Drama School Audition FAQ & Monologue Guide
Got questions about preparing for conservatoires, selecting monologues, or how coaching works? Find clear answers below to help you navigate your auditions with confidence.
1. Coaching, Sessions & Studio Logistics
How much does drama school audition coaching cost?
One-to-one drama school audition coaching at Drama School Success costs £50 per hour for both in-person and online sessions. We also offer an intensive 3-hour Audition Surgery for £140, designed to stress-test your repertoire before recall rounds. Subsidised rates are available for applicants experiencing genuine financial hardship.
Where do in-person coaching and self-tape sessions take place?
In-person sessions take place in a private, dedicated studio in Palmers Green, North London (N13). The studio is a short walk from Palmers Green Overground station (direct from Finsbury Park, Highbury & Islington, and Moorgate) or a short bus ride from Wood Green Underground station (Piccadilly Line). Free client parking is available, alongside access to an extensive library of classical and contemporary plays.
Can I do drama school audition coaching online?
Yes. Online audition coaching via Microsoft Teams offers the exact same text analysis, objective breakdown, and panel redirect exercises as in-person sessions. Remote coaching is ideal for regional UK applicants, international candidates targeting London conservatoires, and actors looking for rapid feedback on self-tape submissions without traveling to London.
How many coaching sessions will I need before my auditions?
Students normally require between 4 and 8 sessions, although this varies depending on your starting point, monologue choices, and upcoming deadlines. Spreading sessions over several weeks allows time to absorb notes, make discoveries, and complete text work between meetings. For actors with fully memorised pieces approaching recalls, a single 3-hour Audition Surgery can also be used to stress-test your repertoire under audition conditions.
Which drama schools do you prepare actors for?
We coach applicants for all major Federation of Drama Schools (FDS) institutions and international conservatoires, including:
London Conservatoires: RADA, LAMDA, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, Mountview, ArtsEd, Rose Bruford, Italia Conti, and Drama Studio London.
UK & International: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD), Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Oxford School of Drama, Manchester School of Theatre, and The Juilliard School in New York.
Youth & Stage Schools: The BRIT School, National Youth Theatre (NYT), and specialist young-performer casting auditions.
2. Monologues, Recalls & Audition Technique
How do I choose the right monologues for drama school auditions?
Choose characters close to your own age, casting type, and natural energy from published, full-length stage plays rather than standalone monologue books or film scripts. Audition panels want to see you through the words, not a character mask. Focus on active pieces where your character needs something urgent from an imaginary scene partner, avoiding over-the-top acting choices or shock-value speeches that restrict your natural playfulness.
What is the difference between a classical and a contemporary monologue?
For UK drama school auditions (such as RADA, LAMDA, Central, and Guildhall), a classical monologue is typically written during the Elizabethan or Jacobean era—predominantly verse or prose from Shakespeare or his contemporaries like Marlowe, Webster, and Jonson. A contemporary monologue is generally written after 1960 (with some conservatoires specifying post-2000). Both pieces should offer a strong contrast in status, temperament, and emotional stakes.
What happens during a drama school audition redirect?
An audition redirect occurs when the panel asks you to perform your monologue again with a completely different objective, physical obstacle, or emotional intention. Panels do this not because you did it wrong, but to test your directability, openness, and instinct. We rehearse redirects in our coaching sessions so you feel excited by unexpected notes rather than thrown off.
What questions do drama school panels ask in the interview round?
Panels typically ask questions to assess your curiosity, collaborative spirit, and theatrical knowledge, such as:
Why do you want to train at this specific drama school?
What was the last play you read or saw, and what moved or challenged you about it?
How do your classical and contemporary characters compare in their objectives?
We include mock interview technique in our recall prep to help you answer conversationally and authentically without sounding rehearsed.
Ready to Start Preparing?
Whether you are choosing your first speeches or preparing for final recalls, get in touch to book an in-person or online session.