VIDEO - Top 6 Dos and Don'ts of Slating for Shakespeare Auditions

When you introduce your piece for an audition, that's called a "slate" - and as part of your first impression in an audition, it needs to be on point!

Here are my Top 6 Dos and Don'ts of Slating for Shakespeare Auditions, explained in this quick video:

DO tell the casting personnel which character you're going to be portraying before you begin your piece.

DON'T give them the character's backstory, or explain what's happening in the scene.

DO tell them which play your character is in - but only if there is more than one character with that name in the canon (for example, Helena of A Midsummer Night's Dream vs Helena of All's Well That Ends Well), or if the character appears in more than one play (Marc Antony in Julius Caesar or Antony & Cleopatra).

DON'T give the act and the scene number. The casting directors have probably heard your piece before - maybe even today.

DO make sure you're pronouncing things correctly. Shakespeare has some tricky names for his characters, so be sure you've done your research! This is a simple thing that is overlooked surprisingly often.

DO remember to practice your slate, just like you would practice your monologue. It's part of your audition, and deserves attention!

Did any of these Dos and Don'ts surprise you? Let me know in the comments!

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