Auditions & Interviews

Applicants are invited to a single-day audition workshop. You will be asked to take part in acting and movement sessions. You will need to prepare:

speech from a published play written since year 2000 lasting up to two minutes; and

A speech from a classic play, preferably Shakespeare, lasting up to two minutes.

Full guidance for each element of the audition will be sent with audition information. Applications for the Cert HE Acting programme should be made via UCAS.

Applicants are invited to a single-day audition workshop. You will be asked to participate in singing, dance, and acting sessions. You will need to prepare:

• One ‘legit’ song (pre-1965) and one contemporary song (post-1965) from the musical theatre repertoire, lasting up to two minutes, that shows your strength as a performer; and
• A speech from a published play written since the year 2000 lasting up to two minutes.

Full guidance for each element of the audition will be sent with audition information. Applications for the Cert HE Musical Theatre programme should be made via UCAS.

BA (Hons) Acting

Auditions are held in two parts as follows:

Auditions are held in two parts as follows:

1. First Round audition:

Applicants are asked to provide a link to a video self-tape of three audition pieces:

• A speech from a published play written since the year 2000, lasting up to two minutes; and
• A speech from a classical play, preferably Shakespeare, lasting up to two minutes; and
• Your response to a source image provided by GSA, making use of movement, text (preferably self-written), song, or a combination.

2. If you are invited to a Recall Audition Workshop, you will be asked to take part in acting and movement sessions; you will also be asked to use your first-round audition material as part of these sessions.

Full guidance for each element of the audition will be sent by email upon application. Applications for the BA (Hons) Acting programme should be made via UCAS.

Applicants are invited to a single-day Audition Workshop, where they will be asked to take part in acting, voice, movement and music sessions.

You will be asked to prepare:

• A speech from a play or film, lasting up to two minutes;
• A musical theatre song, jazz or folk song standard lasting up to two minutes; and
• An instrumental piece of music on your first instrument and in your preferred style, lasting up to two minutes. Voice cannot be used as your instrument in this instance.

Speeches

You can choose a speech from any play or film. It should last around two minutes and be delivered in your own accent. Ideally, the character should be close to your own playing age.

Full guidance for each element of the audition will be sent with audition information. Applications for the BA (Hons) Actor-Musician programme should be made via UCAS.

Applicants are invited to a single-day Audition Workshop, which will include creative work together as a group and through direction from the panel.

Applications for the BA (Hons) Applied and Contemporary Theatre programme should be made via UCAS.

Auditions are held in two parts as follows:

First Round audition:

Applicants are asked to provide links to video self-tapes of three audition elements:

• A ‘legit’ song from a musical written before 1965 lasting up to two minutes; and
• A ‘contemporary’ song written post-1965 from a musical lasting up to two minutes; and
• Five short basic dance and movement exercises

Recall Audition Workshop

If you are invited to a Recall Audition Workshop, you will be asked to take part in acting, singing and dance sessions; you may be asked to re-present your first-round song audition material. You will also be asked to prepare:

• A speech from a published play written since 1960, lasting up to two minutes; and
• A song chosen by the applicant from a song list provided by GSA.

Full guidance for each element of the audition will be sent by e-mail upon application. Applications for the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre programme should be made via UCAS.

Applicants for this course will be invited to attend an interview day. This will include a subject talk, a tour of GSA facilities and a short interview with the panel, which will include staff from the Technical Theatre department. You will not need to prepare anything for this interview, and it should last approximately 15 minutes.

Applications for the BA (Hons) Theatre Production programme should be made via UCAS.

Applicants are invited to a single-day Audition Workshop. You will be asked to prepare:

• A speech from a published play written since 1960 lasting up to two minutes; and
• A speech from a classic play, preferably Shakespeare, lasting up to two minutes

You will also take part in acting, voice, and movement sessions.

Full guidance for each element of the audition will be sent with audition information. Applications for the MA and MFA Acting programmes should be made via the university’s postgraduate application page.

Applicants are invited to a single-day Audition Workshop. You will be asked to prepare:

• Two contrasting songs from the Musical Theatre repertoire, each no longer than two minutes; One song should be in a contemporary style (Post 1965) and one in a legit/classical style (Pre 1965).
• One monologue from a play or screenplay written since 1990 that can be performed in your own accent. Please ensure that this is no longer than two minutes. The monologue should be from a piece written for the stage or screen. All monologues should be delivered in English and in your own accent.

