Sorry for not writing in a while, I'm studying my A level's at the moment and the pressure to get decent grades in mounting considerably, so it seems like I won't be writing much on here for atleast the next four months (i.e up to and during the exam period). The pressure is much, much more considerable this year as our darling Education Minister, Michael Gove; has now stated that no one can now do a third year and, therefore if I fail, I cannot resit and then can't go to university or get a decent job. Gee thanks Mike! Remind me the next time I see him to give a good old tutting to (as tutting is the appropriate way for an Englishperson to show disgust.)
Anyway I will save my ranting about how much Mr Gove is a compleate and utter twat for another post.
What I really wanted to talk about was my Italia Conti audition last Monday.
Now in the previous week, it had been the half term holiday. Which is why I decided that over the week I would do absolutely nothing and have a good old rest. What I forgot to remember was that I had a major audition within the week and had not learnt to set piece properly. I ended up remembering on the Saturday and, scrambling from my bed I lurched into a panic of learning lines, re-reading the School's website on what it looks for in a candidate/what I needed to do in the actual audition etc.
Thankfully (for me) my mum had organised the travel and accommodation for the night before, so on the Monday morning (waking up at the dreadful hour of 6 o'clock). We headed out to the heart of London.
The place wasn't that hard to find and, on entering, my first impression was that it was rather small. I think that this is because apparently they are modifying the building therefore ensuring that the audition space was rather crowded.
I was told by a rather cheery bloke, to fill out a form of what I would be performing, plus where I had auditioned this year and what the results had been. I do have to admit, it was rather embarrassing that I had to put down that for all my previous auditions I had been rejected (yes sadly, even RADA :'( ...) But at looking at everyone else's forms, they too had mostly been rejected from everywhere else. I was then sent upstairs where many other hopefuls were waiting. Another impression, there were a lot of people. Around 30-40, it was the biggest number of people I had seen at a audition ever really. The people I remember most was a beautiful girl who had come from Italy, and a rather attractive guy in his early 20's called Scott, who was a traveller until he was 16.
We were all sitting there for a while until the cheery bloke came up and started the warm up. It was immensely fun. We were all prating about being dinosaurs chasing prey and shaking our arms round in a bizarre fashion for at least 30 minutes. I loved it.
After this we did some improvisation in small groups, as we were doing this the cheery bloke came round with a clipboard and assessed us as we were going about the task. Also very fun, but since the room was quite small and there were so many people talking I couldn't hear what the majority of my group were saying, so I kinda ended up falling into the background a bit. I do feel that may of been spotted by cheery bloke.
Anyway after this we were then sent outside of the room as the panel - made up of a man and a woman - entered, in order to conduct the audition.
I was forth. On my turn they both shook my hand and asked me what speech I wanted to start with. I said my modern (Back to Methuselah by G.B Shaw). It went very well. Then the set Shakespeare (I ended up doing Helena in A midsummer night's dream) I didn't forget any of the lines, which was a positive. Once I finished they thanked me and asked me to sit back outside. No questions asked. I felt a tiny bit weirded out by that fact. Now the wait.
A fact about Italia Conti, even if you are not recalled back you still have a chance of getting a place.
I wasn't recalled, I was both - strangely - dissapointed and glad by this. The latter because I was already tired and didn't want to get back home at midnight (which in being recalled I probably would of.) Yet, I was dissapointed because a) it would of been nice to get just one recall out of the many auditions I have done (although another guy there, who was about my age and was rather annoying. Had been to 9 drama school auditions this year alown and had had not one recall!) And b) the recall part did sound like loads of fun. If you did get recalled, you took part in three different workshops (singing, movement and voice) then would redo your pieces.
Now in the previous week, it had been the half term holiday. Which is why I decided that over the week I would do absolutely nothing and have a good old rest. What I forgot to remember was that I had a major audition within the week and had not learnt to set piece properly. I ended up remembering on the Saturday and, scrambling from my bed I lurched into a panic of learning lines, re-reading the School's website on what it looks for in a candidate/what I needed to do in the actual audition etc.
Thankfully (for me) my mum had organised the travel and accommodation for the night before, so on the Monday morning (waking up at the dreadful hour of 6 o'clock). We headed out to the heart of London.
The place wasn't that hard to find and, on entering, my first impression was that it was rather small. I think that this is because apparently they are modifying the building therefore ensuring that the audition space was rather crowded.
I was told by a rather cheery bloke, to fill out a form of what I would be performing, plus where I had auditioned this year and what the results had been. I do have to admit, it was rather embarrassing that I had to put down that for all my previous auditions I had been rejected (yes sadly, even RADA :'( ...) But at looking at everyone else's forms, they too had mostly been rejected from everywhere else. I was then sent upstairs where many other hopefuls were waiting. Another impression, there were a lot of people. Around 30-40, it was the biggest number of people I had seen at a audition ever really. The people I remember most was a beautiful girl who had come from Italy, and a rather attractive guy in his early 20's called Scott, who was a traveller until he was 16.
We were all sitting there for a while until the cheery bloke came up and started the warm up. It was immensely fun. We were all prating about being dinosaurs chasing prey and shaking our arms round in a bizarre fashion for at least 30 minutes. I loved it.
After this we did some improvisation in small groups, as we were doing this the cheery bloke came round with a clipboard and assessed us as we were going about the task. Also very fun, but since the room was quite small and there were so many people talking I couldn't hear what the majority of my group were saying, so I kinda ended up falling into the background a bit. I do feel that may of been spotted by cheery bloke.
Anyway after this we were then sent outside of the room as the panel - made up of a man and a woman - entered, in order to conduct the audition.
I was forth. On my turn they both shook my hand and asked me what speech I wanted to start with. I said my modern (Back to Methuselah by G.B Shaw). It went very well. Then the set Shakespeare (I ended up doing Helena in A midsummer night's dream) I didn't forget any of the lines, which was a positive. Once I finished they thanked me and asked me to sit back outside. No questions asked. I felt a tiny bit weirded out by that fact. Now the wait.
A fact about Italia Conti, even if you are not recalled back you still have a chance of getting a place.
I wasn't recalled, I was both - strangely - dissapointed and glad by this. The latter because I was already tired and didn't want to get back home at midnight (which in being recalled I probably would of.) Yet, I was dissapointed because a) it would of been nice to get just one recall out of the many auditions I have done (although another guy there, who was about my age and was rather annoying. Had been to 9 drama school auditions this year alown and had had not one recall!) And b) the recall part did sound like loads of fun. If you did get recalled, you took part in three different workshops (singing, movement and voice) then would redo your pieces.
No idea when I am supposed to be reciving a result, will probbably come within the next week.
However, if I don't book my Drama Centre audition soon, that will of been my last drama school audition this year...
I'm not really sure what to make of the fact really. I mean, I knew that I wasn't going to get a place at the age of 17 but... A whole year, without a real plan of what I will be doing within the next year is, very scary.
However I have put some things in place. For example this evening I am going to be auditioning for a few plays at the Stockport Garrick for their productions next academic year so that looks good. I'm also going to be sending my CV to every theatre in the within a 10 mile radius of where I live, just so I can work there and get a better feel of the working of a theatre. I will also be carrying on persuing some of my design ambitions and use my esty shop to raise so well needed cash for next year's drama school auditions!
But for now, revision time!
Adios,
Terri ;D xxx
