WELCOME TO THE SAS SPOTLIGHT – YOUR GO-TO HUB FOR ASPIRING ACTORS

Here you’ll find tips, insights, and resources to help you grow your craft, prepare for auditions, and build a sustainable career in the performing arts. From behind-the-scenes advice to industry updates, The Spotlight is where your acting journey takes centre stage.

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HOW THE HSC CAN PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR DRAMA SCHOOL AUDITION.

So you’ve finished your HSC Drama Exams – congratulations! In and amongst all the excitement (and relief!), we’re sure you’re beginning to wonder: what’s next? For some of you, you may have been dreaming of the stage and screen all your life. For others, perhaps it was the Drama HSC that ignited a newfound passion for all things acting. Regardless, that ominous question still stands: what’s next? Most of you will have heard about, visited, looked into, and perhaps actively reached out to Drama Schools across the country. But what would a future at Acting School really look like for you?

The most daunting part of any Acting School application is, of course, the audition. Acting Schools can be very selective and go through a rigorous acceptance process. While this may fill you with apprehension (or in some cases, extreme dread!) – guess what? If you performed a monologue for your Drama IP, you already have all the tools and techniques at your disposal to get you into that audition room and to nail your performances!

Auditioning for the Diploma of Screen and Media at Sydney Actors School means you have to prepare two monologues: one for stage and one for screen. The first round of our auditions involves a self-tape submission. This means that you set up your phone, stand in front of a blank wall, and perform your monologue to the camera. It’s as simple as that! If you’ve never performed a monologue to screen before – don’t worry! The same tools and techniques you will have practised for your stage monologue still apply here. You’ve already workshopped and performed a monologue before, so we can guarantee you know more than you think you do.

If you would like to have a look at our audition monologues and instructions, you can do so here. Why not film a practice tape? Our Director of Education, Rebecca Johnston, always suggests that aspiring actors put themselves on tape as much as they can. It’s a free way to get some practice in, and potentially some feedback as well. Especially as you may not have had much screen experience just from High School Drama alone.

If, after your first self-tape, you are asked to come in for a callback audition, this next round takes place in the room, and most of the time with other auditionees. We run our callback auditions like a workshop, or a mini-class: you do a warmup, work with one of our tutors on your piece, and work alongside your fellow auditionees. This may be where some of the nerves begin to kick in, but you’ve already memorised and performed a monologue in front of an audience (and an arguably scarier examination panel!) before, so you know that you can do it!

A good way to combat any stage fright is to focus on your preparation. Your character work, your script work, your voice and movement practice. These are all things that you would have worked on during your HSC. When you’re looking at your audition monologues, try and think about:

What are the beats of the text? When does the tone shift and change?
What do I want from the other person? (Remember: acting is not passive! You are trying to affect the other person in some way – make an active choice!)
How does this character sound or move? How is it similar to or different to me?
Why is it important for the character to be saying this?

There is no right or wrong answer to any of these questions, especially in the safety of the rehearsal room. We’re not concerned about whether or not you’ve made the “right” choice – we just want to see that you’ve made a choice to begin with. These are questions you would have asked during your preparation for your HSC monologue, so you’re already familiar with this work

Hot Tip: Make sure you research the play or film your monologue comes from! Who wrote it, what’s the context of the scene, who is this person, who are they talking to, etc? While there are no right or wrong acting choices, it’s important that any choice you make is informed by your research on the text.

Lastly, and most importantly, when you come into the audition room, we want you to be focused, present, and relaxed. All of this comes from breath work – taking some deep breaths beforehand can really help to ground you in the space. We know you might be nervous, and that’s okay too! We just want to chat and work with you so we can get to know you better and find out what makes you so special as an actor. We’re not looking for who performs the “best” monologue (because really, what does that even mean?) – we’re looking for people who are open to feedback, can take on direction, are passionate and excited about the work. Have confidence in yourself and the work you’re bringing to the room. And, as cliché as it sounds, don’t forget to have fun.

