It’s no marvel that many actors discover Shakespeare intimidating. There’s a cultural narrative (backed by a historical past of exclusion and imperialism) that Shakespeare is the province of the rich and elitist. This was not the way in which the textual content originated, nor ought to or not it’s the way in which it’s carried out and loved in the present day.
With the appropriate instruments, Shakespeare can and needs to be accessible to everybody. And what higher place to start out for an actor than auditioning for Shakespeare?
Listed here are 5 tricks to nail your Shakespeare auditions.
86 Your Shakespeare Preconceptions
The most important enemy of performing Shakespeare is the stress we are likely to placed on it. In his day, Shakespeare’s performs have been loved by all courses, usually written to be widespread leisure.
Making the textual content so treasured strips it of its potential to achieve the viewers. You possibly can’t root a efficiency in authenticity for those who’re apprehensive about fulfilling some idea of what Shakespeare is “presupposed to” sound like. Actors who fall sufferer to this will subconsciously placed on the dreaded “Shakespeare voice,” adopting an assumed gravitas and even quasi-British inflection international to their pure voice. Bear in mind, nobody is hiring you to current Shakespeare–they nonetheless need you to behave it. Identical to another work, your interpretation and embodiment should take priority over any historic takes on the textual content.
Methods to Select a Monologue for Shakespeare
When you’re attending common auditions for a Shakespeare firm, the above sentiments are significantly essential to bear in mind whereas selecting your audition items. When you don’t know the place to start out, my greatest recommendation is to avoid the tremendous well-known monologues (To be or to not be, Girl M’s mad speech, and so on.) but in addition keep away from overthinking it and making an attempt to decide on one thing fully obscure. Particularly for those who’re auditioning for a Shakespeare firm or a director well-versed in Shakespeare, because it’s unlikely you’ll discover a piece they’ve by no means heard.
There are solely so many performs to select from and the favored ones are widespread for a purpose. Lastly, for those who’re fairly snug with Shakespeare and simply trying to shake the mud off, do not forget that all guidelines will be damaged. If you already know in your soul you may slay that one tremendous well-known monologue, that’s extra essential than killing your self making an attempt to decide on the “excellent” piece.
Know Methods to Learn Shakespearean Sides
Figuring out how one can strategy sides, each given upfront and encountered throughout chilly reads, may give you a major leg up. In fact, when you’ve got time, scanning iambic pentameter and evaluating the Folger to the folio can present perception and discovery.
Nonetheless, for those who’re coping with a quick turnaround or a chilly learn, have your methods in place to compress the method. Learn it as soon as by means of to get the movement and common concept of it, then circle any phrases or references you don’t know and look these up. It can make a distinction for those who perceive each phrase you’re saying versus getting the final gist.
Punctuation is a large indicator of tempo and form in Shakespeare. Any full stops (durations, exclamation factors, even questions) needs to be honored. Use these as your beat shifts and be aware the shift in thought, tone, and tactic. Don’t neglect to use all of your regular instruments: combating on your goal continues to be extra essential than portray with flowery textual content.
Put it within the Bard’s Textual content
One other nice technique to bear in mind is to place it within the textual content. Versus, say, Chekov, who lives and breathes subtext, Shakespeare is commonly saying precisely what his characters imply.
If they are saying “This hair I tear is mine,” (King John, Act 3 Scene 4) they don’t seem to be talking metaphorically. That character has been in such misery that hair has been torn from her head. Honoring the total breadth of the stakes and preserving the majority of your ideas and discoveries on the textual content versus between the strains will go a good distance in direction of preserving your efficiency lively and sincere.
Discover the Enjoyable
Shakespeare is enjoyable! His performs are as irreverent, soiled and goofy as they’re poignant and tragic. Discover and uplift what feels actual, private and thrilling.
These performs have been carried out for 400 years. Moderately than discovering that confining, I believe there generally is a sense of freedom in that. Chances are high, no matter decisions you’re agonizing over have been made many occasions earlier than, and worth has been present in a number of interpretations. So discover the one which speaks to you, and go in with confidence.
This text initially appeared on Casting Networks.
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Written by Rachel Frawley
