Auditions and Interviews

Mountview is committed to offering training to people from a wide variety of backgrounds. To reflect this our admissions policy is focused on performance at audition or interview rather than on academic qualifications.

The process is designed to explore your current and potential abilities, and your suitability for a career in the profession.

In order to make auditions accessible to as many people as possible we run in-person auditions at a variety of regional locations as well as in London. We also run online first-round auditions for our Foundation courses.

For international candidates and those with exceptional circumstances, we offer the option of submitting an online audition. Digital submissions require no additional equipment other than yourself and a device to record on – this can be a mobile phone. A large space to audition in is not essential, and if you only have access to a small space you will not be penalized.

Auditions and interviews are open to students who will be 18 or over (CertHE and Undergraduate courses) or 21 and over (Postgraduate courses) at the time of course entry.

Please be aware that the MA Performance courses may become full before the application deadline and in this event candidates may only be offered a reserve place or applications will close early. We recommend early application to avoid disappointment.

Part-Time Acting – Vocational

Part-Time Acting – Vocational auditions will take place in person – there is no recall for this course.

There is a £35 audition fee with fee waivers available for Southwark residents.

Please note this course does not support student visa applications.

First-Round BA and CertHE Auditions

First-round BA Performance auditions will take place in-person. We offer a range of audition dates and locations to make the process as accessible as possible, and the full audition schedule will be announced shortly. For international candidates and those with exceptional circumstances, the option of an online first-round audition is available.

There is a £50 audition fee for BA Performance auditions.

First-round CertHE auditions will take place online. Candidates will need to submit a film of them performing their selected material as outlined below. Details of how to submit the application, along with tips and filming advice will be sent upon application.

Digital submissions require no additional equipment other than yourself and a device to record on – this can be a mobile phone. A large space to audition in is not essential, and if you only have access to a small space you will not be penalised.

There is a £35 audition fee for CertHE auditions..

BA and CertHE Recalls

Successful candidates for BA and CertHE Performance courses will be invited for an in-person recall.

There is no additional fee for recall auditions.

For BA Acting and Musical Theatre courses, it is anticipated there will be a final third phase in-person audition for a limited number of candidates. There is no fee for this and more details will be provided should you be successful at second recall phase.

We work with a network of organisations across the UK who identify talented young performers for whom the cost of auditioning is prohibitive. We provide free auditions and, if successful, bursary support.

Please note we do not provide feedback on performance at auditions.

MA Performance Auditions

MA Performance auditions will take place in-person over a full day, with the first round taking place in the morning and successful candidates being invited to stay for their recall the same afternoon.

For international candidates and those with exceptional circumstances, the option of an online audition is available.

There is a £50 audition fee for in-person MA Performance auditions and a £40 audition fee for online MA Performance auditions.

Please note we do not provide feedback on performance at auditions.

If you live in Southwark, you will be eligible to apply for one free audition for one of our CertHE, BA or MA Performance courses. At the start of your application, please use the drop down box to select you are applying for a free application through: Southwark fee waiver

Later in the application, click the link to the Google Form, where you can submit the relevant evidence to prove your address (e.g a bank statement, driver’s license, etc).

Once you have done this and saved your main application as a draft, our team will review your documents and come back to you to confirm your eligibility for a fee waiver.

BA Performance Auditions

Please note that the below dates are only for BA (Hons) Performance first-round auditions (Acting, Actor Musicianship and Musical Theatre). Vocational audition dates to be announced. CertHE first-round auditions will take place online, and MA Performance auditions will take place on a separate schedule. For international candidates and those with exceptional circumstances, the option of an online first-round audition is available.

When completing your application, you will be given the opportunity to select your audition location and date. Your audition is fully confirmed once you have received email confirmation from Mountview’s admissions team.

Mountview will aim to accommodate applicant preferences however please note that audition slots are available on a first-come-first-served basis. We advise early application to avoid disappointment.

If you are selected for recall following your first-round BA Performance audition, details of recall auditions will be communicated directly.

