Audition preparations

This a training programme for young people who wish to prepare for acting college and lay the foundations for a career in performance. Young people are given individual attention and helped to prepare monologues for auditioning to third level acting courses here and in the UK.

Professional tutors train young actors in voice work, movement, audition preparation, Checkov technique, text and scene work, acting techniques and rehearsal methodologies, physical comedy, and devising.

Students may also have the opportunity to study for a RADA Shakespeare Certificate (an extra cost, and providing they are being offered by The Lir this year). Students may be represented by the Crooked House Agency for Young Actors and will each have a head-shot and short CV on file. Students stage a public presentation at the end of their year.

Tutors are all working professionals: actor Jillian Bradbury (trained in RADA and the Gaiety School of Acting); director Peter Hussey (Artistic Director of Crooked House); writer and director Mary Linehan (co-founder of Smashing Times Theatre Company); actor Anne Doyle (trained in the Gaiety School of Acting); Steve Gunn (actor, Fair City, Ripper Street) and occasional guest tutors.

Classes are from 1.00pm to 4.00pm. The School has two terms: Term One - 24th September to 17th December 2016. Term Two – 14th January to 8th April 2017 (finishing before the Easter holidays and not so close to the Leaving Cert).

Admission is by application and some applicants may need to audition. Please email us for an application form. If you are asked to audition, they will be scheduled as applications arrive. For your audition, you will be asked to perform a monologue of your choice (from a play, TV, film or one you wrote yourself). It should be approximately 3 minutes long (although there are no penalties for being over- or under length).

Fees for the year are €250. This payable in two instalments. The first €125 is payable when you arrive for the first class. The second one is payable on 26th November.

The class is limited to 12. If we do not reach 12 enrolments by 24th September, however, there may not be a school, in which case fees will be refunded.

Members of Kildare Youth Theatre who enrol pay only €200 provided they have already paid their youth theatre annual registration fee of €50 for the year.

All classes take place in Newbridge, accessible by regular bus and train services.