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Audition Tips

Posted 22 Jul 2023 by Joe Duggan

National Youth Theatre | Audition Tips


We are proud to be at over 70 venues for the UK Auditions and Backstage Interviews Roadshow in 2019. You can find a full list of our partner venues here.

Applied for an Audition or Backstage Interview for our 2019 summer courses and looking for inspiration? We're compiling a selection of #NYTAuditionTips from National Youth Theatre Alumni and Company Members to help you prepare for the day.

Looking for a top tip? Watch our videos on this page with advice from National Youth Theatre Alumni Patron and Actor Matt Smith, Designer Gareth Pugh, Channel 4 Journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy and more.

Head over to our Facebook Page for an auditions advice Q&A from National Youth Theatre Associate Anna Spearpoint.

"Practise doing your monologue loads of different ways. Keep it fresh every time. Try it whilst cleaning the house, try it whilst dancing, try it on the bus (maybe under your breath). Try out lots of possibilities for your voice, character and intention. It'll mean that when you come to the audition, you know the piece inside out and are ready to play with it even more."
Anna Spearpoint

National Youth Theatre Alumni share their thoughts on the audition day in an article with WhatsonStage.

"Use your wonderful youth and who you are. A lot of the time you can look at other actors and go 'they're so brilliant at doing that, why can't I do that?' But you are a complete individual and there's no-one else on the planet like you. You by nature of being you will make it your own, so just believe in that and let that happen."
Helen Mirren

"Never be afraid to ask for help. The truth is we all need a team. Run your speech with a friend, tell them why you love the play you've chosen, and share your thoughts on acting. Build and understand your creativity with the people that you trust."
Joan Iyiola

"As an actor, you can't think about the end result or the fame; you just have to focus on the day you're in. You have no control over the finished product, what people will think of it, so all you have is the experience of making it, and you have to stay focused on that."
Orlando Bloom

Get more #NYTAuditionTips from National Youth Theatre Alumni Daisy Lewis, Prasanna Puwanaraja, Matt Lucas and more here.


Are you a Company or Club Member with #NYTAuditionTips of your own? Use the hashtag on Twitter and mention us @NYTofGB.

Looking for a venue near you? Head to www.nyt.org.uk/auditions