Royal Central School of Speech & Drama
Drama School Audition Coaching
Coaching for drama school auditions can help you to make the best choices with your speeches and go into your auditions fully prepared, ready to show the panel your full potential. Having worked extensively on the audition panel for multiple drama schools, including (currently) the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Kieran has an up-to-date and in-depth insight into what drama schools are looking for. His vast experience working with students on audition technique and preparation gives drama school applicants the best opportunity to stand out in front of the panel.
“Kieran is a rare find— I recommend him as someone with an outstanding coaching skillset and immense technical knowledge.”
Many coaches can leave a performance feeling robotic and choreographed and can sometimes be more detrimental than good. Simply having someone direct your monologue isn’t going to get you noticed for the right reasons. Kieran brings out the best in his students by building on their strengths and allowing them the freedom to pilot their own progress whilst guiding them towards a conservatoire-ready performance. This approach ensures the students are empowered to go into their audition and present the best version of themselves that they possibly can.
Kieran’s past students have been accepted into drama schools including:
I’d like to thank you from the bottom of my heart, you really helped me with my monologue and my confidence and I feel like it definitely made the difference to me being accepted!
I went into my drama school auditions with the confidence having known I had worked with a quality coach and ultimately I got the result I wanted – I got in. I would recommend Kieran to anybody.
Getting in to drama school
Getting into drama school is tough and whilst rejection can feel disheartening it might not tell the full story. There are a variety of reasons why you might receive a rejection and plenty that have nothing to do with your ability. Some actors are tremendously exciting but they aren’t ready yet – give it a year and they’ll be snapped up. Sometimes you might have an exceptional audition but unconditional offers have already been given out and the panel have to consider the balance within the cohort. Remember that ultimately this group of actors will need to form casts for third-year shows and compete for agents in their final showcase. Getting into drama school takes passion and skill, but also resilience, patience and luck.
The best way to make your own luck is to be as prepared as possible. Good coaching can help you to connect the dots in the work you’ve already done and go that extra step in your performance. It can also help you with the technical aspects that are often overlooked. Most initial auditions are now done via self-tapes and frequently applicants don’t help themselves in the way they film their audition. It can be confusing and there isn’t a lot of guidance on where to stand, where to look, the best way to set up the camera, frame the shot, and most importantly, how to reconcile a stage performance with a filmed self-tape. Whilst the panel will hopefully try to see past these things, inevitably they have a significant effect on how your performance is received.
1-to-1 sessions equip you with the tools and confidence to excel and stand out in your auditions.
Online sessions are available so that 1-to-1 acting coaching is accessible to actors all over the world. They’re also great for getting some last-minute tips before an audition or self-tape.
“It’s rare that you come across a standout acting coach like Kieran. I had the pleasure of working with him in preparation for my drama school auditions and the amount of confidence I got from the sessions was incredible!”
“Through working on my monologues, Kieran has given me the confidence to go into auditions knowing my pieces are the strongest they can be, which resulted in me gaining a place at drama school.”