26 Feb 2024 – Birmingham (MAC) – Acting & Actor Musicianship
27 Feb 2024 – Birmingham (MAC) – Musical Theatre
28 Feb 2024 – Manchester (Z-arts) – Acting & Actor Musicianship
29 Feb 2024 – Manchester (Z-arts) – Acting, Actor Musicianship & Musical Theatre
2 Mar 2024 – Glasgow (Knightswood) – Acting, Actor Musicianship & Musical Theatre
3 Mar 2024 – Belfast (The Crescent Arts Centre) – Acting, Actor Musicianship & Musical Theatre
5 Mar 2024 – Newcastle (Marron Theatre) – Acting, Actor Musicianship & Musical Theatre
6 Mar 2024 – Exeter (Exeter Phoenix) – Acting and Actor Musicianship
7 Mar 2024 – Exeter (Cygnet Theatre) – Musical Theatre
9 Mar 2024 – Swansea (Gower College) – Acting, Actor Musicianship & Musical Theatre
11 Mar 2023 – London (The Factory) – Acting & Actor Musicianship

At this point in the audition cycle, London dates for Musical Theatre are now fully booked. When applying, please select from the remaining cities where you would like to audition. If you are unable to attend any of the remaining dates, please select:

‘My home address is in London and I am unable to attend a regional location – Digital Submission + London Waitlist’
or
‘I am unable to attend any of the regional locations – Digital Submission’

and Admissions will email you.

BA and CertHE Recalls

Successful candidates for BA and CertHE Performance courses will be invited for an in-person recall. These will take place on the following dates, and will be held at Mountview.

Acting

Thursday 4 April – first-round recalls
Friday 5 April – first-round recalls
Saturday 6 April – final day recall

Musical Theatre

Wednesday 10 April – first-round recalls
Thursday 11 April – first-round recalls
Friday 12 April – final day recall

Actor Musicianship

Thursday 25 April – first-round recalls
Friday 26 April – final day recall

CertHE Recalls

Monday 17 June – London
Tuesday 18 June – Manchester
Wednesday 19 June – Birmingham
Wednesday 26 June – Exeter

Candidates are asked to prepare:

one monologue in prose from a play written after 2000
one speech in verse (not prose) written prior to 1800
creative response

In addition to the criteria above, the classical speech may be from Shakespeare or from Elizabethan, Jacobean, Ancient Greek, Roman, Restoration or international equivalent periods. We are interested in seeing you perform a dramatic speech with complex language that is character led. If you are selecting a play in translation please ensure that it is written in poetic verse rather than a modern adaptation that simplifies the form and content. You may choose a speech in any gender.

Please note that the speeches must:

Last no longer than two minutes each
Be from published plays and should not be extracts from poems, novels, films or television scripts
Involve a character close to your own age
Be performed in your native accent

Creative Response

You will be given five articles. These vary from newspaper articles, classified adverts to images. You will be asked to choose one of these articles and submit a creative response to that article/advert or image. Your creative response can take any form you would like, but should be performance-based and have you in it. The response should be no longer than 1 ½ minutes.

Candidates are asked to prepare:

one monologue in prose from a play written after 2000
two contrasting songs
creative response

We are interested in seeing you perform a dramatic speech that is character led. Please choose a character close to your own age and perform in your own accent. You may choose a speech in any gender.

Songs can either both be from musicals or one can be from a musical and one from a genre of your choice. Please note that songs must show two contrasting vocal approaches, with one demonstrating the more classical style associated with musical theatre.

The six volumes of The Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology provide excellent selections and can be downloaded for free, but you may choose work from any musical.

Please note that the speeches must:

Last no longer than two minutes each
Be from published plays and should not be extracts from poems, novels, films or television scripts
Involve a character close to your own age
Be performed in your native accent

Please note that songs:

Must allow you to show two contrasting vocal approaches, one of which should be the more classical sounding style that can be associated with musical theatre singing.
Be performed in the key in which the music is written (the accompanist will not transpose into a different key)
Give you the opportunity to act through them
Not be from the classical repertoire (this includes opera)

Creative Response

You will be given five articles. These vary from newspaper articles, classified adverts to images. You will be asked to choose one of these articles and submit a creative response to that article/advert or image. Your creative response can take any form you would like, but should be performance-based and have you in it. The response should be no longer than 1½ minutes.

Acting candidates are asked to prepare:

one monologue in prose from a play written after 2000
one speech in verse (not prose) written prior to 1800
one physical storytelling piece (If you are auditioning in person you are not required to prepare a physical storytelling piece in advance. You will take part in a physical improvisation session on the day of your audition.)

In addition to the criteria above, the classical speech may be from Shakespeare or from Elizabethan, Jacobean, Ancient Greek, Roman, Restoration or international equivalent periods. We are interested in seeing you perform a dramatic speech with complex language that is character led. If you are selecting a play in translation please ensure that it is written in poetic verse rather than a modern adaptation that simplifies the form and content. You may choose a speech in any gender.

Speeches

You may choose a speech from any gender.

The speech in verse may be from Shakespeare or from Elizabethan, Jacobean, Ancient Greek, Roman, Restoration or international equivalent periods. We are interested in seeing you perform a dramatic speech with complex language that is character led.

