Finding good audition speeches is not always easy, especially for younger actors. Few plays today have good parts for sixteen to eighteen year olds and yet most examiners and auditioners expect candidates to present characters "with their own age groups and capabilities".
In this book Jean Marlow has selected a wide variety of speeches or the sixteen to eighteen year old age group. Extracts are taken from a range of plays including Sheridan's 'The Rivals', Tom Stoppard's 'Arcadia', Shelagh Stephenson's 'Ancient Lights', and Martin McDonagh's 'The Cripple Inishmaan'.
In addition there is some excellent advice from directors, casting directors, actors and teachers, including:
- Royal National Theatre director, Roland Rees
- Singing teacher Tona de Brett, whose pupils have included Martine McCutcheon, Dido and Johnny Rotten
- Valerie King - examiner for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA)
- Tim Reynolds - Principal of The Academy Drama School