You can find out more about Sydney Actors School and the courses we have on offer at the About page of our website. And good news! Applications for our 2026 intakes are OPEN NOW! Head to this link to apply today, and begin using your HSC drama skills in the professional Australian acting and film industry.

ACTING SCHOOL IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT!

There truly is no place like acting school. Where else are you going to be able to completely fill your days with acting and filmmaking? Where else are you going to have the freedom to experiment creatively, break down all your inhibitions, and thrive in the safety of the rehearsal space? While there is no shortage of inspirational quotes on the internet (one scroll through Pinterest and the inspirational-quote-quota of the day is reached), there is one that rings true for Acting School: you get out what you put in. While that quote has been adapted over the years to mean numerous different things in a multitude of contexts, for us, it is simple. The more work and energy you put into the courses, the more you gain from the experience. This can be true in relation to your techniques, your industry connections, your secondary skills, or your general preparedness after graduation.

Over your time at Sydney Actors School, you are exposed to many different acting methodologies and techniques. Aside from your foundational classes, which you begin from day one, you also partake in many specialist classes during your studies. From Fighting for Film, Lucid Body, Accents, High Stakes Voice – your training is incredibly diverse and well-rounded. This is specifically designed so that you can build up your personal toolkit and find out which techniques work for you.

Perhaps animal work in Improvisation is the most effective way to develop a character. Or perhaps Laban makes the most sense to you. Everyone is different! The only way you can figure out what works for you is by committing completely to the training. Give everything a go, even just once. Don’t reject a technique or process just because it might be unfamiliar. Sit with the discomfort, even for just a second – oftentimes that’s where the real growth happens. To repeat the Improvisation mantra: “Yes, and!”

The tutors are there to guide you through these experiences as you build up your actor’s toolkit. They are all industry-working professionals at the top of their field, and they want to see you succeed. Our smaller class sizes are specifically designed to give you more one-on-one time with them. Use them! Ask them questions, and actively seek their feedback. Don’t be afraid of criticism – embrace it. It will only make you a stronger actor. Not to mention, someone that our tutors may want to work with in the years to come. Remember, between our tutors and staff, you’re constantly around industry professionals. Every day is an opportunity to build those industry relationships.

Check out our interview with director Janine Watson, who directed our 2024 Second Year Graduation Play, ‘Separate Tables’. She discusses her working methods, rehearsal process, and what it is like working with the students at Sydney Actors School.

So you’re showing up to class on time, you’re putting in the work, you’re submitting all the projects and assessments on time – what else? What more could you be doing as you (to put it in acting terms) passionately pursue your objective?

There is so much opportunity for growth outside of regular class time. You are lucky enough to have access to the rehearsal spaces and equipment after class time. You can use that to your advantage! Practise, rehearse, create outside of class time! Take what you learn in class and hone those skills. Get to the rehearsal room early before class to warm up! While being attentive and participating in class is critical, warming up is an important part of your acting training. It helps you to be your most present and relaxed self, and be ready for the work when class begins. Helping you get the most out of your training. Again, you get out what you put in. Your training doesn’t end at 5 pm, nor does it end when you graduate. It’s an ongoing, lifelong process. Studying at an acting school is the perfect time to get into that habit.

During your time at Sydney Actors School, you are treated as professionals under the tutelage of professionals. While this comes with expectations of professional conduct from you, the student, in the rehearsal room, you are free to make mistakes. This is the place to experiment, throw caution to the wind, find what works for you and what doesn’t and, in the words of the late great Kevin Jackson, one of the original SAS Acting tutors, to “fail gloriously”. You might never get a chance like this again, so make the most of it.

You can find out more about Sydney Actors School and the courses we have on offer at the About page of our website. Applications for our 2026 intakes are OPEN NOW! Head to this link to apply today and begin making the most of your acting school journey.