Oxford School of Drama decreases audition fees to remove ‘financial barriers’
Hattie Fisk
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
The move comes after a number of schools have reduced their audition fees over the past year, including Guildford School of Acting and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
Oxford School of Drama
The Oxford School of Drama has reduced its audition fees to remove ‘financial barriers’ and increase access for future applicants.
The decrease is offered in addition to an audition-fee waiver, which is open to anyone and is now operating in its second year.
The school has previously charged all applicants with a £45 audition fee, which is now £15 for the initial self-tape audition, with a further £30 payable for those who are invited to audition recalls. The recalls are held in person at the Oxford School of Drama and include a workshop alongside an individual audition with a panel.
Executive director Liz Wilson said: 'We want to make sure everyone can get access to training, so we’re working hard to ensure that the financial barriers for some applicants can be removed.’
The Oxford School of Drama's principal, Edward Hicks, told D&T: 'We are aware that the cost of drama school training can be a barrier for a great many applicants. While we are fortunate that the Dada Scheme has helped our students enormously as it’s able to cover the training, the auditioning costs still remain a barrier for a great many applicants.
'With a mission to embrace difference and celebrate the individual, ensuring the industry reflects the multi-cultural, diverse and eclectic characters that are integral to the arts, we have reduced the cost of the first round to £15 hoping to encourage even more people to apply who perhaps had ruled it out previously.
'While those who get through to the second round will have to pay a further £30, they will get to attend a further audition which will also include a workshop and there’s no additional fee for the third and final round. We have further increased the number of free audition waivers that applicants can apply for to also help with the cost.'
This follows the decision from Guildford School of Acting to reduce fees for the first round of their auditions in an aim to increase diversity and access. The school’s initial £55 audition fee was reduced to £15, with an additional £30 charged for those who progress to a recall workshop day.
In January, RADA reduced their application fees to a maximum of £34, which previously could have been up to £76; applicants from low-income households and care-leavers do not have to pay this fee.
Applications open at 10am today for the Oxford School of Drama's September 2022 intake – visit the school's website for more information about their audition process.
