Neil Rutherford is Head of Casting for the Ambassador Theatre Group, one of the UK's leading theatre producers and theatre owners, where he has cast numerous plays and musicals for West End, regional and International productions. He shares with us his top audition DOs and DON'Ts.Neil Rutherford is Head of Casting for the Ambassador Theatre Group, one of the UK's leading theatre producers and theatre owners, where he has cast numerous plays and musicals for West End, regional and International productions. He shares with us his top audition DOs and DON'Ts.
DO remember that the audition panel want you to be fabulous. We do not want to spend a day seeing 100 people and having no one to cast at the end of it!
DO be respectful to everyone you meet at the audition. Even the person greeting you at the front desk may have a role in deciding the outcome of your audition.
DO keep focused and alert from the minute you arrive at your audition (and preferably before).
DON'T ever be late to an audition, but if you are, either call the audition venue, or your agent giving your estimated arrival time.
DON'T make excuses for a poor audition
DON'T wear a ‘costume' or outlandish clothing to an audition unless you are specifically asked to. Plain, black and neutral is best.
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Great advice, except perhaps for the clothing DON’T.
I dont recall over many years as a producer any actor wearing a costume, but certainly you can wear clothes that reflect you and your personality. It often aids recall at the end of the day – you know – the woman who wore the red dress etc etc. If everyone turns up in plain black and neutral it would be a dull day of auditions!
well every casting I sit on I hear the top directors say why don’t these guys show us there personality its sooo boring looking round the venue of drab clothing then someone walks in with ared tshirt thank god