries and full bursaries available for the Gap Year Diploma, Acting Diploma and Online Acting Diploma.

To be eligible, you must live in England and meet one of the following criteria:   

• I am from a low income household (below £25,000)
• I am care experienced (care leaver/in the care of your local authority)
• I am a disabled student
• I have caring responsibilities (young carer/carer)

To apply, please complete an application form and send your supporting evidence to short.courses@cssd.ac.uk. A member of the team will be in touch with the outcome within 2 weeks of receiving your supporting evidence. Any questions, please contact us at short.courses@cssd.ac.uk 

Please follow the steps below to submit your audition self-tape:

1. Record your audition self-tape as per the guidance on this page
2. Upload your audition self-tape to Youtube as an ‘Unlisted’ video. Instructions on how to do this can be found here.
3. Make note of the URL and submit your self-tape and make payment of the audition fee*. Click ‘Continue’ and follow the steps.
4. Once you get to the application form there will be a question, ‘Please copy and paste the URL for your First Round Audition Self-Tape’, copy and paste your YouTube URL into that box
5. Once payment has been made, you will receive an email to confirm we have received your application
6. We will aim to get back to you within 4 weeks

If you have any questions, please email short.courses@cssd.ac.uk

*if you are eligible for a free audition, please get in touch with the short courses team who can offer you a discount code

Online Acting Diploma - Second Round - Virtual Audition

The second round audition will be via video call (Zoom) with a member of teaching staff from the course.

They will discuss why you are applying and direct you in your monologue. Further information will be emailed to you if you are successful with your First Round Audition.  

Gap Year Diploma/Acting Diploma - Second Round - In-Person Audition

The second round audition will be held in person at Central’s campus in Swiss Cottage, London. You will be auditioned by a panel of at least two members of teaching staff from the course.

They will discuss why you are applying and direct you in your monologue. Further information will be emailed to you if you are successful with your First Round Audition. 

Things to consider when choosing and preparing your monologue:

• Fully learn the monologue - make sure you know the lines very well
• Read the play - ensure you understand the situation, who the character is talking to and why they are speaking
• Eye line - deliver your monologues with your eye-line slightly off frame (i.e. not down the lens), either to the side or slightly above. If possible, have someone standing just to side of the camera, out of shot, for you to talk to
• Choose something you are excited about performing
• Choose something you can relate to. We want to see you and how you connect to character and text
• Your monologue should be performed in English

Tips for Filming

Filming - you will need something you can film yourself on. You don’t need any special equipment. A phone, a camera or tablet will work well

Lighting - find a well-lit space and check that you can be seen well on your camera. Make sure the light is in front of you, where the camera is.  If the light is bright behind you (for example standing in front of a window) this can make you into a silhouette. We want to be able to see you

Sound - don’t be worried about any fancy equipment, the mic from your phone is fine. You might want to shut windows and doors though so that the space is as quiet as possible. We want to be able to hear you

Background - ideally find a space with a blank wall, so there’s minimum background distraction and we can focus on you

Framing - you can sit or stand, whichever feels more comfortable. Please frame the shot in a medium shot, from the waist or mid torso to the top of the head.

Height of camera - make sure that what you are filming with is propped up so your camera is around eye level height. This will mean that we can see you properly in the shot.

Keep it steady - something steady to prop your devise on, like a tripod, table or stack of books.