Auditioning

From a leading casting director of the stage and screen comes this book on the craft of auditioning, either for work within the theatre industry or for a place at drama school.

Auditions are often the most feared aspect of being an actor, it seems. Yet casting directors, the author points out, are on the side of everyone who auditions for them - they want you to do well, to give casting directors and directors tough decisions to make.

The author's insights and reassurances throughout this book provide a little-seen glimpse into the process, helping you to understand how casting directors and their clients view the process and what purpose the audition serves.

Unlike other books on auditioning, this book prioritizes discussions around mental health, #MeToo, diversity in casting and the safe use of social media - very much a post-pandemic landscape

Sam Stevenson draws on her rich experience, particularly in the context of productions at the National Theatre, including Hedda Gabler, The Great Wave, Translations, Home, I'm Darling and Ugly Lies the Bone - to delve into sets of challenges and possibilities that you might face in the audition room.

While the overall focus is on auditioning for theatre work within the UK, the author signposts where the same process applies for screen auditions and for working abroad, making this book maximally useful to a portfolio career.

This book helps bridge the gap between you and the people who are making the decisions, to help it feel like a less scary process.