If you are selecting a play that is in translation, please ensure that it is written in poetic verse rather than modern adaptation that simplifies the form and content.

Please note that the speeches must:

Last no longer than two minutes each. The panel will stop watching if monologues exceed this time limit.
Be from published plays and should not be extracts from poems, novels, films or television scripts
Involve a character close to your own age
Be performed in your own accent

Physical Storytelling

For digital submissions – Candidates will also be asked to prepare a piece of physical storytelling. You will be given a list of instructions are asked to film yourself responding to these directions. Please be aware that there is not a right or wrong way to perform this task. We are interested in how you use YOUR body to tell a story. The piece should be no more than 2 minutes long.

For in person auditions – You will participate in a physical improvisation session at your audition. There is nothing to prepare in advance.

Recalls

Following the first-round auditions, we invite a limited number of candidates back for our recall auditions. These include workshops and panel auditions. In person attendance at recalls is mandatory. Further details about recalls will be provided after your first-round audition.

Actor Musicianship candidates are asked to prepare:

one monologue in prose from a play written after 2000 AND one speech in verse (not prose) written prior to 1800
one physical storytelling piece (If you are auditioning in person you are not required to prepare a physical storytelling piece in advance. You will take part in a physical improvisation session on the day of your audition.)
two contrasting instrumental pieces on any instruments of your choice, lasting no longer than four minutes combined (you may perform both pieces on the same instrument, or two different instruments). The instrumental pieces will be submitted digitally by all candidates and you will not be required to bring your instrument to your in person audition.

Music

Please make sure your piece(s) reflect your technical capacity and current ability level.
You may make cuts if necessary to keep within the time restraints.
The pieces can be from any genre of your choosing and can be performed with or without accompaniment
Please note that for the purposes of this audition, the voice is not considered an instrument

Speeches

You may choose a speech from any gender.

The speech in verse may be from Shakespeare or from Elizabethan, Jacobean, Ancient Greek, Roman, Restoration or international equivalent periods. We are interested in seeing you perform a dramatic speech with complex language that is character led.

If you are selecting a play that is in translation, please ensure that it is written in poetic verse rather than modern adaptation that simplifies the form and content.

Please note that the speeches must:

Last no longer than two minutes each. The panel will stop watching if monologues exceed this time limit.
Be from published plays and should not be extracts from poems, novels, films or television scripts
Involve a character close to your own age
Be performed in your own accent

Physical Storytelling

For digital submissions – Candidates will also be asked to prepare a piece of physical storytelling. You will be given a list of instructions are asked to film yourself responding to these directions. Please be aware that there is not a right or wrong way to perform this task. We are interested in how you use YOUR body to tell a story. The piece should be no more than 2 minutes long.

For in person auditions – You will participate in a physical improvisation session at your audition. There is nothing to prepare in advance.

Recalls

Following the first-round auditions, we invite a limited number of candidates back for our recall auditions. These include workshops and panel auditions. In person attendance at recalls is mandatory. Further details about recalls will be provided after your first-round audition.

Musical Theatre applicants are asked to prepare:

two monologues – a classical speech in verse and contemporary monologue of your choice
two contrasting songs
one dance routine (If you are auditioning in person you are not required to prepare a dance routine in advance. You will take part in a dance workshop on the day of your audition.)

We always see all three disciplines – singing, acting and dance – as we think this is imperative in order to see your potential as a musical theatre actor.

Speeches

The speech in verse may be from Shakespeare or from Elizabethan, Jacobean, Ancient Greek, Roman, Restoration or international equivalent periods. We are interested in seeing you perform a dramatic speech with complex language that is character led. If you are selecting a play in translation please ensure that it is written in poetic verse rather than a modern adaptation that simplifies the form and content. Please choose a character close to your own age and perform in your own accent. You may choose any gender for your selection.

Please note that the speeches must:

Be a contemporary monologue from a play written after 2000, AND a classical speech in verse from a play written before 1800.
Last no longer than two minutes each – The panel may stop you if monologues exceed this time limit.
Be from a published play and should not be extracts from poems, novels, films, or television scripts.
Involve a character close to your own age.
Be performed in your own accent.

Songs

Songs can either both be from musicals or one can be from a musical and one from a genre of your choice. Please note that songs must show two contrasting vocal approaches, with one demonstrating the more classical style associated with musical theatre.

The six volumes of The Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology provide excellent selections and can be downloaded for free, but you may choose work from any musical.

