Drama School Interviews

So far, I have had an interview at Mountview, Rose Bruford College, RADA, Central, LIPA and Guildhall.

They have all used a similar structure to their interview days. They gave us an overview of the course, a tour of their facilities and the actual interview itself.

So far, I have been offered a place at Mountview and Rose Bruford College. I've been rejected by Central, LIPA have put me into their 'reserve list', RADA have put into their 'holding list' until they have finished interviewing all candidates and I'm still waiting to hear back from Guildhall.

Unit 10: Preparation for Progression

Context:

We were given our assignment for Unit 10 for which we have to plan and prepare for what we have to do after we graduate college. I would personally like to go to drama school in order to do a degree in technical theatre. In the future, I would like to have a career in lighting.

Research 

I have decided to stay in the UK instead of going abroad because it is the country that has the best drama schools in the world therefore it is where I will get the best training possible.

I have looked into the following drama schools: Mountview, Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, RADA, Guildhall, LAMDA, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Rose Bruford College. I have attended open days at these institutions in order to get an idea of what the facilities are like and to meet the tutors and ask them about the course and facilities and I have rather impressed with them which is why I have applied to these drama schools.

They all have industry standard facilities which will allow me to learn and practice on the equipment that I will be using in the actual industry. They also offer courses that will give me the skills which will make me more employable on big shows in the West End, Broadway and shows such as the Edinburgh Military Tattoo which is where I aspire to work.

Rose Bruford College and The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama both offer courses that are specialist meaning that I would be able to focus on lighting from the start. All of the other institutions run courses where the students have to learn a little bit about each department then they provide the opportunity to specialise in any department of choice. I would specialise in lighting as I wish to pursue a career in lighting.

RADA and LAMDA both run courses where you start by doing a two year foundation course and then you can apply to do a third top-up year where you would get a BA degree.

I am attracted to these institutions also because of how prestigious they are and how good their training is.

Planning:

I have applied to all of these drama schools and they have all offered me an interview. I have an interview at Guildhall on Thursday 28th February, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on Tuesday 19th March and LAMDA on Thursday 4th April. 

I have already interviewed at Mountview, Rose Bruford College, RADA,  Royal Central School of Speech & Drama and LIPA. I have not yet had a response from RADA or LIPA. The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama have rejected me but I have been offered a place at Mountview and Rose Bruford College.

Problem-Solving:

Once I have interviewed everywhere and had responses from all the drama schools, I will have to decide which offer to accept. I would like to go to either RADA or Guildhall as they are the most prestigious of all my choices.

I will decide what drama school to go to based on the prestige of the institution, the course content (whether or not I feel if the course is right for me) and location (is the student life around the drama school good or not).

My Interview at Mountview

Mountview were they first institution to have invited me in for an interview. On the day of the interview, they talked us through what the course consisted of, they then gave us a tour of the building to show us the facilities and because they have recently moved from Wood Green to Peckham some parts of the building were still being built. They gave us the opportunity to ask them questions throughout the day.

Lastly they interviewed everyone individually. At the end of the interview they informed me that they would let me know as to whether or not they would offer me a place the next day. The following day, they emailed me to offer me a place. They also said that they would send me the necessary paperwork at some point in January so that I would be able to accept the offer. The paperwork would also include the method that I shall use to fund the course (tuition fees and maintenance costs).

The interview lasted around 20 minutes. During the interview, they asked me about my previous experience, where I see myself in few years after graduating and my biggest achievement in terms of lighting. They also looked at and discussed my portfolio.

In order to be better prepared for the next interview, I feel like I need to be clearer with my answers by speaking more clearly and provide clear-cut explanations. I also need be a little more relaxed as I was very tense and nervous.

Should I decide not to go university for any reason at all, I would go into the world of work to get experience and build up my CV and portfolio.

UCAS Personal Statement

This is the personal statement which I used on my UCAS application:

I love the buzz of live theatre. I like the idea of hard work building up to something tangible and then it’s show time. There’s the hush when the lights go down, the thrill as applause rings out, and keeping on your toes in between!

I am a member of the National Youth Theatre, having come through a highly competitive selection process to win a place at the NYT’s Backstage Course (Lighting) in the summer of 2018.

This gave me a deeper knowledge of the subject and a big boost to my confidence. The course was a steep learning curve, combining classroom teaching with hands-on experience in lighting live performances. The show I worked on was performed in the round so I learned about the difficulties of lighting a performance in this type of space compared with a traditional end-on theatre. I also gained a better understanding of how integrated all of the theatre departments are and how they work together.

Ever since I saw Mary Poppins float above the audience with her umbrella, I have been captivated by technical theatre and wanted to get involved. I won the award for best stagehand at my school’s musical productions and became lighting technician for my GCSE drama practical exam.

Now I am studying for a UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Production Arts, with a particular interest in lighting.

I have been technical director for a college production of Frankenstein where I worked with the director to create and program the lighting cues. I also operated the lights for four performances. Last term, I was board operator for A Christmas Carol.

At a weekend workshop I saw what lighting designers have to think about when designing a rig, for example how light may spill when lighting someone, how colours are used, how shadows are created and how those might affect the intended mood or setting.

Passion, regret, sadness: emotions that can be portrayed with carefully selected gels and well-thought out focusing of the lights. With technology that is constantly evolving, lighting is a discipline that never fails to captivate me.

That is why I want to pursue a career in stage lighting, first as a lighting programmer and operator, and later as a lighting designer. For now, it’s about learning to materialise the designer’s creative ideas, to manipulate the lights in such a way that makes the audience shed a tear or fills them with delight.

The next step is to become an expert in lighting and to maximise my opportunities in theatre by taking my education to the next level. I am looking for a course that offers a high quality degree with an emphasis on practical training and hands-on experience. My main area of interest is lighting but other areas of study could help towards a broader understanding of technical theatre.

In the longer term, I see myself working on big shows in the West End or at the Royal Opera House, or perhaps outdoor shows like the Edinburgh Tattoo or Glastonbury.

I like to travel and am fluent in French. If I do not remain in London, I could see myself taking my skills to Broadway, Cirque du Soleil or on tour.

The camaraderie of the team means a lot to me. I would be a great addition to any student cohort because I am friendly, enthusiastic and eager to learn. I have always been a good team member.