Auditioning for Contemporary Performance Practice - RCS

Contemporary Performance Practice - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

This is some information on the application and audition process for Contemporary Performance Practice at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, this information is true to me and at time of writing. It is always best to read their website/social media channels for the most accurate information, given the circumstances we are in living in.
Good luck and I hope this helps!

The CPP course in a nutshell is: 

-Multidisciplinary art forms (performance, live art, music, dance, comedy, circus, using media and photography)
-Intensive
-Explorative
-Collaborative
-Taking what you know about the world and tearing it up, challenging it and questioning it to put out the best version of yourself through art
-Making changes in yourself, the community and the world…
-Safe environment to explore all kinds of issues, beliefs and politics
-Smaller class sizes, 12-18
-up to 1000 international and national applicants each year 

Who is it for? 

-Performance makers
-Musicians
-Poets
-Writers
-Directors
-Dancers -
Teachers
-Cultural Leaders
-Facilitators
-Live Artists

“At the core of CPP is a commitment to the sustainability and social function of performance and how it can be ‘an act of community”

What will you study? 

-Non traditional theatre
-Self-awareness
-Multimedia art
-Movement
-Voice
-Art in educational contexts
-Site Specific
-Directing
-Social art practices
-Research & Understanding
-Documentation & Marketing
-Image
-Actions
-Text
-Sound 

"Contemporary Performance Practice encourages students to claim their education and develop their unique arts practice to make a difference in the world”

Once you have applied via Ucas Conservatoires you may be invited for audition, if that happens this is what a typical audition day looks like.
There is a fee for applying and auditioning, £26 for the initial application and a further £55 for course applied too, so for example if you are applying for both CPP and Acting then it will be upwards of £100.

The Selection Process 

The Selection Process has three stages; the workshop, the written exercise and the interview.
Each stage is concerned with gathering information which will give them the best possible indication of your suitability for the programme. It also gives you time to discover whether they are right for you!
Workshop.
The workshop will take place in the morning. It lasts approximately 3 hours and involves all candidates. Three lecturers, normally including the Head of Performance Pedagogy, will work with you. They try to make this stage as non-competitive as possible, because they would like the opportunity to see you working with other people. You cannot prepare for this session other than taking part and enjoying yourself! The workshop will include exercises and activities, which will allow them to see some of the following:
Your performance skills.
Your vocal skills.
Your movement skills.
Your listening skills.
Your ability to work co-operatively and collaboratively with others.
Your creativity and imagination.
Written Exercise.
On the day of the audition you should bring a short Performance Analysis that you have written. You should submit your Performance Analysis when you arrive at Conservatoire. You are invited to write about a live performance event you have seen recently, saying what you found effective about it and why. You are asked to explain why this performance was an important experience for you. The written Performance Analysis will give us an indication of your ability to communicate your ideas about performance in good written English. You are advised to write about a live performance event which you feel strongly about. Your Performance Analysis should be no longer than 500 words and must be all your own work. 

Performance Piece. 

• You will be invited to prepare an original, devised performance piece using the visual stimulus sent to you previously. You may, if you wish, choose elements from any or all of the pictures. They are random pictures but you may see a connection in them and wish to explore that.

• The piece must last no more than 3 minutes, so rehearse and time yourself.

• It does not have to be naturalistic or ‘tell a ‘story’.

• The main thing to avoid is performing a ‘talking head’. In other words don’t just perform a spoken monologue in character without any of the ideas below. Try, as far as possible to turn your ideas into performed images.

• Try to give your piece a structure (even though it’s only 3 minutes) for example, you may begin and end with the same ‘moment’ in time.

• It is also best to avoid using characters from plays etc in the work you are making unless there is justifiable reason for this.

• Your piece may also involve props etc if absolutely required but be prepared to answer questions about your choices.

• If using music or technology in your piece, have this ready to go. Do not waste time setting up a cd player etc.

  The interview.
  If you are invited back for an interview your name will be posted on a sheet outside the room you had your audition in. Not everyone makes it to interview stage, so if your name isn’t on the list then unfortunately it is not for you this time round. Interview does not mean you are automatically given a place on the course. 

  The interview will take place during the afternoon of the same day, normally conducted by the Head of Performance Pedagogy and other CPP lecturers.

  The interview will look for, amongst other things:

• Your ability to communicate your ideas about performance.

• Your understanding of contemporary performance work.

• What you want to do in performance in the future.

• What your previous experiences of performance have been

• Why you think performance matters in the world today

• You will also be given the opportunity to present a portfolio or other evidence of your experience and interest.

  In the interview don’t try to give the replies that you think they want or think will impress them.
  Be yourself, and answer honestly.
  The course places huge importance on being yourself and how valid that is, so let them see that from the interview stage. 

Good luck!

P.S If you want to see how the CPP course changed my life, head over and check out that blog post.