Preparing for an audition

My kid asked me why I was reading six short plays by Noel Coward. I told her it’s because I have an audition for the Shaw Festival and I wanted to read some of the plays they were doing so that I could choose some appropriate audition pieces. She asked me why I had to read so many. I explained that they were doing quite a lot of Coward and that if I read at least some of what they were doing I could get an idea of what I might possibly be cast for and so do pieces at my audition that would show I could play those parts.

Of course this is all well and good in theory, but in practice I think it’s more luck than judgment. The people you’re auditioning for might hate the pieces you’ve chosen, they might never have heard of the plays they’re from (unless you’ve picked stuff from the actual season they’re doing), they might be mentally making their shopping list when you perform them. Okay, it’s not quite as bad as a commercial audition – pretty much all the theatre auditions I’ve done in my life have been in an incredibly concentrated atmosphere with acutely attentive theatre directors. With one notable exception at the Royal Shakespeare Company which I won’t go into here. I’ll save that one for another blog entry.

So I’ve got my two pieces with an alternate third – is this too smart-arsey? I dunno – I like to give directors a choice. They usually say “You choose” which suits me fine, but I kinda like it when they choose the pieces themselves. It might mean they pay more attention, are fonder of the play, or haven’t heard it for a while. And I’ve been doing this long enough that I can usually give them a selection.

I was told early on in my career to have lots of pieces to hand ready to do at the drop of a hat, and it’s the best piece of advice I’ve ever been given. I’ve saved every piece I’ve ever performed, every piece I’d ever like to perform and stuff that I’m only just growing into, having found it ten or fifteen years ago. I have a file I keep them in and whenever something comes up I’ve got a whole load of stuff waiting to go. This doesn’t mean I’ve always got the right pieces – I’m doing a brand new one for this audition – but I try if possible to have one I’ve done at least once before. This eases the nerves a little.

So I’m all set for tomorrow – if they want me or if they don’t I’ll try and enjoy it. I had great fun last year auditioning for Jackie Maxwell and it went splendidly. Up until the point when it was time to leave and I fell arse over tit, flat on my face, spread-eagled on the carpet. Never could wear heels. At least it made me memorable. Wish me luck!

Related posts:

1. Why testing your material rocks
2. Going blonde!
3. Writing is annoying…
4. Back to the theatre!
5. Summer Works Theatre Festival 2009