How to Get Into Drama School in the UK: A Practical Guide for 2027

1. Choose the right drama schools, not just the most famous ones

We completely understand wanting to apply to RADA, LAMDA, Central or ArtsEd. They're well-known for a reason.

But different institutions and courses can approach training in quite different ways. Some have a strong emphasis on classical work, others on screen performance, ensemble skills, musical theatre or creating original work.

Start by asking yourself what you actually enjoy. Do you want to focus on acting or musical theatre? Are you excited by intensive conservatoire training, or would a different university environment suit you? Could you imagine living and studying in that city?

Then look at the practical questions: tuition fees, living costs, funding, access to facilities and support for students.

Where possible, attend an open day and speak to current students or recent graduates. Ask what an ordinary week looks like and what surprised them once they started.

The right school for you isn't necessarily the one with the biggest name.

2. Check the requirements for every course

This step sounds boring until somebody discovers they've spent weeks preparing a speech that isn't acceptable for a particular school.

Different schools can require different forms, speeches, self-tapes, interview stages and deadlines. They can also have different rules about the date a play was written, which speeches are acceptable and how long each performance may be.

Look at the official course pages rather than relying on a social media comment from a previous application cycle:

• RADA — BA (Hons) Acting
• LAMDA — BA (Hons) Professional Acting
• ArtsEd — undergraduate acting

Make a simple spreadsheet for each school with the exact course, deadline, required material, fees, next steps and links to the original instructions.

Don't assume two speeches will work for every audition. And check the information again shortly before submitting; schools can change their procedures.

3. Find monologues that suit you

Please don't choose a speech simply because a list online calls it the 'best monologue for RADA'.

There isn't one magical piece that gets everybody into drama school.

Choose published material that meets the school's requirements, gives you something interesting to work with and feels appropriate to your current casting and experience. Read the full play.

Ask yourself what your character wants, who they're speaking to and why they need to say these words now. Look for the moments where their tactics change.

Perhaps they begin by trying to make someone laugh, realise that isn't working and finally decide to tell the truth. That shift can be far more interesting than delivering a speech in one emotional tone.

Try not to build every beat around a pre-planned pause or an attempt to cry. You're trying to affect another person, not demonstrate a collection of acting tricks.

For practical ways to choose contrasting material, read our guide to drama-school audition monologues.

4. Get used to filming yourself

Self-tapes are part of many application processes and are worth practising before you receive an actual submission deadline.

You don't need an expensive camera. Start with a quiet room, a simple background, a phone at a sensible height and clear sound.

Record one of your speeches. Watch it back and ask whether you're really speaking to somebody or just presenting the text to the lens.

Try performing it a second time with a different objective. Which version feels more alive? What changes when you genuinely listen to a reader?

If you'd like more help, we've written a practical guide to filming an acting self-tape. ReAct also offers professional self-tape support when you want a reader, direction and a suitable filming setup.

Whatever equipment you use, follow the school's specific technical instructions above general advice.

5. Practise being directed

This is one of the most useful things you can do before an audition.

You might arrive with carefully prepared monologues and then be asked to try something different. That doesn't mean your original performance was wrong. A panel may simply be interested in how you think, listen and adapt.

Ask a friend, teacher or acting coach to give you different directions after a complete performance.

Try the speech as though your character is concealing something. Then try it as though they're desperately trying to reassure the person they're talking to. Don't change the words.

Some choices will feel strange at first. That's fine. The aim is to become less protective of your rehearsed version and more willing to play.

We work on exactly this kind of flexibility in our weekly drama-school preparation class in Islington.

6. Be yourself in interviews

Depending on the school and audition stage, you may be asked about your interests, your training ambitions or performances you've seen.

You don't need to invent a dramatic story about wanting to become an actor from the age of four. You do need to think honestly about why you want to spend several years doing intensive training.

See theatre where you can, read plays, watch good screen performances and develop opinions about the work. If something didn't connect with you, it's fine to say so and explain why.

Practice interviews with someone who doesn't know your answers. Ask them to follow up rather than simply read a fixed list of questions. You want to get comfortable thinking on your feet.

7. Start training before the audition invitation arrives

Don't wait until you're under deadline pressure to learn how to audition.

Work on text regularly, get used to performing in front of people, rehearse with other actors and ask for specific feedback from someone you trust.

There is value in private coaching, especially for tricky material, but it's also worth being part of a class where you can make mistakes, take direction and learn from other performers.

At ReAct, our working-actor tutors bring recent experience of professional training and the industry. We combine weekly group preparation with individual mentoring and self-tape opportunities. The aim is to help you become a better actor, rather than somebody who's just memorised two impressive speeches.

8. Research the financial side early

Drama-school applications can become expensive. There may be application or audition fees, travel costs and accommodation if you have to attend in person. If you're successful, tuition and living costs matter too.

Some schools offer fee waivers, access programmes, bursaries or other support for eligible applicants. Check the current information directly with each institution and don't assume you're ineligible without looking.

Make a realistic budget for the schools you're considering. It may change which auditions you prioritise, and that's a sensible part of planning, not a lack of ambition.

9. Rejection doesn't decide whether you're a good actor

Drama-school places are competitive. A rejection is disappointing, particularly when you've put a lot of yourself into the audition, but it isn't a final judgement on whether you're capable of becoming an actor.

Different panels, courses and cohorts have different needs. There can be more talented applicants than available places.

If you aren't offered a place, be honest about what you can improve without treating the result as your whole identity. Was your material appropriate? Did you struggle with redirection? Were you trying to be what you thought a panel wanted?

Keep working, ask for feedback where it's available and decide whether reapplying is right for you.

10. Make a plan that you can actually follow

Start this week with three things:

1. Shortlist the courses you're genuinely interested in and save their official requirements.
2. Read some full plays and begin exploring suitable audition material.
3. Find regular opportunities to perform, take feedback and practise new choices.

Then build towards filmed mock auditions, interviews and work with direction. Our 12-week drama-school audition preparation plan gives you a realistic structure.

You don't need every detail sorted immediately. You do need to start.

Come and prepare with us in Islington

ReAct Theatre Co. is a small, passionate team of working actors who want to help aspiring performers find the right training and improve their chances of showing their best work.

Our weekly drama-school preparation class covers classical and contemporary monologues, self-tapes, interviews, redirection and regular 1-to-1 mentoring. It's designed primarily for people aged 16+ considering professional training.

Nobody can honestly promise you a place at RADA, LAMDA or anywhere else. What we can promise is that we'll take your ambition seriously and give you a proper opportunity to develop.

If you're thinking about applying, we'd love you to come along and try a session. Meet the team, get some feedback and see how you find it.

See the Wednesday class in Islington and express your interest.

Application criteria, audition instructions, dates and funding schemes may change. Always check the relevant school's official guidance for your chosen course and entry year.