Today we will discuss monologue. What is a monologue? How to prepare a monologue before an audition Monologues are speeches delivered by a single character, often to express their thoughts. Occasionally, they may speak directly to another character or the audience. In both dramatic and non-dramatic forms of literature, such as poetry, monologues are prevalent.
Tips for preparing your best voice
You must be able to deliver monologues on-demand if you’re an actor or aspire to be one. Casting directors, interviewers for school entry, and agents frequently request that you do a monologue. Choose a monologue that fits you and your degree of experience to kick off your preparation. Put the monologue in context to better grasp its emotional impact before learning it by heart. Make sure your speech is polished and ready to go before you leave. Below are some tips on how to prepare a monologue. Jump to steps one and two:
- Select a favourite monologue: When choosing your monologue, choose something you are passionate about since it will come across in your performance. Your speech will reflect your enthusiasm.
- Choose a composition that seamlessly switches between various emotions. A speech with only one note doesn’t fully showcase your acting skills. Instead, seek out material that veers between several emotions because this will better showcase your talent.
For example, choose something that won’t make you cry the entire time. Try something else instead, like something that makes you angry one minute and cry the next.
- Take a look at dramatic writing to inspire your monologue—don’t pick a sonnet or piece of poetry, for example, as that doesn’t adequately teach your audience about how you present theatrical works. If nothing else is supplied, pick a text that is intended to be performed in a dramatic setting.
In the same way, avoid selecting a piece that was either written by the author themselves or that is included as a stand-alone in a monologue book. If the casting director or agency doesn’t specify something specific, be sure it’s from a play, musical, or film or television. The “To Be or Not to Be” speech from Hamlet is an illustration of a classic monologue.
- Two monologues should be prepared for auditions. You should have a few memorised that you can use whenever, even though it can be beneficial to select certain ones for various auditions. Be ready at all times since you could need one on short notice. Make an effort to prepare two monologues: one classical and one more modern, often from the previous 50 years or more. Choose monologues that are at odds with one another. In other words, you shouldn’t pick two monologues that are both depressing, since that won’t allow you to demonstrate your abilities to their fullest. Alternatively, choose two that appeal to various emotions and are written in various modes. A monologue can also be requested if you read lines during an audition. You may then demonstrate your abilities in that way.
- To gain a sense of the speech, mentally perform it two or three times. Read the entire monologue, chunk by chunk. Do not rush through it. As you read, consider what you’re reading and attempt to understand the words and sentences. You can get more comfortable with the monologue by doing this step. Any unfamiliar terms should be looked up so you can quickly learn how to pronounce them.
- View the entire play. While you may read the entire play, you can also just skim the surface and get a sense of it. Online, check out each character’s biography and the narrative. Try reading the first scene, and be sure to finish the part when your speech occurs. To gain a sense of the setting, you can try looking through some of the more well-known moments.
- Rewrite the speech by hand. When you are reading over it word by word, writing it down numerous times is an excellent way to help you remember the words. Just be sure to read what you’re drafting carefully and avoid writing anything off the top of your head.
- View your progress by recording a video of yourself. Play back the video of yourself reading your monologue after it has been recorded. Make notes now on how you can do better, then include those modifications in your monologue. You could find out that you have an anxious habit like twisting your hair, which doesn’t exactly match the situation. Alternately, you could discover that you need to project a bit louder so the audience can hear you. Don’t forget to keep track of your successes! If a gesture looks amazing, congratulate yourself and include it in your speech.
