starting out

182 articles
Getting Work
An Actor’s Guide to Audition Prep

The actor’s guide to successful preparation to ace that upcoming audition.

audition prep
auditions
starting out
The Essentials
How to Approach a Small Theatre Company

Want to make theatre with a local company? Here’s how to get started. Whether you’re looking for that vital last credit for your Spotlight membership application or just love theatre (and don’t quite know how to get the Old Vic’s attention!), approaching small theatre companies can be a great way to gain a foot in […]

christina care
soft skills
starting out
Training
Everything You Need to Know About Rep Theatre

The ins and outs of performing rep theatre. What do Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Imelda Staunton, and Vanessa Redgrave have in common – other than being some of the best names in the biz? They all began as actors in repertory theatre. For those privileged to have experienced thorough drama-school training, the challenges […]

christina care
starting out
theatre
Spotlight
Your Top 5 Questions Answered

We’re always looking out for ways to help new members settle in at Spotlight, making our recent Welcome Evening the perfect opportunity to find out what questions our new members have. Here are just a few popular questions we get asked about how to make the most of your Spotlight membership: How do I self-submit? […]

auditions
showreels
starting out
Getting Work
How to Start Your Career in L.A.

Domenique Fragale is a graduate of Arts Educational Schools and holds both US and UK citizenship. Working as an actress in both LA and London, Domenique offers her top advice for getting started in LA. “If you can imagine yourself doing anything other than acting, do that instead.” This was the best piece of advice I was ever […]

first person
starting out
usa
Getting Work
Aidan Turner on: How to Get Cast

Aidan Turner, star of Poldark and The Hobbit talked to Spotlight at the Subtitle Film Festival in Kilkenny about how to get started in the industry, his best audition, advice for actors, and more. Header photo credit: BBC Store ©

auditions
ireland
starting out
Spotlight
A Casting Director’s Spotlight Profile Tips

Expert tips from a casting director on how to make your profile stand out and get discovered. Every actor knows that if they aren’t on Spotlight then they might as well not be in the business. It is the best artist directory in the world… and I’m not just saying that because I’m writing this […]

casting directors
spotlight profile
starting out
Training
How to: Audition for Drama School

Deciding to audition for drama school is a great show of someone’s determination and passion to begin the path of following your dream but (and this is a big but) getting in to drama school is not the only path you could take to follow desire to become a successful actor. When I started auditioning for drama schools […]

auditions
drama school
starting out
Spotlight
What can Spotlight do for you?

Domenique Fragale trained at Arts Educational Schools and splits her time between London and L.A.. Here, she discusses all the recent developments at Spotlight. As actors and members of the entertainment industry we’re used to change, and in celebration of Spotlight’s new and improved website and refurbished studios, I delved deeper and explored how this new advancement can benefit performers. […]

news
starting out
The Essentials
Spotlight Prize 2024 screen prize winner Senam Akpokavi performing his monologue on stage at the showcase
The Mono Box: 8 Steps to Choosing a Monologue

For many actors, the quest to find a good monologue is an ongoing drama. When you have only 2 minutes to convince a panel of your acting skill and place in the industry, finding a speech can mean spending hours on bookshop floors skimming pages for long sections of text, and buying random plays online […]

monologues
soft skills
starting out