Dance

For digital submissions – You will need to submit a self-tape performing a short dance routine and technical exercise. Instruction and choreography will be sent on application. The required routine will take into consideration that you may have limited space to perform at home.

For in person auditions – You will participate in a workshop in which you will learn and perform a short routine.

Recalls

Following the first-round auditions, we invite a limited number of candidates back for our recall auditions. These include workshops and panel auditions. In person attendance at recalls is mandatory. Further details about recalls will be provided after your first-round audition.

MA Acting candidates are asked to prepare:

one monologue in prose from a play written after 2000
one speech in verse (not prose) written prior to 1800
one physical storytelling piece (Please note that this is only required if you are auditioning digitally. If you are auditioning in person you will take part in a physical improvisation session on the day of your audition and are not required to prepare a physical storytelling piece in advance.)

You may select from writers including Shakespeare and his contemporaries or choose from Elizabethan, Jacobean, ancient Greek, Roman, Restoration or international equivalent periods. We are interested in seeing you perform a dramatic speech with complex language that is character led.

If you are selecting a play that is in translation please ensure that the language is written in verse and remains poetic rather than choosing a modern adaptation that may simplify the form and content. You may choose any gender for your selection.

Please note that the speeches must:

Last no longer than two minutes each. The panel will stop watching if monologues exceed this time limit
Be from published plays and should not be extracts from poems, novels, films or television scripts
Involve a character close to your own age
Be performed in your own accent

Physical Storytelling

For digital submissions – Candidates will also be asked to prepare a piece of physical storytelling. You will be given a list of instructions are asked to film yourself responding to these directions. Please be aware that there is not a right or wrong way to perform this task. We are interested in how you use YOUR body to tell a story. The piece should be no more than 2 minutes long.

For in person auditions – You will participate in a physical improvisation session at your audition. There is nothing to prepare in advance.

Recalls

We invite a limited number of candidates back for recall auditions. For those auditioning in person, these will take place in the afternoon. In person recalls include a storytelling workshop and an interview.

For those auditioning digitally, if you are recalled you will be asked to attend a Zoom recall with the Head of MA Performance for an interview and you may be asked to perform your speeches again.

MA Musical Theatre candidates are asked to prepare;

one monologue in prose from a play written after 2000
one speech in verse (not prose) written prior to 1800
two contrasting songs – both songs from a musical OR two contrasting songs, one from a musical and one from a genre of your own choice. Please choose songs that give you the opportunity to act through them

Please note that songs:

Must demonstrate two contrasting vocal approaches: a lyrical approach (associated with the term ‘legit’ in musical theatre singing) and a contemporary one. At least one song must be from a musical and one from either a musical or a genre of your own choice.
Last no longer than three minutes each. The panel will stop watching if songs exceed this time limit.
Be performed in the key in which the music is written (the accompanist will not transpose into a different key should you be recalled)
Give you the opportunity to act through them
The six volumes of The Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology (6 for each voice type: Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone and Bass) represent an excellent source of material. Songs can be selected from those volumes or chosen freely from the musical theatre repertoire, provided that the contrast in vocal approaches is displayed.

Recalls

We invite a limited number of candidates back for recall auditions. For those auditioning in person, these will take place in the afternoon. In person recalls include a dance workshop, an acting through song workshop and interviews.

For those auditioning digitally, if you are recalled you will be asked to submit a self-tape performing a short dance routine. Instruction and choreography will be sent to you by the Admissions Team. The required routine will take into consideration that you may have limited space to perform at home. You will also be required to attend a Zoom interview with the Head of MA Performance.

Interviews are conducted for MA Creative Producing, MA Musical Direction, MA Theatre for Community and Education, MA Site-Specific Theatre Practice, MA Theatre Directing and all Production Arts courses.

All Production Arts candidates will take part in a first-round interview with senior course tutors, at which you will discuss your interests, influences and production arts experience. You will be required to submit examples of work. This will be either online or, if possible, at Mountview with the opportunity to meet staff and students and tour our building and theatres.

There is no application fee for Production Arts courses.

You will take part in an online or in-person interview with the course leader at which you will discuss your interests, influences and previous experience. You may be required to submit a portfolio of work.

There is no application fee for these courses.

You will take part in an interview with the course leader at which you will discuss your interests, influences and previous experience. This will take place in-person at Mountview and you may be required to submit a portfolio of work.

For international candidates and those with exceptional circumstances, the option of an online interview is available.

For Musical Direction you will attend an audition at which you will perform two pieces that you have pre-prepared (1 classical and 1 musical theatre), sight-read, coach a singer and conclude with a short interview. More information will be provided once your application has been received.

There is a £20 application fee for these courses.