You will also take part in a dance session.

Full guidance for each element of the audition will be sent with audition information. Applications for the MA and MFA Musical Theatre programmes should be made via the university’s postgraduate application page.

Applicants for this course will be invited to attend an interview day. This will include a subject talk, a tour of GSA facilities and a short interview with the panel, which will include staff from the Technical Theatre department. You will not need to prepare anything for this interview, and it should last approximately 15 minutes.

Applications for the MA Stage and Production Management programme should be made through the university website.

Offers for this course are made on the basis of the completed application form; an online interview is required; an audition is not required.

Applications for the BA (Hons) Theatre programme should be made through the University of Surrey website.

Applicants are invited to attend an interview. You will be asked to prepare:

1. Two contrasting songs, one of which should be a Musical Theatre song. Your choices should allow you to show an approach to different musical / vocal styles.
2. A poem of your choice to demonstrate spoken voice.

Full guidance of the audition will be sent with audition information. Applications for the MA Teaching and Practice of Voice and Singing programmes should be made via the university’s postgraduate application page.

These interviews can take place in person or online as required.

Offers for this course are made on the basis of the completed application form; an audition or interview is not normally required.

Applications for the MA Theatre programme should be made through the university website.

Offers for this course are made on the basis of the completed application form; an audition or interview is not normally required.

Applications for the MFA Theatre programme should be made through the university website.

Applicants for all performance courses must pay a non-refundable audition fee.

Audition fees for BA (Hons) Acting and BA (Hons) Musical Theatre are:

• For a First Round audition, the fee is £15

If an applicant is successful and invited to a second-round Audition Workshop, there is an additional fee of £30.

Audition fees for BA (Hons) Actor-Musician, Foundation (Cert HE) Musical Theatre, Foundation (Cert HE) Acting, MA/MFA Acting and MA/ MFA Musical Theatre are:

• Single Round Audition fee £45

There are no audition or interview fees for BA (Hons) Applied and Contemporary Theatre, BA (Hons) Theatre Production, MA Stage and Production Management, BA (Hons) Theatre (online learning), or MA Theatre (online learning).

The University of Surrey is able to support eligible students who have applied to an undergraduate course at GSA by waiving the audition fee for initial and recall auditions. Support is also available for students attending an Interview, Applicant, or Open Day with a travel bursary of £40.

Bursaries are processed subject to your attendance on the upcoming visit to the University of Surrey.

Please allow up to 30 days following your visit to receive your reimbursement. Payment will only be authorised if you meet the specified eligibility criteria and have registered your attendance upon arrival. This will be transferred to your bank account after you have attended your scheduled visit.

All bursaries are reimbursed as a contribution towards travel expenses rather than covering the full cost. Bursaries are not available for any accompanying guests. If you are not able to attend your scheduled visit without travel support provided in advance, please contact in2@surrey.ac.uk to discuss your circumstances.

To apply, complete the online application form.

Eligibility criteria

To apply for a travel bursary or be considered for the audition fee waiver, you must meet all the essential criteria below, plus one of the listed widening participation criteria:

Essential Criteria (must meet all of the following criteria):

• Home students (currently residing in the UK)
• Studying at a state-funded school or college
• Booked onto an offer holder event/interview/open day/campus tour.

Widening Participation criteria (must meet 1 or more):

• You have been eligible for free school meals at any point during your secondary school education.
• You are eligible for a 16-19 bursary.
• You are a refugee with indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
• You are from a Gypsy, Roma, Traveller community.
• You are estranged from your family (i.e. you have no contact with both parents).
• You have caring responsibilities (i.e. you care for a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition or addiction).
• You are a mature or adult learner who will be aged 21 years or over when commencing your studies.
• You have a disability or long-term health condition.
• You have experience of living within care.
• You have a parent/carer who has served in the UK Armed Forces or as a Reservist.
• You have previously completed a Surrey Scholars activity.
• You live in an IMD Q1 or Q2 Postcode*
• You live in a POLAR4 Q1 or Q2 Postcode*

 *You can check your postcode eligibility using our online postcode look-up tool.

Learn more about dance auditions.