Hurtwood House School

Performing Art

Hurtwood House offers a limited number of two-year A-Level Performing Arts scholarships in September with auditions to be held in February, one at 50% of the fees, two at 25% of the fees and three at £1000 per term. The major scholarships are awarded to students auditioning in all three of the disciplines – acting, singing and dance.  The three scholarships of £1000 per term will be awarded to students auditioning in the following disciplines:

• Acting and dance
• Acting and singing
• Acting only. 

It is not possible to audition for dancing and singing only. 
 
Clearly, we are not expecting students of this age to have received any formal vocational training but we are looking for evidence of outstanding talent and natural skills. We are looking for young people with enthusiasm and commitment who would make a positive contribution to the Hurtwood Theatre during their time here.

Scholarships are awarded for the full two-year period of the student's A-Levels but will be subject to review at the end of the first year. Successful candidates will be expected to take A-Level Theatre Studies as part of their A-Level programme and to contribute to all major school productions.

Before auditioning for one of these scholarships, it is necessary for students to come for an interview, so if you decide you would like to apply for a scholarship and have not already visited the school you should contact the school secretary to arrange an appointment. Once you have had your interview, you may complete the scholarship application form and return it to us so that we can enter your name on to the list of candidates for the next audition. Please note that a reference from your present school will also be required and this will be written for on receipt of your completed application form.
 
Closer to the audition you will be sent a schedule letting you know what time you should arrive at the school.

We would like to make this process an exciting and stimulating one. We want to see how you work creatively with others as well as more formally as a performer, so we have put aside a day when you can meet our staff, work with us and get a flavour of the Performing Arts at Hurtwood.

The panel will consist of:
Matthew Atwell (Head of Dance)
Andy Johnson (Director in Residence)
Miles Russell (Artistic Director; Musical Theatre Director)
Clive Wouters (Head of Performing Arts/Theatre Studies)
Cosmo Jackson (Headmaster)
Richard Jackson (Headmaster)

ACTING:
You will present your work to us on your own in a studio. We would like you to perform a piece by Shakespeare as outlined below. After you have performed the piece we will direct you in it to see whether you can explore other ways of doing it.
 
The Shakespeare extract:  (One from the list below)
 
For girls:
‘The Winter’s Tale’ (Act 3 Scene 2)
Hermione: ‘Sir spare your threats…………that I should fear to die.’
‘All’s Well That Ends Well’ (Act 1 Scene 1)
Helena: ‘Oh, were that all!.............thus plagues itself.’
‘Troilus and Cressida’ (Act 3 Scene 2)
Cressida: ‘Hard to seem won………of speaking first.’
‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’  (Act 1 Scene 1)
Helena: ‘How happy some o’er other……..wing’d Cupid painted blind.’
 
For boys:
‘Richard III’  (Act 1 Scene 2)
Gloucester: ‘Was ever woman in this humour……..all the world to nothing! Ha!’
‘Romeo and Juliet’  (Act 3 Scene 1)
Benvolio: ‘Tybalt here slain……..retorts it.’
‘Othello’  (Act 3 Scene 3)
Iago: ‘I do not like the office……let us hide our loves.’
‘Coriolanus’ (Act 4 Scene 5)
Coriolanus: ‘My name is Caius Marcus…….whooped out of Rome.’

We will also give you an improvisation task which will involve inventing a character and dialogue, using a prop, in a short scenario.

You should also prepare a short modern extract (anything from 1870 onwards) no longer than two minutes in length. (We will stop you after this time.)  We may not ask you to perform this, however, if we feel that we have a good idea of what you can do from the other two exercises.

SINGING:
You should learn and prepare two contrasting songs of your own choice – one a ballad, the other with a strong rhythmic emphasis. An accompanist will be provided but you must provide the sheet music for both songs, fully written-out for piano accompaniment and in the key in which you wish to sing (the pianist will not transpose at sight).

Important note: Do not choreograph your songs extensively. The panel are looking for your ability to make an emotional connection in acting terms and to tell the story of the song simply and to dramatic effect.

DANCE:
There is no need to choreograph a special piece. You will work with the Head of Dance to learn a short piece in a general jazz style, and may be asked to show some technical exercises as well. Please ensure that you wear sensible clothes and shoes (or bare feet if you prefer).
 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PERFORMING ARTS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORM

Hurtwood House offers five A-Level Maths/Science scholarships in September. There are three at £500 per term, one at £1000 per term and one at £2000 per term, and they would be awarded to particularly gifted students for the full two-year period of their A-Levels. The successful candidates would be expected to take one or more of the A-Level Sciences and/or A-Level Mathematics as part of their A-Level programme.

Scholarship procedure
Scholarships will be awarded to candidates based on performance in our scholarship examination in the Sciences and Mathematics, on an interview at the school and on a reference from the relevant teacher or teachers at the student’s present school. Students may sit a general paper covering Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology or they may choose to specialise in one subject only. It would be helpful if applications were supported by a reference from the relevant teacher or teachers at the student’s present school.